Weekly Newsletter - March 9, 2016
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Advocating for Animals, part 8
  2. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
  3. The March “Peaceable Table” Is Now Online

1. Advocating for Animals, part 8

Based on my thoughts from the previous seven essays, I suggest that animal advocates abide by the following principles:

  1. Avoid second-guessing the motives of fellow animal advocates. Human behavior is complex and usually involves multiple motivations. Many who advocate for incremental changes in animal treatment share with abolitionists a yearning for the day when humans will stop harming animals. Abolitionists, who are sometimes accused of caring more about personal purity than animal well-being, are usually passionate animal defenders.
  2. Animal protectionists should not undermine each other’s efforts. It is fine to disagree and argue, and we can certainly learn from each other. Further, some animal advocates might decide to not participate in those campaigns that they don’t believe are particularly helpful for animals. Since none of us really knows the best strategy to stop harmful exploitation of nonhumans, we should not impede the efforts of those whose chosen strategy differs from our own.
  3. We should resist the temptation to allow petty human conflicts to undermine our efforts. Too often, perceived slights, jealousies, and contempt for competing ideologies have turned fellow animal advocates into bitter rivals, making it that much easier for animal exploitation industries to continue their nefarious practices.

If we are to do our best to protect God’s Creation and God’s animals, we must be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Toward that end, I welcome comments and suggestions.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

2. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Seeking Worldly Things Brings Sorrow

3. The March “Peaceable Table” Is Now Online

Contents include:

The Glimpse of the Peaceable Kingdom portrays Bea the giraffe and Wilma the ostrich, buddies living in a huge enclosure in one of the Busch Gardens in the US.

Actor John Christopher "Johnny" Depp is quoted in one of the Unset Gems as reminding readers who don't like to see pictures of cruelty to animals that they should protest the cruelty instead of the pictures.
 
See an encouraging legal update in the NewsNotes on the dramatic story last year of the pursuit of the notorious poaching ship Thunder by two Sea Shepherd vessels.
 
The March Pioneers are Myrtle and Charles Fillmore, co-founders of the Unity Church, together with their son Royal. The Fillmores' chief concern in their vegetarian commitment was meeting the need for the spiritual life to be in harmony with all life, rather than feasting on violence against living creatures.
 
You will enjoy the results of trying out this month's Recipe for tahini sauce. It does wonders for grains, pasta, and other foods.

To read this issue, click here.

Toward the Peaceable Kingdom,
Gracia Fay Ellwood, Editor

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