1. Christian Vegetarian Association UK Conference
2. Commentary on the Lectionary: Reflections on
Self-Esteem
3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary
Hoffman
1. Christian Vegetarian Association UK Conference
Kudos to our sister organization CVAUK, which held a conference
entitled “Christianity and Vegetarianism: Nature, Creation, and the
Peaceable Kingdom” at the Leeds Humanities Research Institute on 8/14 -
8/15. You can download the insightful presentations at :
http://www.caninestyle.co.uk/leeds/.
2. Commentary on the Lectionary: Reflections on
Self-Esteem
We have a strong need for self-esteem, in part because a sense of
self-esteem is a salve against our innate fear of death. However, know
that we have shortcomings, many of which we do our best to hide from the
public and perhaps even our closest friends and loved ones. Those who
believe in God generally believe that they can’t hide their shortcomings
from God. In that case, are they really worthy of God’s love and
concern? If not, what will happen when they die? Even among atheists,
self-esteem correlates with a sense of immortality, for example by
virtue of their being remembered in a positive light.
There are many people who claim to have complete confidence that they
will go to heaven after they die, but I think uncertainties often gnaw
at their psyches. The need to feel worthy and righteous can be a strong
motivator to blame other individuals for our shortcomings. How often,
when we make a mistake, is our first response to try to lay the blame
elsewhere? In the bitter disputes we’ve had, have we not convinced
ourselves that the other person(s) are entirely to blame, and that we
are totally innocent victims? Wouldn’t an honest appraisal normally
demonstrate that the blame should be shared, though not necessarily
equally.
Animals are frequent victims of the blame game, in part they can’t
defend themselves against baseless accusations. Thus, farmers cut off
the tails of crowded pigs on the grounds that otherwise the pigs would
engage in the “vice” of tail-biting; hunters demonize and kill members
of predator species who compete with hunters for “game”; and meat-eaters
relieve their conflicted feelings about eating animals by holding farmed
animals, such as chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, and other animals, in
contempt.
As long as we evaluate ourselves and gain self-esteem through the
domination of others – and eating their bodies is an extreme expression
of domination – there will not be peace among humans nor between humans
and the rest of God’s Creation. The realm of God “on earth as in heaven”
is only possible if we can find ways to find self-esteem that don’t
involve harming other individuals. I think Christianity has an answer,
which I will discuss next week.
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary
Hoffman
Daniel, God’s Man in the Field (Part IX)
http://www.all-creatures.org/sermons97/s27aug89.html .