Animal Rights Groups Focus on Religion
By Pork news staff Friday, May 15, 2009
"Animal rights activists are using religious messages to recruit a segment of the millennial generation that has little doctrinal anchor in order to advance their vegetarian agenda", said Wes Jamison, an ordained Baptist Minister and associate professor of communications at Palm Beach Atlantic University, addressing participants at the Animal Agriculture Alliance's 8th Annual Stakeholders Summit, held this week in Alexandria, Va.
Jamison explained that two major factors are driving animal rights groups' attempts to engage people of faith. The first is that people motivated by religion tend to give generously, which is an important factor to the $400 million a year animal rights industry. The second reason is that people motivated by religious zeal tend to have sustained intensity over time. This is a critical feature lacking from the current animal rights movement, since many vegans and vegetarians tend to eventually return to an omnivorous diet.
He indicated that animal rights groups are carefully selecting religious passages that appeal to targeted individuals' sense of compassion, self-denial and guilt. He then pointed to Biblical stories that directly refute the messages and went on to label animal rights groups engaging in this tactic as "meaning entrepreneurs."
"We caution people against buying into such messages and encourage people to do their own review of Biblical scripture and literature," said Kay Johnson Smith, executive vice President of the Animal Agriculture Alliance. "Farmers and ranchers are among the most compassionate people in the world and are committed to the care of their animals as a top priority." Link
The interesting thing about radical animal rights groups trying to use religion is that many of the radical ones that I have dealt with are atheist. It seems as though they prefer to worship at the alter of animal rights. The sad part is that many denominations in this country have been infiltrated by some of this radical thinking. Apparently, the story of the golden calf is as relevant today as it has ever been.
3 comments:
Geez, they must pick and choose and re-translate much of what they use to appeal to the religious factions.
For instance, I will quote Deuteronomy 16:19-22, "Set apart for the Lord your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your oxen to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep. Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. You are to eat it in your own towns. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer. But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water."
Also, you are specifically asked to celebrate Passover by sacrificing and animal from your flock or herd and to eat it with unleavened bread, making sure that there is nothing left by morning.
Again, these people decide to use and abuse as they see fit, ignoring the facts.
The problem with religious discussions and debates is that no side ever gets to "prove" their points. It's all done on faith that whatever bible is being quoted; is accurate. "The true word and meaning of God", always depends on whose god and whose bible.
Of course you know that there are billions of people who worship in different beliefs. Many whose teachings say that God permits no man to kill any one. They believe in what is said to be the "highest commandment" from their God - "Thy shalt not kill".
(period).
And too, there are dozens of other religions that have footnotes to get around this edict.
So whose "God" said what? No one can be 100% certain.
With that in mind, it's always best that people search in their own hearts and minds for what they believe is true...
In the end, isn't that what "free will" is all about?
Oh... I'm sorry, I forgot to also add about the "golden calf"...
There are stories from the Essenes, who follow the Gospel of Peace... that Christ lived among them. It is also theorized that Christ traveled with the original Desert Fathers and practiced their teachings as well.
So, again... whose account of "facts" are always in question.
But one story that has the most confusing message has got to be what Christ supposedly did at the temple stairs. There are many versions - one includes the idea that since Christ was the peacemaker, he was outraged to see animals sold on holy ground. It was so blasphemous to him that it's the only account that he ever showed violence...
Hummm... makes one wonder if flesh selling is (or isn't) sanctioned by "God".
If you're interested in further reading - Religious scholar Norm Phelpshas written several excellent books regarding scripture interpretations.
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