Christianity - Introduction
The Animals and Religion Book Series and Website are the work of Professor Emeritus Dr. Lisa Kemmerer at Tapestry.
All of the information on this website is from Animals and Judaism. All proceeds return directly to Tapestry, which funds free access to social justice research and writing. This project, part of an ongoing and collective effort necessary to realize the peace and compassion that is central to the core ethics of each of the world’s great religions, is only possible with the support of readers like you.
Overview
In what ways does Judaism call people to a life of compassion, peace, and service, and how does this matter to animals, the earth, and what we eat? What do sacred stories, the prophets, and religious leaders teach about rightful human relations with nature and animals and how do these teachings inform the lives of Jewish activists? What changes do these teachings encourage in our daily lives? Animals and Judaism answers these questions and many more.
Each book in this series, and each page of the Animals and Religion website (animalsandreligion.org), explores ethics and rightful relations with animals, focusing on core religious ethics in one of the world’s largest religions (including compassion, humility, service, and simplicity), calling for spiritual integrity and helping to build a more peaceful and compassionate world. This work is part of a collective effort necessary to realize the peace and compassion that are central to the teachings of each of the world’s great religions.
Working across religious traditions, as this project does, requires the generous support and assistance of many, and we are grateful to all of you. Our work is only possible with the generous support of readers like you.
Christianity 5.1, Introduction: Overview and Outline
In what ways does Christianity call people to a life of compassion, peace, and service, and how does this matter to animals, the earth, and what we eat? What do sacred stories, the prophets, and religious leaders teach about rightful human relations with nature and animals and how do these teachings inform the lives of Christian activists? What changes do these teachings encourage in our daily lives? This book (and the accompanying website) answers these questions and many more.
Animals and Christianity is created at Tapestry (http://lisakemmerer.com/tapestry.html as part of the Animals and Religion Program, animalsandreligion.org) by professor emeritus Dr. Lisa Kemmerer, known internationally for her research and writing on the topic. Each book in this series, and each page of the Animals and Religion website (animalsandreligion.org), explores ethics and rightful relations with animals, focusing on core religious ethics in one of the world’s largest religions (including compassion, humility, service, and simplicity), inspiring spiritual integrity, and helping to build a more peaceful and compassionate world.
From Genesis to Revelation, and from the early church to the present day, there are vivid examples of God’s—and the church’s—love of, care for, and delight in animal creatures. (Sarah Withrow King, Master of Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary, co-founder of CreatureKind, “What Does Christianity Have to Do with Animals?” n.p.)
Two friends at ease at a sanctuary. (Image courtesy of We Animals Media.)
Helpful Information about This Book/Website
Animals and Religion book series and website use the term “anymals” (a contraction of “any” and “animals,” pronounced in English as “any” and “mul”) to avoid using “animals” as if humans were not animals. Only quotes from other sources maintain an incorrect use of “animal.”
“Anymal” indicates all individuals of a species other than that of the speaker/author/signer. In other words, if a human being uses this term, they refer to all species except Homo sapiens, but if a chimpanzee signs “anymal,” they indicate all species (including human beings) except their own. Therefore, when used by the author of this book, “anymal” indicates all living beings except human beings. (For more on “anymal,” see “Verbal Activism: ‘Anymals’” (Kemmerer, Society and Animals 14.1, 2006: 9-14) at http://lisakemmerer.com/publications.html.)
Sacred writings are central to the work of the Animals and Religion branch of Tapestry. The core text of Judaism, the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, is sacred for three of the world’s largest religions:
Christianity inherits from Judaism, and Islam inherits from both Judaism and Christianity. In this way the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible and the Qur'an form one linked textual tradition . . . [and] Muslims refer to followers of all three religions as ‘People of the Book’. (“Faith: Books.” n.p.)
The Hebrew Bible is sacred for Jews and Christians. Though the Quran is the primary text, Muslims also believe that these earlier scriptures were divinely revealed. Nonetheless, the first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, called Torah/Tawrat/Tawrah) and Psalms (or Zabur) are also sacred for Muslims. Additionally, the Christian Gospels (which record the life of Jesus) are sacred for Muslims. Therefore, the teachings of these texts are important for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
When referencing and exploring core Jewish and Christian texts, this book uses the English translation generally preferred by scholars, the New Revised Standard Version (accessed at https://www.bible.com/bible/2016/GEN.1.NRSV.
Turkey and sheep at Freedom Farm vegan anymal sanctuary in Israel. (Image courtesy of Freedom Farm Facebook page.)
Christianity Pages, Content
Christianity 5.1, Introduction and Outline
Introduction
Helpful Information
Outline for Christianity Pages
Christianity 5.2, Anymals: Sacred Texts and Teachings
New Testament
The Relevance of Jesus for Anymals
1. Jesus as Flesh
Jesus as Loving Servant of the Oppressed
Jesus as Present with Suffering
Gentle as a Lamb
New Testament Ethics (Backed by the Hebrew Bible)
1. Love
2. Mercy
3. Service
4. Peace
5. Humility
6. Sharing
7. Salvation for All
II. Hebrew Bible
A. Creation: Genesis 1 and 2
1. Kinship: Sixth Day
2. Kinship: Breath of Life
3. Rulership in The Image of God
4. Vegan Dominion
5. Creation as a Unified Good
6. Duties Assigned by God
7. Shared Purpose: Woman and Anymals
B. Creator
Sole Proprietor
Fully Invested—Compassionate and Attentive
Nature/Habitat as Good/Holy
In Covenant with Anymals/Earth
Conclusion
Featured Sources
Christianity 5.3, Diet: The Vegan Debate
I. Genesis Diet
Point: God permits the consumption of animals for food in Genesis 9.
Counterpoints:
A. God strongly dislikes violence, which is corruption.
B. Omnivory and vegetarianism cause fear and dread.
C. God reaffirms the vegan diet by providing manna.
D. Christianity teaches love and working for moral perfection.
Summary Point: We Must Choose.
II. Sacrifice
Point: Anymal sacrifices are prescribed by God and indicated to be pleasing to God.
Counterpoints
Many (Protestant) Christians understand Jesus to have been the ultimate and final sacrifice, replacing ritual sacrifices
Eating anymals in the 21st century is not justified by scriptural descriptions of anymal sacrifice.
God does not delight in the smell of burning bodies.
Bloodletting rituals were phased out and replaced more than 2000 years ago.
Anymals are not ours to give.
Summary Point: The second counterpoint closes the topic.
III. Acts 10:9–16 tells us that we can (and should) eat all foods that God has given, including anymals.
Point: God instructs Peter to eat animals and Paul teaches that all foods are acceptable, so it is fine to eat anymal products.
Counterpoints
Acts 10:9-16 indicates a vegan diet.
Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 support and strengthen Acts 10.
Mark 7 also supports Acts 10
Summary of Acts 10, Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, and Mark 7
IV. Jesus—Fishes and Fishing
Point: Jesus ate fishes.
Counterpoints:
Eating fishes in the 21st century does not align with core Christian ethics.
In multiplying bread and fishes, Jesus does not cause the death of even one fish.
Jesus fills fishing nets in order to pull people away from fishing.
In scriptures, food and eating are often metaphors, not to be taken literally.
One Gospel reports that Jesus ate a piece of fish to prove to doubting disciples that he had risen, but morally speaking, this is not a legitimate reason to choose to consume fishes.
Summary of Jesus and Fishes
V. The Swine of Gerasene/Gadarene/Girgesene
Point: If a pig’s life is valuable in the sight of God, why did Jesus allow evil spirits to enter a herd of pigs, which cost them their lives?
Counterpoints:
A: This story is not about the comparative value of life.
B. This story is not about the value of the lives of pigs.
C: The pigs’ presence is symbolic.
Summary Comment on the Swine of Gerasene
VI. Vegan Moral Imperative: AMORE--Five critical reasons to choose vegan
Animals: Compassion, Mercy, Not to Harm
Medical: Caring for Humanity
Oppression
World Hunger and Sharing
The Labor Force
isms
Racism and Classism
Sexism
Isms and valuing based on production/reproduction
Religion
Environment
Conclusion
Featured Sources
Christianity 4.4, Stories: Exploring Sacred Narratives
Overview
The Donkey and Balaam of Numbers 22
Stories of Saints
Conclusion
Christianity 4.5, Disquietudes: Traditions that Conflict with Teachings
Overview
Christ’s Embodied Ministry
Historic Perspective
Our Lives Embodied
1. Peace on Earth
2. Holiness and Excellence in this Life
Summary
Humility—A God-Centered Universe
The Snake of Genesis 3
Conclusion
Christianity 4.6, Activism: Ethics in Action
Overview
I. Jesus as Liberationist
II. The Prophets as Activists
III. Christian Anymal Activists
Dr. Humphrey Primatt
Leo Tolstoy
The Christian Vegetarian Association and Dr. Stephen Kaufman
Annika Spalde and Pelle Strindlund
Conclusion
Christianity 4.7, Resources
Websites
Books
Christianity 4.8, References
“It is my hope that ... the State of Israel will soon become a ‘light unto the nations’ (Isaiah 49:6) and pride itself, among other things, in having a moral and conscientious policy toward animals.”
Helpful information about this Book/Website
“Anymal” is a contraction of “any” and “animal,” pronounced as these words are pronounced in English (“any” and “mul”). Anymal indicates all individuals from all species other than that of the speaker/author. In other words, if a human being uses this term, all species except Homo sapiens are indicated, but it is just as true that, if a chimpanzee signs “anymal,” they reference all species (including human beings) except chimpanzees. Using the term “anymal” avoids the use of
“animal” as if human beings were not animals;
humancentric, dualistic, and alienating references such as “non” and “other”; and
cumbersome terms such as nonhuman animals and other-than-human animals.
For more on “anymal” see Kemmerer, Lisa. “Verbal Activism: ‘Anymals’” (Originally published with Society and Animals 14.1 (May 2006): 9-14
Photo courtesy of Danielle Meiri and Pacific Roots Magazine.
Animals and Religion references sources via endnotes, indicated by superscript roman numerals in the text.
Sacred writings are central to the work of the Animals and Religion branch of Tapestry. The core text of Judaism, the Tanakh, is sacred for three of the world’s largest religions:
Christianity inherits from Judaism, and Islam inherits from both Judaism and Christianity. In this way the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible and the Qur'an form one linked textual tradition . . . [and] Muslims refer to followers of all three religions as ‘People of the Book’. (British Library)
These texts are not only sacred for Jews but also for Christians (as the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament), and though Muslims believe that these earlier scriptures were divinely revealed, they also believe that only the Quran remains in its original form. Nonetheless, key portions of these earlier text are sacred for Muslims, including the Torah (or Tawrat/Tawrah, the first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and Psalms (or Zabur), as well as the Gospels recording the life of Jesus. The teachings of these texts are therefore important for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
When referencing and exploring core Jewish and Christian texts, this book uses the English translation generally preferred by scholars, the New Revised Standard Version.
Photo courtesy of Israel21c, ‘Why Israelis are leading the vegan revolution’
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