Animal Rights

Question 1

Christian teachings to animals showing stewardship?

Answer 1

Genesis 1:28 we should ‘rule over every living creature’ good stewardship = good dominion
Proverbs 12:10 ‘the righteous man knows the needs of their animals’
Psalm 24:1 ‘the earth is the lords (…) and those who live in it’ (we are all gods children, we have been entrusted with animals)
Traditional view was humancentric - animals were created for human purpose

Question 2

Hindu teachings to animals showing dominion?

Answer 2

In the Ramayana, Rama hunts for food

Question 3

Hindu teachings to animals showing stewardship?

Answer 3

Bhagavad Gita 5:18 ‘the humble safe sees with equal vision animals and humans’
Ahimsa = non violence
The laws of many ‘no sin in eating meat…but abstenation brings great rewards’
Gandhi said ‘the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’

Question 4

Christian teachings to animals showing dominion?

Answer 4

Genesis 1:28 ‘you must rule over every living creature’

Genesis 9:3 ‘every moving thing that lives shall be food for you’

Question 5

How religious believer can help animal rights?

Answer 5

Campaign
Prey
Not give money to anything involving animal exploiting
Teach others to help animals

Question 6

Religious responses to animal experiments? (Eg cloning and genetic modification)

Answer 6

Christianity:
Corinthians 15:38 ‘God gives it a body as he has chosen’
‘You shall not let your cattle breed with another kind’
Protestants don’t mind cloning Roman Catholics do
Hinduism:
Interfering with animals dharma
Only brahma should have power to create life