Conclusion of Reasons to Believe

Language is an ability that you have because of your brain. Some people speak two, three, or more languages, yet the ability to speak even  one marks us as unique.  (Isaiah 36:11; Acts 21:37-40)  Professors R.S. and D.H. Fouts asked:  "Is only may . . .capable of communicating by language? . . .All the higher animals certainly communicate with . . . gestures, odors, calls, cries and songs, and even the dance of the bees.  Yet animals other than man do not appear to have structured grammatical language. And animals do not, which may be highly significant, draw representational pictures. At best they only doodle." Truly, only humans can use the brain to speak a language and draw meaningful pictures. -Compare Isaiah 8:1; 30:8; Luke 1:3. 

Moreover, you have an awareness of self; you are conscious of you. (Proverbs 14:10)  Have you watched a bird, dog, or cat look into a mirror and then peck, growl, or attack?  It thinks it sees another animal, not recognizing itself. In contrast, when you look into a mirror, you know it is you. (James 1:23, 24) You may check your appearance or wonder what you will look like in a few years. Animals  do not do that. Yes, your brain makes you unique. To where does the credit go?  How did your brain come to be, if not from God?

Your brain also allows you to appreciate art and music as well as to have a moral sense.   (Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34; 1 Kings 6:1, 29-35; Matthew 11:16, 17) Why you and not the animals?  They use their brains primarily to care for immediate needs-getting food, finding a mate, or making a nest. Only humans think beyond the short term. Some even think about how their actions will effect the environment or their descendants long into the future. Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 says of humans: "Even time indefinite [the Creator] has put into their heart."  Yes, your capacity for considering the meaning of time indefinite or for imagining endless life is special. 

Next time: Let the Creator Add Meaning

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999