To be an “experiencing subject of a life” means to be something that is here, now, alive, in this world, being part of the grand mystery that is life. So basically anything that exists has life—from people to birds to trees to grass to even water and rocks. There is a grace and power and beauty and soul that is woven through all of it. To disregard something as not worth our concern or as something that can be annihilated or abused is to be disconnected from this grand harmony. However, I do not think that being the subject of a life means that one has equal inherent value. As a human being, I feel that we can derive a sense of our value from religious teachings—particularly the traditional Christian teachings that hold that we are created in the image and likeness of God. This teaching points to a special relationship that we have with the Creator and signifies that our value is inherently greater than the rest of creation.

At the same time, I do not believe that this value gives us license to disregard or abuse the rest of God’s creation....

Since it is God’s creation and we are tasked with living in it, we should be respectful of every living thing, not because it is equal to us in terms of value, but rather because it is a creature or creation of God. To disrespect it or to violate it or abuse it would be like to walk into a friend’s home and casually begin disrupting furniture, throwing dresses out of windows, knocking over vases, and upsetting countertops or throwing dishes all about. It is rude and a sign of a lack of integrity or concern for the things that belong to your friend.
If we look at all of creation as belonging to God, we can be more mindful of why we should respect it. You do not seek to offend your mother or your father or to throw away any of their things. If you have children and they have created some works of art, you do not consign them to the dust bin but rather hold on to them and cherish them because you love your children and you love what they create.

If, on the other hand, one does not love life or love the Creator of life, one might find it a…