ANIMALISM: Our animal nature is not something to rise above, but to honor
Some humans struggle to accept the fact that we are animals. Throughout history, many cultures and religions have expressed ambivalence and even hostility to the animal side of our nature. Some argue that we humans are mental and spiritual beings, in a way that animals can’t aspire to. But even our spiritual nature harks back to our animal nature. Two essential aspects of spirituality are presence and mental quietness. Animals live completely in the present and do not appear to experience the incessant mental activity that afflicts us. So, in a sense, spirituality also aligns with our animal nature.
STEVE TAYLOR: Some humans struggle to accept the fact that we are animals. In 1860, the scientist Thomas Huxley (grandfather of the author Aldous Huxley) caused an uproar when he voiced his support for Darwin’s theory of evolution and disputed that human beings were divinely created. In response, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce enquired sarcastically whether Huxley was descended from apes through his grandmother or his grandfather. Huxley replied that he felt no shame in being descended from apes, but he would be ashamed of the bishops’ ignorance of science… Our animal nature is not something we should rise above, but something we should honor and express…
Throughout history, many cultures and religions have expressed ambivalence and even hostility to the animal side of our nature… Christian ascetics like St. Simeon Stylites and Henry de Suso put themselves through appalling torments to try to tame their physical desires and make themselves more “spiritual.” Many cultures had (and have) a repressive attitude toward sex, viewing sexual impulses as a sinful expression of our lower animal nature. Even now, some Christians believe that human beings are superior to all other animals because only we possess souls. As a result, we will spend eternity in heaven or hell, whereas animals simply cease to exist at death…
You might argue that we humans are mental and spiritual beings, in a way that animals can’t aspire to. But even our spiritual nature harks back to our animal nature. Two essential aspects of spirituality are presence and mental quietness. Animals live completely in the present and do not appear to experience the incessant mental activity that afflicts us. So, in a sense, spirituality also aligns with our animal nature. And of course, presence and mental quietness are a powerful source of well-being…
However, there are good reasons why we should accept our animal nature and try to live in harmony with it. I would like to introduce a simple new approach to life that I call ‘animalism.’ The basic principle is that, since we humans are essentially animals, we are happiest when we attune with and express our animal nature. This is why we love physical activities like sports, running, swimming, and making love. It’s why so many people love walking in the countryside, gardening, and preparing food. These are all activities that hark back to, and express, our animal heritage. SOURCE
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