Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - July 2, 2026
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. The Sin of the World
  2. All-Creatures.Org Ministry
  3. Rooms for Rent in San Antonio, TX Area

1. The Sin of the World

John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus, declared, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World!" (John 1:29). What was the sin of the world?

Many interpret this phrase as referring to humanity's inherent sinfulness, often tracing that condition to Adam's disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. This interpretation presents several difficulties. Although human beings are tempted to act selfishly, unkindly, or otherwise sinfully, we are not compelled to yield to those temptations. Moreover, if human sinfulness is inherited from Adam, one must explain the mechanism by which Adam's guilt is transmitted across generations. Augustine of Hippo proposed that original sin is conveyed through sexual reproduction, but this hypothesis lacks both compelling evidence and a convincing rationale.

I suggest instead that the sin of the world is participation in the scapegoating process—the deeply rooted human tendency to harm innocent individuals in order to enhance one's own well-being or preserve social cohesion. Unlike many other sins, whose definitions often reflect changing social norms, scapegoating appears to be as old as human civilization. Indeed, the creation narratives of many religious traditions, including Christianity, depict the expulsion or murder of one or more individuals as the means by which communities are established, preserved, or allowed to flourish.

In the scapegoating process, victims are first portrayed as deserving of contempt, thereby justifying their exploitation for selfish ends, as in animal agriculture, or they are falsely blamed for crises perceived to threaten the stability of a community. This process of assigning excessive blame to innocent individuals and then ostracizing, persecuting, or sacrificing them has characterized human societies since the dawn of civilization and continues to the present day. Countless individuals have fallen victim to this process throughout history, and unless humanity embraces the path revealed by Jesus and echoed by other great spiritual teachers, countless more will suffer in the future. Through his life, teachings, and death, Jesus revealed a way by which humanity can renounce the sin of the world.

To accomplish this, Jesus chose to become the Lamb of God. I will explore this next.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

2. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

https://all-creatures.org/newsletter/news-20260624.html

Activist shares firsthand experience protecting geese from hunters - ensuring your companion animals receive care if you are sick or injured - four plants to add to your garden for butterflies - how to report illness related to companion animal food - preparing your family for natural disasters - Koshary: Egypt's traditional vegan street food - empty promises of cage-free campaigns and the reality of cage-free facilities - At the Table [new hymn from Tams Nicholson] - and more...

3. Rooms for Rent in San Antonio, TX Area

CVA member Walt Smith writes: I've got two furnished rooms and would like to rent them to Christian vegetarians for short or long term.

Those who are interested may reply to this e-newsletter for more information.
[Contact lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com]

Please support the CVA! At www.christianveg.org/materials.htm, you can find literature, T-shirts, bumper stickers and more, and donations are always welcomed!

2026 Newsletters Archive