Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - July 22, 2024
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Finding Peace of Mind: Trust
  2. Commentary from CVA Member Larry Brown
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. Finding Peace of Mind: Trust

The last essay, which dealt with interpersonal relationships, noted the importance of trust. When primal humans lived in small communities of about 150 people or fewer, people had to be trustworthy or they would be ostracized by the group. Today, most of the people we deal with daily are strangers. Though some people lie and cheat, most deal honestly with each other. What keeps us from cheating each other?

There are civil laws that punish people for dishonest financial dealings, but litigation is an inefficiently and expensive way to address cheating. To a degree, a dishonest person can get a bad reputation that hurts business, but in large cities a few dissatisfied customers won’t be very harmful.

Morality often encourages honest dealings, particularly when there is a sense of tribal brotherhood between the parties. However, this does not protect those who are perceived as outside one’s own tribe. Some people are trustworthy, because they fear the wrath of an omniscient God, but what about the many people who do not believe that this kind of God exists?

Many people are trustworthy because they have internalized an ethic, which can have religious or secular roots, that includes compassion and respect. A possible way to communicate this ethic across different religious and secular traditions is to note the beauty and grandeur all around us and to encourage everyone to protect and promote beauty and grandeur. We can do this by talking in talking about treating all Creation with an attitude that the Buddhists call loving-kindness.

How can we ascertain who is most trustworthy? I suggest that those who strive to treat everyone with loving-kindness have character that we can trust. While we can expect people to treat nicely family, friends, and those from whom they want something, those who are kind and compassionate toward strangers show trustworthy character. Most revealing, I think, is how they treat nonhumans, who can never return the favor but who are most vulnerable to human predations. Next, I will explore this further.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD 

2. Commentary from CVA Member Larry Brown

Where are the St. Francis’s, Wesley’s, and Schweitzer’s today?
Published in the Dayton Daily News "Ideas & Voices" Column, March 11, 2023

Most Christians have some awareness of St. Francis’s concern for animals, but few would connect John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and Albert Schweitzer, missionary, doctor, theologian, and Nobel Peace Prize winner in any profound way with the treatment of animals. This is unfortunate.

Today, any suggestion that Christians re-examine their faith and begin to include animal suffering in their scope of moral concern is often met with derision and hostility. Instead of trying to address the issue in creative and appropriate ways that provide understanding for church members, the clergy seem to prefer remaining willfully ignorant and dismissive. Fear of losing members has been expressed, but if handled in a sensitive manner, I believe the fear will prove to be mostly unfounded.

With Sunday School classes and Bible Studies in place, churches provide a ready-made environment for dealing with a subject. Introducing the thinking and philosophy of the three Christian luminaries could be a non-threatening method of acquainting members with alternative views of Christian responsibility when it comes to animals. Some knowledge of cultural practices with animals would be required to add context to the discussion. The church has rightly been called a “Sleeping Giant,“ which, if properly awakened, could hasten the day when animal suffering is significantly reduced. Advocating for meaningful Bible Studies of this timely moral issue by members might give it just the push needed. A willingness, also, to incorporate plant-based foods and dairy alternatives, along with seeking out cruelty-free products are concrete steps toward reducing cruelty and ones that approach what the Christian luminaries taught.

The following are a few examples, out of many, of the orientation of the three, that could be examined:

St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226): Numerous stories illustrate the Saint’s love and close relationship to animals. For example, he called all creatures his brothers and sisters and as such, their welfare concerned him. St. Francis was also known to rescue animals being harshly treated. He was adamant that animals were as much God’s creatures as humans and as such should be protected. He believed it was not only our duty to refrain from harming animals, but to help them when they required it. It is said that St. Francis preached to a flock of birds that gave him their full attention. Such charming and heartwarming accounts suggest a different attitude toward animals may be more appropriate for Christians than is currently exhibited. St. Francis went on to say, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.“

John Wesley (1703-1791): In his sermon The General Deliverance, he declared, “Nothing is more sure than as the Lord is loving to every person, so is his mercy over all his works“. He tells us to imitate God with our own tender mercies. Wesley also clarifies that it was Adam with perfect faculties and no biases who was given dominion. This verse is very often appropriated out of context to excuse the treatment of animals. Wesley goes on to ask if animals will always remain in this deplorable condition, concluding they will not. He says, “Their groans are not dispersed in idle air but enter the ears of Him who made them. "

Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965): When still a small child he said he wondered why people never prayed for animals, so he composed the following prayer: “Dear God, protect and bless all living things; keep them from evil and let them sleep in peace.“ Eventually, he organized his life and philosophy around the principle of ‘Reverence for Life,’ saying, “Whenever I injure any kind of life, I must be certain that it is necessary.” Schweitzer asked, " How much effort will it take for us to get people to understand the words of Jesus, blessed are the merciful, and bring them to the realization that their responsibility includes all creatures?”

Sadly, most Christians, as well as the secular population, are more concerned with maintaining their pleasure, convenience, and tradition, than in expressing mercy, compassion, and selflessness when it comes to animals. Perhaps, somehow, acquaintance with these Christian luminaries may help encourage a more reflective, thoughtful, and compassionate approach.

Larry Brown is a retired teacher, songwriter, musician, and former candidate for State Representative. He has been a vegetarian/vegan since 1976.

3. From All-Creatures.Org Ministry

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, July 17, 2024

Dairy industry sexual exploitation of Bulls — Animal factories poison everything — Cape Fur Seals and rabies — can we save Florida’s Key Deer? — Total Ethics Fashion [book] — how Chickens let you know if/when they want attention — ‘running of the Bulls’ 2024 — poems: Bearing Witness, Living Carousel (Pony ‘rides’), irrational and endless speciesism — bird flu testing is shoddy and dangerous — ‘homesteading’ is another term for backyard butchering — and more…

Do you have things that you would like to see included in future newsletters? Then send it to us at veda@all-creatures.org. 

In the Love of the Lord,
Frank L Hoffman
All-Creatures.org

and

Kindness,
Tams Nicholson
Executive Directress
All-Creatures.org 

2024 Newsletters Archive