Is it wrong to keep pets? More like "Is it a sin to keep pets?"

"Is it a sin to keep pets?" No it is not. One of the many roles that Mankind was created for was to be a guide and caretaker to the animals. If you are a bad caretaker, then I would assume that it is a sin. Being a pet owner is very similar to being a parent. You wouldn't raise a child in a unsafe environment if you had the choice (assuming you are not a bad parent). Unfortunately we do not have the ability to safe keep every animal in the world and give it a happy life. In a situation that we were captured and sold as pets to an alien race, I think many people will be better off. Again this is assuming the caretakers treat us kindly and lovingly. If they let us socialize with other humans, played games with us, and were just overall friendly, mankind would be living the dream. Think about it, no more murder, no more rape, you don't have to work anymore, all your needs are given to us, for just being a friend. This is a case where we would be sacrificing some freedoms for a something good. While we may be a pet put in a situation that we do not understand and dislike, sometimes we cannot see the big picture. Just like a parent may say "No" to a child-which would in turn anger the child-the parent is still doing what is best for the child. With pets, I believe this same line of thought holds true. Being a "pet" of an advanced civilization such as an Alien race would cause man-kind to become better overall. The reason for this is because those "natural biological urges" will be forced to be in check. We are suppose to keep them in check anyways because it would be sinful to just obey your urges. In any case, I think an Alien Race "domesticating us" is unlikely because imagine how awkward that would be? The awkwardness would increase further if the aliens were humanoid, because then romantic relationships could form and that just opens up Pandora's box. I think the reason why the idea of "pets" works is because there is a hierarchy to nature. Humans are above other animals. We are suppose to be their guide and caretaker. If an alien race wanted to make us pets, they would require a level of intelligence that we cannot even imagine. If we could learn what they have learned, that would make us equals and not pets. Of course, I do believe this topic is very circumstantial. Such as a fish in a fish tank. It could either live a very fulfilling life or be miserable. It depends on it's owner. There are thousands of situations where a pet may be miserable, I do not deny this, but there are also thousands of happy pets! Anyways, it is not being a pet that would make one miserable, it is being mistreated and isolated that would cause such sorrow. I think the statement "using them as slaves" is also incorrect. Firstly, they would not be effective as slaves. Secondly, in the case that you are referring to mistreatment, this again depends on the owner. As such "keeping a pet" in of itself is not a sin. For example: Speaking is not a sin, but lying is. Sacrificing you life for another is not a sin, but suicide is. As far as fairness goes, I believe it is extremely fair. As long as their owner is good to them of course. The owner raises the pet, feeds the pet, keeps the pet safe and tries to give it a good life. An owner and pet should be friends. Of course in cases with fish, they may not even understand what you are besides the weird hand that drops food. But then again, they are getting fed without needing to do anything. I don't see how owning a pet in anyway shape or form would be sinful, unless the poor pet was mistreated. Another thing you might want to consider is: "Pets" are not a man made concept. It is an agreement between Man and Animal. A mutual respect and friendship, such as the days when the hunter would befriend the wolf. Those wolves were not domesticated, but had a win-win relationship with the humans. They hunted together and shared their food. Even if the animals were intelligent they would still remain as pet, because being a "pet" is just being apart of a certain families "herd", they are family. If the pets somehow became humanoid with intelligence on par with our own, then I believe they would be treated as equals with mankind. But at that point, they wouldn't even be the same species that we first made into pets. As I said before, there is a hierarchy which isn't something to be sad about. It is a good thing, as long as you have a good leader. Similar to how God puts rules down that we need to follow, that isn't taking away our freedom, but him telling us to CHOOSE to follow him. Choose to be apart of his family. Though I see as more as children of God rather than pets. But really a pet is just an adopted child who happens to be of another species. While that child isn't human and is lacking in intelligence, it still is a "Being" which has choices and desires of its own. So my stance is that it is NOT wrong/sinful to be a pet owner, however, a pet owner should respect and love their pet. I also enjoy knowing what people on different sides of a problem think. If I have missed anything I do hope you point it out to me so that my thoughts on the matter will either change or be reinforced.