Although human beings are but a part of the natural world, we occupy a unique position as lords of creation. In the Bible, Adam and Eve were granted the blessing of dominion over all things, and the Qur’an accords to each human being the status of God’s “vicegerent.”
This also means that God created the natural world for our benefit, as nature provides us with everything we need to live and thrive. Nevertheless, the blessing of dominion is not divine permission to pollute the earth and create artificial environments at nature’s expense. In the agricultural societies where this mandate was first given, human creativity was seen as essentially in harmony with nature’s ebb and flow.
We are truly lords of creation when we practice love for all things and use our creativity to enhance nature’s abundance, even as we adapt it to our use. The basis of humankind’s sovereignty over nature is not a matter of size or strength. On that scale of things, we are but infinitesimal specks on a planet that is itself but a speck in the infinite reaches of the universe.
Rather, it is due to our unique spiritual endowment. Humans seek after God; they seek to better themselves and aspire to a better world. This makes us different in kind from animals. In our awareness of and intimacy with the Creator of the universe, we humans are potentially more valuable than the entire world of creation. Do we deserve this honor?
As Father Moon teaches, since we receive the Creator’s abundant love, we should, in turn, love the creation on God’s behalf. Then we become the bridge between God and the natural world. God loves His creatures through us, and through us, the entire natural world is perfected.
1. Human Beings Are Given Dominion over All Things
I will create a vicegerent on earth. Qur’an 2.30
And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1.28
Do you not see that God has subjected to your use all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, both seen and unseen? Qur’an 31.20
When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established;
What is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him little less than God, and dost crown him with glory and honor. Psalm 8.3-5
God is He who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down rain from the skies, and with it brings forth fruits to feed you; it is He who made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers He has made subject to you. And He made subject to you the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses; and the night and the day He has made subject to you. And He gives you of all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of God, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. Qur’an 14.32-34
Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. Genesis 2.19
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
God, the Creator, created human beings as the lords of all things. (323:165, June 1, 2000)
The ideal world is a world that reflects God and fulfills God's purpose of creation. Hence, human beings ever seek a harmonious and peaceful life filled with God's love, and to improve their environment by continually creating new things.
Creativity does not mean merely production, but rather all manner of creative actions such as originating new ideas, planning, improving, and producing.
Humans have come to reflect God’s creativity through outstanding scientific progress, but so far have not learned His love. Therefore, this world is still filled with sorrow, pain, and distress. (65:259, November 26, 1972)
Who is enlightened? He can embrace a tree and, marveling at its value, exclaims “Oh, God! I bow before Thy greatness that is disclosed in this tree.”… On seeing nature’s incredible variety, he recognizes the exquisite beauty of God’s variegated love and heart. His heart draws him to be a friend to all beings, and every cell in his body rejoices to be their company.
If you attain this state, you represent the entire universe. You are the lord of creation… St. Francis preached to the animals and birds. This is no idle tale; it is fact. (9:168, May 8, 1960)
All beings desire true love. This is why human beings, as the lords of creation, should embrace and love all creatures, God’s masterpieces, and teach them how to love. All creation is longing to receive and experience God’s love through men and women who have become one with God at the pinnacle of true love.
We should feel ashamed that we have not yet realized this degree of love. All beings exist at a certain level in mutual attraction. At the same time, all beings want to be absorbed into higher levels of love. Thus, minerals want to be absorbed into plants, plants want to be absorbed into animals, and finally, all of creation wants to be absorbed into human beings.
Through this process, they ultimately reach the position where they can experience the essence of true love, which is the love that is nearest to God, the origin of love. God created everything with an intrinsic nature to provide value to a higher level.
For example, eels and worms that fish like to eat also provide ingredients for natural medicines for humans. Creatures on a higher level are meant to consume beings on a lower level. Without this process, the universe could not exist.
Darwin's theory regarding the survival of the fittest needs to be reexamined in the context of this logic of love.
Even ants and microorganisms want true love so much that they will die to become part of an entity of greater love. Because of this principle, human beings, created as the highest partners of God’s love, can consume all creatures. We can enjoy everything we desire, on one condition: that we do so with a heart that represents the love of God, the Creator. (March 14, 1999)
God created all things with forms, but God does not have any form… To have dominion over all beings—creatures on earth and angels in heaven—God needed a counterpart who could be their master.
That is why He created human beings. Adam [and Eve] were to be the center of God’s dominion over both the spirit world and the physical world. This was God’s purpose for creating human beings. As they relate to the substantial personal Being, the perfection of Adam [and Eve] is the perfection of God’s form.
Accordingly, God created Adam and Eve in His image, resembling His character and form. Without humans as His form, God could not have dominion over the world of forms. (35:157, October 13, 1970)
2. Human Beings Are Superior to All Other Creatures
Verily We have honored the children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those We created with a marked preferment. Qur’an 17.20
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals. William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act II. Scene ii
Having created the world and all that lives and moves therein, He, through the direct operation of His unconstrained and sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him… Upon the inmost reality of each and every created thing He has shed the light of one of His names, and made it a recipient of the glory of one of His attributes.
Upon the reality of man, however, He has focused the radiance of all of His names and attributes, and made it a mirror of His own Self. Alone of all created things man has been singled out for so great a favor, so enduring a bounty. Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah 27 (Baha’i Faith)
Man, as the manifestation of God, is the leader of all things, and no creature is more honorable than man. All things upon the earth, following their own individual names, fashioning their true way, will know that Thou hast brought them to sight for man’s sake. All things what- soever, forgetting not their source, deviating not from their determined pattern, are made to work as well as to understand their part; hum- bling themselves and honoring man, without anger, without haste, without anxiety, without grief, neither linked nor parted, they are made to work out their true personality. The Ritual Prayer (Perfect Liberty Kyodan) The human body is a revelation of the goodness of God and the providence of the body’s Creator.
It is a body obviously meant to minister to a rational soul, as you can see from the arrange- ment of the human organs of sense and of man’s other members. This is obvious, too, in man’s specific appearance, form, and stature. The bodies of irrational animals are bent toward the ground, whereas man was made to walk erect with his eyes on heaven, as though to remind him to keep his thoughts on things above. Saint Augustine, City of God 22.24 (Christianity)
Man was equipped with [three] souls… By virtue of the animal soul he shares with the animals, his physical soul links him with the plants; his human soul is a bond between him and the angels… The function of the human, rational soul is the noblest function of all, for it is itself the noblest of spirits.
Its function consists of reflecting upon things of art and meditating upon the things of beauty: its gaze being turned towards the higher world, its loves not this lower abode and meaner station. Belonging as it does to the higher side of life and to primal substances, it is not its business to eat and drink, neither does it require luxury and coition; rather its function is to wait for the revelation of truths. Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Katib al-Najat (Islam)
We did indeed offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid of it. But man undertook it; he was indeed unjust and foolish.11 Qur’an 33.72
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
What is the difference between humans and animals? Human beings are special because they possess a spirit, not because of any feature of their physical bodies.
As spiritual beings, humans are distinct from all creatures that are merely physical beings. It is the spirit that endows humans with great value; the physical body is of little value in comparison.
Compare a man with an ape. An ape eats, sleeps, and brings forth its young; when it grunts, it is mainly for food. Does an ape cry out yearning for its parents? Does an ape sacrifice its life for its siblings or parents? How about a man?
Does a man sacrifice his life for others, or not? He does! Men and apes are different in kind. Do apes gather to recount stories about their ancestors’ brave deeds? Do they gather to worship God? Do they ponder about the spirit world?
Do they dream about a peaceful world, an ideal world flourishing with love? Apes and human beings are qualitatively different. From of old, human beings have aspired for something greater. From the very beginning, human beings have worshipped God.
There is not a tribe of men that has not done so. Thinking on God, humans have pursued a better life and a better world. No ape can think such things. It is utterly impossible even after passing through a million evolutionary stages. (39:333, January 16, 1971)
Is it not true that God created human beings as the lords of creation? Didn’t He give us the central position representing all things in heaven and earth? As the central beings in the universe, we humans have the right to exercise sovereignty over all its creatures.
Know that such a right does not pertain in the anthropoid apes’ world, or in the world of lions, tigers and such. Then I ask the question: Do people in today’s world live like human beings or more like animals? (117:35, January 31, 1982)
Who is a person of character? Someone who only lives to eat? Or someone with artistic or poetic talents who appreciates fully the beauty of the world, who whispers to the mountains and fields and sings to the flowing water? (85:143, March 3, 1976)
What does it mean that human beings are the lords of creation? Surely, God is the Lord of creation. You understand that God endowed each human being with a spirit. As the human spirit is the chief among all spirits, humans can have a direct connection to God.
That is why a human being can be the lord of creation. Nevertheless, a human being cannot be the lord of creation by himself. He is merely a created being. How can a created being be the lord of creation? Created beings are resultant beings.
Apart from a relationship with the Causal Being, they cannot correspond with the Cause, nor can they possess the Cause. Rather, the Cause should possess the result. Surely humans are resultant beings.
Nevertheless, we are called lords of creation and the center of all spirits. This indicates that human beings are supposed to be in a relationship with God and become one with Him. (32:137, July 5, 1977)
To fulfill the ideal of love, God made all creatures and placed human beings at the center of the universe. We are called the lords of creation because we have the privilege of receiving God's love first.
Then, as representatives of the God of love, we are in the central position, acting for the sake of the entire created world. We cannot be the lords of creation without first becoming God’s counterparts and participating in the realm of God's love. Our special value derives from having the privilege of love… Without love, everything will pass away. (132:246, June 20, 1984)
Among animals and plants, sex is only for reproduction. Human beings are the exception; within the conjugal relationship, they can enjoy sexual love freely. This is a privilege of human beings as the lords of creation. God blessed His children to enjoy love infinitely. Yet, this God-given freedom is accompanied by responsibility. What if every person insisted on freely making love with whomever they wanted?
The world would descend into chaos. It is possible for human beings to attain perfection and realize supreme love only when they take responsibility for their love. (282:213, March 13, 1997)
Human Beings Are Worthy to Receive Honor from All Creatures, for They Lead All Creatures to Completion
The whole world was created only for the sake of the righteous man. He weighs as much as the whole world. The whole world was created only to be united to him. Talmud, Shabbat 30b (Judaism)
His movement is of Heaven, his stillness of Earth. With his single mind in repose, he is king of the world; the spirits do not afflict him; his soul knows no weariness.
His single mind reposed, the ten thousand things submit— which is to say that his emptiness and stillness reach throughout Heaven and Earth and penetrate the ten thousand things. This is what is called Heavenly joy. Heavenly joy is the mind of the sage by which he shepherds the world. Chuang Tzu 13 (Taoism)
Elijah… went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. 1 Kings 17.5-6
Thus I have heard, on a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Uruvela, on the bank of the river Neranjara, at the root of the mucalinda tree, having just won the highest wisdom. Now on that occasion the Exalted One was seated for seven days in one posture and experienced the bliss of release.
Then arose a great storm of rain out of due season, and for seven days there was rainy weather, cold winds, and overcast skies. So Mucalinda, King of the snakes, coming forth from his haunt, encircled the body of the Exalted One seven times with his coils and stood rearing his great hood above the Exalted One’s head, thinking, “Let not heat or cold or the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, or creeping things annoy the Exalted One.”
Now after the lapse of those seven days the Exalted One roused himself from that concentration of mind. Then Mucalinda, King of the snakes, seeing that the sky was clear and free of clouds, unwrapped his folds from the Exalted One’s body, and, withdrawing his own form and creating the form of a youth, stood before the Exalted One, holding up his clasped hands and doing reverence to him.
Udana 10 (Buddhism)
The Earth’s condition is receptive devotion. Thus the superior man who has breadth of character carries the outer world. I Ching 2 (Confucianism)
Only those who are absolutely sincere can fully develop their nature. If they can fully develop their nature, they can then fully develop the nature of others. If they can fully develop the nature of others, they can then fully develop the nature of things.
If they can fully develop the nature of things, they can then assist in the transforming and nourishing process of Heaven and Earth. If they can assist in the transforming and nourishing process of Heaven and Earth, they can thus form with Heaven and Earth a trinity. Doctrine of the Mean 22 (Confucianism)
“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of song has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2.12): When God created the world, He endowed the earth with all the energy requisite for it, but it did not bring forth produce until man appeared.
When, however, man was created, all the products that were latent in the earth appeared above ground. Similarly, the heavens did not impart strength to the earth until man came. So it is written, “All the plants of the earth were not yet on the earth, and the herbs of the field had not yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.” (Gen. 2.5)…
When, however, man appeared, forthwith “all the flowers appeared on the earth,” all its latent powers being revealed; “the time of song has come,” the earth being now ripe to offer praises to the Almighty, which it could not do before man was created. “And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land”: this is the word of God, which was not in the world until man was created.
Zohar, Genesis 97a (Judaism)
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
If you are completely united with God’s Will, you may have a mysterious experience: the feeling that God recognizes you as His own. At that moment, you will see the things of creation bowing their heads to you.
On the day when all creatures recognize that you are a son or daughter of God and God’s treasured possession, the countless spirits of the spirit world, as well as all creatures on the earth, will bow their heads in praise.
When God and all things recognize you, then everyone with a true conscience will also be in harmony with you. (4:102, March 16, 1958)
God said to the Earth, “O Earth, I made you the first mother. Now bear sons and daughters for me, and they will convey my eternal love to you.”
The Earth agreed, and they entered into a covenant. Then the Earth said, “God, I long for Thy love. Thou didst ask me to make mediators who can build the bridge for Thy love.
Having agreed to this covenant, I shall willingly comply with it by investing all of myself.” With that, the Earth provided the material for the human body. Now, if my body establishes a living connection with God’s love, experiences God’s love and loves God, then the Earth will say, “I am pleased to have created such glorious human beings.” (97:143, March 12, 1978)
The things of creation manifest their beauty to support the original love of human beings. The flow- ers with their red, yellow and multi-colored hues stimulate our love; they are nature’s way of praising love. They are God’s gifts to us…
A husband and wife may dance round and round… but whichever way they turn, they do not forget the center. Likewise, all kinds of flowers have one thing in common: amidst the profusion of their petals, there is a center—the stamen and pistil.
All things exist in pairs, and long to exclaim, “Ah!” as they come together. All things in nature symbolize the ideal of love between man and woman, and all things praise that love. That is the original purpose of their existence.
Flowers and foliage deck themselves out as best they can to celebrate and welcome the love of human beings. It is the same with animals: birds sing their love songs to praise human beings in love.
The sight of a man and woman loving each other inspires them to sing with more ardor. And as both male and female harmonize their birdsong to the couple’s love, it encourages the couple to love with even more passion. In love’s embrace, all creatures and human beings are united into one, and God, too, sings for joy…
This universe is so beautiful! The clouds are love; the breezes blow love; the brooks babble love; the birds sing of love…! If you were to ask a flower, “Where do you want to go? Would you like to go to a place where you can manifest your utmost beauty and make others happy?” It will answer, “Yes, put me in the foremost place in the world!”
Where is that place? Surely it is the master bedroom of a home where God’s love dwells, where it can praise such love. What a marvelous place for a flower to be!
Nothing is more delightful to a flower than to bloom in the bedroom of a couple who loves each other with true love. Since God dwells in that place, the flower is not only providing decoration for that couple, but also for God. What an honor! (146:107, June 7, 1986)
The human body is a microcosm of the universe. There are minerals, plant and animal substances within your small universe. When true love knocks at the door of the human body, all the billions of cells are immediately activated and become ecstatic.
The five senses come alive—every cell of your lips wants to kiss your beloved; every cell in your eyes wants to gaze into your lover’s eyes… Keep your eyes wide open and observe the lives of males and females in the animal world. Consider also the coupling between pairs in the world of microbes, the world of cells, and the world of minerals.
Then, when you become the embodiment of true love, when every cell of your body and all your senses are alive with true love, what happens? You become like a gigantic magnet, pulling all the paired elements of nature to you.
Everything will line up centering upon you because you are the center of true love. Everything in the universe responds to true love.
Therefore, all the animals, plants, and minerals will follow you wherever you go. Nature will protect you and your loving family. In the original world of true love, there are no barriers. You enjoy total freedom. Wherever you go, you find only harmony and complete cooperation. (163:44, April 1, 1987)
In the universe are galaxies, vast beyond imagining. The universe is vast beyond counting; yet, God's purpose of creation cannot be found by gazing at the universe.
God’s purpose of creation—to build a world where all people live with one accord—can be found on the Earth, which is only a small planet inside the solar system, and within human beings, who, when compared to the vast universe, are smaller than dust particles.
Have you ever thought about this amazing fact? Once we know it, we should feel delighted, grateful and glorious! (5:343, March 8, 1959)