Christian Vegetarian Association Blog - Jesus’ Teachings Oppose Speciesism


	CVA BLOG

Jesus’ Teachings Oppose Speciesism
January 2, 2012

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

Agribusiness’ Rotten Behavior

Famous Quote: Will Tuttle, "The World Peace Diet"

Veganism Opposes Speciesism

Bible verse: Job 28:28

Horse Slaughter Legal Again in the U.S.

This Week’s Video: Butterball Turkey Farm Raided

1. Agribusiness’ Rotten Behavior

Paul Shapiro, senior director of farm animal protection for The Humane Society of the United States, expresses in this op-ed why it's just common sense not to confine farm animals to the point they cannot even turn around, as is the case with gestation and farrowing crates for sows. Of course, agribusiness still reasons that pigs under extreme confinement do well, when many studies and plain common sense show the opposite. The European Union and 8 states in the US have passed laws to phase out gestation crates.

Please visit Common sense can aid animal welfare:
http://www.capitalpress.com/content/ps-humane-op-ed-111111-w-Shapiro-mug

The factory farming business is a rotten one that shamelessly continues to excuse extreme suffering of animals for the sake of profit. Why is it that most Christians, who are called to reflect God's love onto all Creation, still support the meat, egg and dairy industries when they lack any compassion and mercy toward God's farmed animals? While many people look at agribusiness at the one to blame for the suffering of God's farmed animals, it is undeniable that those who support animal agriculture share responsibility as well.

2. This Week’s Famous Quote

Jesus’ exhortation that we love one another and not do to others what we wouldn’t want done to us is the essence of the vegan ethic, which is a boundless compassion that includes all who can suffer by our actions.

~ Will Tuttle, "The World Peace Diet"

3. Veganism Opposes Speciesism

Angel Flinn, Director of Outreach for Gentle World, and Dan Cudahy author of Unpopular Vegan Essays: Unpopular Essays Concerning Popular Violence Inflicted On The Innocent, write about the many ramifications that speciesism has in our world and explain why ethical vegans oppose it. Veganism, they say, transcends the gender, race, religion, politics and of course, species boundary. Flinn and Cudahy explore the discrepancies in Christianity and Buddhism, for example, when some or most of their respective followers try their best to find loopholes to excuse the exploitation of animals.

Please visit: Speciesism and Veganism: Transcending Politics and Religion:
http://www.care2.com/causes/speciesism-and-veganism-transcending-politics-and-religion.html#ixzz1exVU2rb5

God's animals are exploited unnecessarily by humans and sadly most Christians support this exploitation even though it clearly contradicts Jesus' teachings of compassion, mercy and love. One would expect Christians to be the leaders in opposing animal exploitation. Is it that our own benefit and pleasure trump Jesus' teachings? It is time to align our choices with our faith.

4. This Week’s Bible Verse

(RSV) Job 28:28

And he said to man, `Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'

Indeed, wisdom leads us to a path of loving kindness and compassion, helping us to avoid straying away from Jesus' teachings.

5. Horse Slaughter Legal Again in the U.S.

President Barack Obama signed a bill on Nov. 18 making horse slaughter plants legal in the US again. Pro-slaughter people believe that it is better if horses are slaughtered in the US instead of Mexico and Canada to where transport is inhumane and where there is no oversee of their treatment. Anti-slaughter groups say that horses should not be slaughtered for human consumption at all, and that there's no such thing a humane slaughter.

Please visit U.S. horse slaughter plants in the very early stages of planning, proponent says:
http://newsok.com/u.s.-horse-slaughter-plants-in-the-very-early-stages-of-planning-proponent-says/article/3626718#ixzz1f1voR0g9

While it is true that the banning of horse-slaughter in the US didn’t do much to prevent the death and especially the abuse of horses during transport and slaughter, it raised an issue that tugs to the hearts of Americans who see horses not as a food but mostly as a companion and work animal. It’s also true that making it legal again does not mean at all that they will be treated less abusively.

It is obvious that this subject creates conflict because it makes people uncomfortable, which is a good thing. Something in their conscience is telling them that the slaughtering of horses (and really of any other animal) is an ethical, spiritual and moral issue, not a trivial one. Will Christians take a stand on this subject? I hope they do. After all, we consider ourselves stewards of God’s Creation, which includes animals.

6. This Week’s Video: Butterball Turkey Farm Raided

Once again, thanks to the animal advocacy group www.MercyForAnimals.org (MFA) a turkey farm in North Carolina has been raided by officials. MFA released a video showing egregious acts of cruelty by workers as well as turkeys living in appalling conditions.

To read the article and watch the video please visit Butterball turkey farm raided after allegations of abuse:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/butterball-turkey-farm-raided-after-allegations-of-abuse/2011/12/29/gIQAWUqjOP_blog.html

Every time acts of cruelty and unkindness are exposed we get closer to decreasing victimization and making this world a better place for each and everyone of God’s creatures and the generations to come.

Hopefully, many more people after watching the video above realize that supporting the animal agriculture industry only perpetuates violence in all of God’s creation.

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