Why so much emphasis on human life? How are we really special?

The only logical explanation as to why humans put so much emphasis on their life would be for the fact that they are humans. Humans are naturally selfish creatures who believe that the only thing that truely matters in life, is that of their own. If there was no emphasis on human life, then people who just go around killing each other with little regard. Now I know that humans do that regardless, however that would do it more- with care to what would happen to them afters. Nothing would happen to them anyways if their was no emphasis on human life. For the second part of your question- no, humans are no more special then the next creature. However, through us believing that sense we "eat" other creatures and thus have to be higher ont he high-archy, we have placed ourselves as the most special thing on the world, and the most special thing that will to come- except for god.

I checked to see if you are still active on this site before writing this, because I thought for sure that you must have long before given it up. After posting a question this serious and being given an answer such as I gave that was so very sincere and caring, I thought that at the very least I would receive some kind of response from you. But I hear nothing! Please don't post this kind of question again unless you bother to take the time to read the responses you get. I felt so much for your loss and really wanted to give you something to hold onto. But I won't make that mistake again. Not with you.

First of all, there'll be no religion in this answer. Six people since June! You must be numb! I've lost a lot of people, but not quite like that. I think that what makes it so hard to lose someone is love. And I don't mean only people - I grieve as much for the animals I lose as the people. The ones we love have a place in us, are a part of us and who we are. When they die, there is a hole in that space, and it's something that we feel physically and emotionally, and spiritually. You must be so overwhelmed by the holes created in you lately. I wish I could say something that would help you, impart some great wisdom, but the only thing I know is that time is the only thing that dulls the edges of the pain of losing someone. I don't believe that the pain ever goes away, it certainly hasn't for me, but the edges can be dulled. The knowing and loving of someone and the losing of them creates a deeper dimension in us than was there before. It makes us bigger than we were, and gives us more to live up to, if you ask me. The people and animals we love honor us by their love and we need to honor them and ourselves by being the best selves we can. We grow as humans the more we love and are loved. You've been given a very full plate recently, but in the end, it will make you better and stronger, and please know this - the more you love, the more you are able to love. Love is the purpose of life. This is the way I see it.