Mucko

If I have dominion over the animals, shouldn't they listen to my commands. And if they don't, shouldn't they be punished?

DrJim

You would have thought they would at least come when called since Adam gave them all their names. Why does the Bible mention it if God didn't really mean for them pay attention? It is an issue I have tried to bring up with my cats, but they just hacked up a few hair-balls and when about their business as if they owned the place.

They are of the devil. That must be it.

Brian_iiiii

http://ar.vegnews.org/dominion.html

In this context, the phrase "dominion over the animals" could not have referred to killing and eating them. Many would argue that "dominion" is more accurately interpreted as "stewardship" rather than tyranny. Furthermore, since the Garden of Eden represents the highest ethical ideal, some people who believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible interpret this to mean that vegetarianism is the highest ethical ideal.

Ojuice5001

The typical Christian-theologian answer is that, like so many other good things, the human dominion over animals was weakened greatly as a consequence of the Fall. If you can believe in Genesis at all, this isn't hard to accept.

Madkins007

Scanning a few commentaries, I see several different interpretations of this idea. Some argue that it means stewardship over, others arguue that we are God's agents in reigning over the animals, etc.

Some say we lost some or all of this ability in the Fall, others say that it is our sinful nature that inhibits our exercise of the dominion, etc.

And my other Christian friends wonder why I don't particularly like Genesis!

offa

from Josephus and to you fundies;

ANT 01-329</H4> And when he had put his company in this
order, he sent some of them to carry presents to his brother. The
presents were made up of cattle, and a great number of four-footed
beasts, of many kinds, such as would be very acceptable to those that
received them, on account of their rarity.

The hidden truth is in the putting cattle, and a great number of
four-footed beasts,. Josephus promises to reveal the Jewish
mysteries, i.e., ANT 01-017 As I proceed, therefore, I shall
accurately describe what is contained in our records, in the order of
time that belongs to them; for I have already promised so to do
throughout this undertaking, and this without adding anything to what
is therein contained, or taking away anything therefrom.

Josephus is telling those that "eat meat" that Cattle are not
four footed. The Cattle are separate from "four-footed". There is
not a necessity for adding four footed unless he is sending an oblique
message. The beasts, of many kinds, represent the named
animals. The animals are human and Adam is setting up a caste system.

If you "drink milk" you think about the cows in the barnyard and
Noah's boat full of manure.

Now, think about David the shepherd, the sheep he was porkin' were
delicious little girls. Cain delivered whores to GOD whereas Abel
gave him something tight. When you plough the ground it is rapine
and when you harvest it is husbandry.

Heathen Dawn

The Hebrew word for “have dominion” is urdu וּרְדוּ which is conjuctive and + 1st conjugation plural imperative of the root R-D-Y רדי, which means “to tyrannise”.