Animal Rights and the Bible

Animal Rights and the Bible

Daily Truths and Research

sites=
(1) www.biblestudylessons.com...
David Pratte
(2) www.lavistachurchofchrist.org...
La Vista Church of Christ, by Darryl G. Treat
(3) www.all-creatures.org...
Rev. Alexander Roberts, D.D. and James Donaldson, LL.D., Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids Michigan.

(1)What does the Animal Liberation Movement believe about the rights of animals, and how do their beliefs compare to the Bible? Should animals have rights, or should people own and use animals as property? Are people superior to animals? Are we in the image of God, so we have dominion over them? May we wear clothing made from leather and fur? What about hunting, trapping, and farming? Should we eat meat, fish, or poultry? How do groups like PETA view the Bible and Christianity? Should a Christian believe in Animal Rights? The animal rights or animal liberation movement is frequently mentioned in the news. It influences many people and organizations, especially government, schools, and businesses. The purpose of this study is to examine the real, fundamental beliefs and goals of the animal rights movement (especially those of PETA), comparing them to the Bible. If men and animals are fundamentally the same in nature, then we would expect animals to have the same rights as men. But if men are fundamentally different from animals, then we should expect different rules to apply.
(2)Is it morally wrong to hunt, kill and eat animals? This is the question that animal rights activists have been asking and trying to get America to answer in the affirmative. Some animal rights activists are even making the claim that Jesus was a vegetarian, and in order to show respect for God's creatures, we should follow his example. Well, they're not the first to misuse Bible scripture to push an agenda, and certainly won't be the last. As a Christian, it’s up to me to examine the Bible to see if my actions are morally acceptable by God's standards.
(3) "Woe to those who stretch themselves upon their couches and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall. They shall be the first to be exiled." (Amos 6:4-7) According to a Coptic fragment; the Acts of Thomas; the History of John; and the writings of the Early Church Father Irenaeus; Jesus did not serve fish to the masses, but rather, he served only bread.
"He [God] then who at the first was displeased with the slaughtering of animals, not wishing them to be slain, did not ordain sacrifices as desiring them; nor from the beginning did He require them." (St. Peter the Apostle, 1st Bishop of Rome: Clementine Homilies)
What is C.A.R.E. Organization
C.A.R.E. is a Christian ministry designed to liberate animals from suffering by recognizing and promoting their rights amongst believers in Christ. C.A.R.E.'s mission is to inform other Christians of the following two teachings of God. Humans and animals are equal and mankind has no advantage over the beasts. (Eccles. 3:19) All professing Christians are to be vegetarians. In accordance with this teaching, Saint Paul says: "I will never eat meat any more, for I will not be the cause of my brothers' downfall." "The right thing to do is to keep from eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that will make other believers fall." (1st Cor. 8:13 & Romans 14:21 NEB & TEV)

Animal rights are a large deal to many people, and a large controversy all around the world. The acts of killing an animal for fun or even eating is viewed by many animal rights activists as wrong. Others claim using an animal for testing or show is wrong too. There have been many acclaims that the Bible supports a does not support the animal rights. These articles show different views over what an animal is and how it is to be treated. All in all an animal is an animal, and human are humans. Even though animals are sometimes abused, they are a means to survive. Animals are looked upon by animal lovers as humans also; those have just the same rights but can not speak. Also the animals can not make rational decisions or answer question periods. Given that man has a divine right over what an animal does or becomes.

Verses:
Genesis 1:26-28
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

The view of animals and their rights changes from person to person. An animal is a creature with a soul, but a soul unlike a human’s soul. A humans soul is crafted by God in His image, animal were just part of creation. Animals are created under man; a man has been given a right by God to rule over them. After the fall of man, a lot of things changed to wards the view of what animal was. In the Garden of Eden animals were there that was all they were. After the sin of Adam an Eve, it gave way to animal as a means to survive, other than just fruits a vegetables. The verses show that man was created with a soul in that of Gods image; an to rule over the fish an every living creature on earth. Even before the fall of man, God allowed man to have his way with creation as man saw fit. This was a blessing from god and not a curse or law. Any one person is allowed to take the blessing how they want.

Man has been given the right to rule over animals by God, an not animals to rule over man, nor be on the same level as man. In the bible, man is referred to have all beneath his feet, in this time when this is said, this meaning man rules everything under his feet, an all that is on what he stands. Through these means, God did ask for sacrifices an further down the line the rules became more strict on what was worthy for sacrifice. In that being an animal, pure an of the best. There is no sin in eating an animal, but for game an show of animals, tends to be a waste of what God has blessed man with, an that is not worthy of anything.



Now this subject is just well different, it has many different ways to look at it, I personally love meat, but who knows what the truth is.



[edit on 17-11-2006 by ragster]

[edit on 17-11-2006 by ragster]