Who is right on this, my pastor or my science teacher

There has been a weird argument going on between the pastor at my church and my science teacher about are humans animals or not. It is weird because they never met and have been arguing between me sending thoughts/messages back and forth that I take to them each. Both of them have their arguments but I don't know who to believe,

If if isn't obvious my science teacher says we are animals, my pastor says we are not.

Thank you.

Depends on your definition of "animal."

Scientifically speaking, we are animals. We fit the classification of organism according to the definition for "animal" science has given.

However, we are distinct from animals in that we were made in God's image, meaning we were meant to have aspects that resemble God (intelligence, free will, etc.). We were also meant to have authority over all creation, as stated in Genesis 1:28 (again, another aspect of God we share: authority). There are no other organisms on Earth past or present that possessed our level of control over the entire planet, in terms of consequence. And again, being made in God's image, we were meant to be holy, which means we are supposed to be set apart. Of course, Adam's sin kind of ruined this, but thank God we had the Son, Jesus Christ to redeem us, eh?

Look, science will only get you so far. And despite what they say, some science is based on wild assumptions--meaning a lot of theories are accepted on FAITH (ironic, huh?). Looking to God will give you all the answers so that you are satisfied. But make no mistake, God cannot be understood by us. There will always be some things that remain a mystery to us.

Your science teacher is correct, and your pastor is wrong.

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"Animals are multicellular, heterotophic eukaryotes with tissues the develop from embryonic layers"
(Biology: Eighth Edition, Campbell & Reece, Pearson / Benjamin Cummings, 2008, p654)