Honestly, we're not special. Not really. The narcissism in that the human race must be incredibly unique and that this is most assuredly the best of the best species is more a manner of self-aggrandizement, the same which convinced the Catholic church to preach that everything revolved around the Earth [ie them] and that humans are designed to be better than and have dominion over all other creatures. This is, of course, a perspective, and the human race being "special" is more to deal with sentiments and what you personally find "special" than any inherent "specialness."
Humans are still very much animalistic and still do indeed have a foundation that is based in reptiles. The instincts to "eat, sleep, have sex" is very much engrained in a our brains, clearly manifesting in how well the food and sex industries are doing. Indeed, a lot of people only have marrying and reproducing as their goal in life, which to me is a very sad existence, but I digress. Seeing the human capacity for cold-hearted killing, total disregard for the wellbeing of others, complete and utter selfishness, tendencies of betrayal, all-consuming hatred, and a chilling apathy may be enough to show people that we're not all that far off from the animal kingdom. Like other animals that have more developed brains, however, particularly higher mammals, humans are also capable of acts of selflessness, kindness, and loyalty. They are capable of incredible levels of discipline, self-sacrifice, and, in my opinion most importantly, love.
Not to say that there is nothing interesting or unique about the species, however. Humanity's potential [though they do not necessarily exercise that potential] for logic and rational thought is something that is seemingly unmatched on Earth's animal kingdom. The sheer level of possible growth and knowledge that the species can possibly create is seemingly limitless, at least to our own human understanding, no matter how finite that might be. In my personal opinion, while humans are very much a mixed bag in the sense of what they do and have done, the slow growth of the species is intriguing to follow.
tl;dr there's little that inherently makes humans special unless you put emphasis or value on certain things
As far as I know about churches, though, do most people even read the Bible? I've only read some of it, and it was because my mother wouldn't leave me alone about it. Most Christians don't even regularly go to church, and those that do don't necessarily read it either. I mean, I don't blame them necessarily, that stuff's boring as hell, but don't churches typically more or less tell you what's in the Bible through their own lens? I mean, I was forced to go went to one for about thirteen years, and I'd say that's pretty accurate, but it was a Mormon church so idk. This was even worse when most people were illiterate, as a lot of priests would just flat-out make stuff up because nobody could really refute them, [and even now I can't say many would call them out on it due to not really/ever having read it], but I digress.
E: @Abraham/etc's lifespan: I was taught to believe that, I dunno about you. I think the justification was that he was "blessed by God" or something, or that the Flood ended up destroying/God removed some special magic on the Earth that made humans live longer.
