Animal welfare organization finds religion
High Plains Journal
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has discovered religion and that is not necessarily a good thing for animal agriculture, according to Wes Jamison.
Jamison, an associate professor of communication at Palm Beach Atlantic University, was a featured speaker at the Nebraska Ag Classic held Dec. 1 and 2 in Lincoln, Neb. His presentation was entitled "Ready for Combustion: Animals, Religion, Politics & the HSUS."
Jamison has studied HSUS for the last 20 years and has outlined their five main strategies for animal welfare. The first is to change the legal standing of animals. As it stands now, animals are considered property, but HSUS would like to change that standing so that animal owners are considered legal custodians. Jamison said under state law this would make it possible for outside entities to sue on behalf of the animals.
Jamison recently completed a research project, partly funded by the Nebraska Farm Bureau, looking at the message HSUS is using with consumers and what messages the animal industry can use to counter them.
HSUS is targeting pet owners. The wedge issue is that pet owners have one animal at the center of their lives and another animal at the center of their plate. If HSUS wants to win more state initiatives, they must win over pet owners.
"Consumers view animal agriculture through pet owners' eyes," Jamison said.
Their message is that animals have individual worth and God knows each and every one of them by name, while we in agriculture treat them like property with economic value. Read More
Dr. Jamison is one of my favorite speakers to hear on this topic. Having studied these animal rights groups for so long, it’s interesting to see him show the progression of their tactics over time. Their recent efforts to use religion as a way of making people feel guilty about what they eat are particularly disturbing. Humans aren’t just another species of animal that was created by God. We were made in his image and given dominion over the animals. It’s also interesting to me that the animal rights activists that have argued religion with me the most were atheists.
3 comments:
"We were made in *his* image"... Troy, that is priceless!
Also, just because one is an non-theist, it doesn't mean they don't understand religious teachings or doctrines. No matter what one's philosophy might be about the existence, or the "commandments" of a deity... It still stands true, that no one will betray their faith if they refuse to kill/eat animals.
With the exception of all but a few tribal bushmen, every organized religion has an "out" written into scripture and teachings. In fact, there are some religions that expressly forbid the killing of Others. Then it all comes down to whose "gOd" is "God"?
At the very least we each are "gods" of our own making. Each is capable of creating a world which is benevolent, respectful and kind to Others. We each have in our ability, the means to seek a more peaceful existence.
It seems that the only enemy to this ideology is the belief that "might dominates right". In which case, it becomes difficult to differentiate the holy"men" from thugs.
I agree with you Bea. The things I have learned at church and being a Christian are priceless. It's unfortunate that you don't believe. And since you don't believe, there is no way for you to understand my beliefs. That only comes from a relationship with God, not by mocking his word.
Here's something the bible doesn't teach us. It doesn't teach us to promote vegan militance, public disobediance and to advocate violence against people like you do. For you to say you promote peace is in direct opposition to the actions you support.
I was taught to pray for people like you that don't believe and encourage violence, so I will continue to do that. Hopefully someday you can help yourself before it's too late.
Public disobedience Troy? What about the Christ man who went in a rage at the holy temple? What about the "militant" patriots who rebelled against British tyranny?
But speaking of "violence" - I doubt seriously if there is a time you sit down for a meal when it's not on your plate... Violence is aggression. I do not advocate agression - But self defense.
"And I am my brother's keeper And I will fight his fight, And speak the word for beast and bird, Till the world shall set things right. "
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)
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