Eternity, Morality, Gaia Theory and God - A Continuing Conversation

Hello all and thank you for the conversation started here. It makes my job much easier when it comes to writing new posts :) So, I would like to refresh the conversation started on the comment string of Morality - Absolutism v. Relativism with new post here. This is, however, simply a response to conversation below.

First off, to J.C. ~ I do agree with you that we can look into the Bible as our guide for what is to come and see that the world is going to do alright until God decides when it is time for judgement. I have always found it interesting that the event which will eventually destroy the universe, (nuclear explosion it seems [2 Peter 3:10]), was built into the world from the beginning. I have read that it would take a matter of seconds for an uncontrolled nuclear explosion to eliminate the entire universe. Very interesting. Another sign of God knowing the end from the beginning. I would, however, like to have you elaborate on your two God statement. The way I think about it, I believe in one God manifest in three Persons, but it is very possible to have more than one infinite being, as all Christians will one day be infinite, physical beings living with God in New Jerusalem. (Rev 21) Something to think about...

Anonymous - Glad to see you are engaged here, and I thank you for the time you are putting into this conversation. It's much appreciated.
Now, to expand on what I started yesterday (about the personal objective God and the impersonal, subjective 'infinite beings'). I would like to move to your next question about animals.
I believe that animals do not have a soul, but are simply physical beings on this planet that were created by God. That does not, however, mean that they do not have the means to think. Their brains can still function and make decisions; even some basic reasoning functions are present in animals. The soul, on the other hand, is something different. It is eternal and ever-lasting. The soul allows us, as humans, to have the hope of future glory in eternity.
I wonder, if animals have souls, as you say, and we all evolved in a billion year long process (am I wrong in assuming you believe this?), where the soul came from? I cannot come to an answer there, which leads me away from that theory and back to my Bible, the source of God's word and knowledge.
To answer one further question you have brought up, (I hope I am getting them all, let me know what I am missing), I believe that humans are valued above all living things because we were created apart from the rest of creation in God's image. During the creation week, God made all the animals in groups, (land creatures, creatures of the air, creatures of the sea, and bugs), but Man was created separately. The history of the world is not centered around the history of animals, but the history of man. Animals are a resource, and as such, should be treated with care and compassion, yes. However, human life is so much more valuable. If we were on the same level as animals, we would then be forced to say that it would be better to save twenty cows from death than to save one person from death. That is something I cannot except, and I believe that if that were excepted, human morality would be lost.
Thank you for the information about Lovelock and the Gaia theory. I did do some research and found it to be quite interesting. I think that the Gaia theory does, in a very unscientific way I will admit, attempt to explain a biblical view of the world (without the Bible, however).

And thank you to all who are reading this now. I welcome anyone to join in on this conversation with the comment section below, or by emailing me at kelbylovelady@gmail.com.