The animal world is astonishing in its unchanging harmony, where every action is dictated by built-in, hereditary programs, turning instinct into a precise and automatic survival mechanism.

Instinct and Ethics: A Contrast in Behavior

The animal world is astonishing in its unchanging harmony, where every action is dictated by built-in, hereditary programs, turning instinct into a precise and automatic survival mechanism. Such reflexes, passed down through generations, demonstrate a natural regulation with a diminished influence of personal experience or conscious choice. In stark contrast are the norms of religious behavior in humans, which result from deliberate self-improvement and a profound moral choice that forms the ethical foundation of one’s inner world. Here, every rule—from observing church etiquette to respectfully honoring higher values—is rooted in collective cultural experience and spiritual tradition, reflecting humanity’s desire not only for external harmony in society but also for inner growth. This dual nature of behavior—nature’s automatism versus a conscious aspiration toward nobility—emphasizes the unique and multifaceted character of human existence, turning life’s journey into a dynamic interplay between instinct and thoughtful decisions.

How can one explain the difference between the instinctive behavior of animals and the consciously formed norms of religious behavior in humans?

Instinctive animal behavior is determined by inherited, physiologically ingrained mechanisms, whereas the norms of religious behavior in humans are the result of deliberate formation reflecting both individual and collective moral experiences.

On one hand, as noted in one source, animal instinct is “hereditary and changes so slowly that it appears unchanging, as involuntary as organic excretions…” ( link txt, page: 553). This means that instinctive actions are established reflexes passed down from generation to generation without personal experience or conscious choice. These actions are triggered by the physiological features of the nervous system, with the animal acting according to built-in programs, often outside the realm of individual awareness.

On the other hand, the norms of religious behavior in humans are conscious rules that regulate not only external manifestations but also the inner attitude toward the world and God. For example, one cited source states: “These rules can be conditionally called church etiquette. In general, etiquette is a set of behavior rules…but the specificity of church etiquette is primarily associated with what forms the main content of the religious life of a believer—reverence for God and piety” ( link txt). This emphasizes that religious behavior is based on moral and intellectual choice, on the formation of ethical principles such as honor, chastity, nobility, and integrity. These norms are not automatic or hereditary; they are acquired and developed through conscious self-improvement and personal decision-making.

In summary, the difference between the instinctive behavior of animals and the norms of religious behavior in humans lies in that the former is dictated by natural, hereditary mechanisms that trigger automatic responses without personal consciousness, while the latter is the result of deliberate moral choice, cultural tradition, and is aimed at regulating both one’s inner life and relationship with society and higher ideals.

Supporting citation(s):
"Thus, instinct is highly hereditary and changes so slowly that it seems unchanging. Just as involuntary as organic excretions, instinct undoubtedly presupposes certain established physiological features in the very neural organization of the animal…" (source: link txt, page: 553)

"These rules can be conditionally called church etiquette. Generally, etiquette is a set of rules of behavior, a code of conduct accepted in certain social circles, and by extension, it is the very form of behavior. The specificity of church etiquette is primarily associated with what makes up the main content of a believer’s religious life—namely, the honor of God and piety." (source: link txt)