Christianity & Animal Ethics: Overview
Introduction
Jesus modeled a life of serving God in this world by tending those overlooked, marginalized, and excluded from the mainstream moral circle, who were in desperate need of his tender care. Jesus modeled core ethics of mercy, love, and service in this world to the most downtrodden. Genesis recalls the original creation as peaceful and plant-based, and scriptures enlist the work of the faithful to help restore the Peaceable Kingdom throughout our lives in this world. Animal narratives in sacred writings portray animals as thinking, feeling beings, nurtured by God and endowed with moral and spiritual significance. Unfortunately, many Christians exhibit the arrogance of human exceptionalism and focus on the promise of a better life to come while ignoring the suffering and mass deaths of animals at human hands in their own communities. Motivated by faith, both Jesus and the prophets provide a compelling model and mandate for serving God through social justice activism, including animal activism.
Sacred Texts
Genesis and the Gospels establish a moral foundation that requires kindness to animals.
Sacred Stories
Genesis Sacred narratives recognize animals as thinking, feeling individuals, nurtured by God, and endowed with moral and spiritual significance.
Discord
Due to the arrogance of human exceptionalism, Christians often fail to extend their practice to animals; due to an excessive emphasis on the life to come, many also fail to faithfully serve God in this world.
Food Ethics
Despite common efforts to justify normative eating habits, Scripture calls contemporary Christians to a vegan life.
Activism
Jesus and the prophets advocated social and political change on behalf of the downtrodden, inspiring many Christians to embrace animal activism.
Relevant Publications by Tapestry
-
Animals and Christianity
-
Amore - Vegan ethics
Image Credit
Texts & Teachings: Berlin Gutenberg Bible, Berlin Germany, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Inc. 1511 − Photo 20 | Photo by Facsimile Finder
Diet: Vegetable Wellington - Plant-Based Holiday Roast | Recipe and image by J. Kenji López-Alt
Sacred Stories: Rembrandt Van Rijn, “The Fall of Man” (ca 1510). (Image courtesy of ArtBible.)
Activism: Choti Singh, Director of Mfuwe Snakebite Prevention in Zambia | By Southern African Herpetologists