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TOPIC 1 – RELIGION AND ANIMALS ANIMAL RIGHTS - KEY WORDS Genetic modification Factory farming Cloning Stewardship Plants and animals that have had their natural make-up altered by scientists. When animals are used for meat or dairy products but are kept indoors in very small spaces. The scientific method by which animals or plants can be created which have exactly the same genetic make up as the original because the DNA of the original is used. The idea that believers have a duty to look after the environment on behalf of God. Ivory trade Extinction the sale of ivory from elephants' tusks often illegally When all members of a species have died out and that species will never exist on Earth again. Assisi Declarations Statements about the need to protect animals and the environment made on behalf of the different major religions. Vivisection Zoos Fur trade The cutting up of animals for scientific experiments. Places in which wild animals are kept to display to the public. the business of farming or hunting wild animals for their fur to be made into clothing. A person who will not use any animal product. Someone who doesn't eat meat.. The chasing of animals to kill them which may be done for food protection or human pleasure. Vegan Vegetarianism Hunting Animal exports Animal rights The selling of animals to other countries. The belief that animals have a dignity just as humans do and should be given care and protection. Animal experiments Testing on animals either for medical or cosmetic purpose sto ensure that the product is safe for use by humans. Bull fighting Associated in particular with Spain matadors fight bulls (and eventually kill them) to entertain the crowds. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ANIMALS AND HUMANS - Humans have intelligence, the ability to make decisions, form opinions and appreciate art, music and literature. Humans can act in a moral way, deciding to be good or bad. - Animals have instinct, they behave according to their instincts in order to survive, eat and reproduce. They will abandon the weakest member of the herd and do not have religious beliefs. WHAT RIGHTS DO ANIMALS HAVE Animals must not be exploited, harmed or abused Animals are protected by law from cruelty and neglect Some creatures cannot be kept as pets such as dangerous dogs or rare birds Testing on animals is inspected to ensure animals are not suffering too much There are strict rules about animals being transported and slaughtered THE USE OF ANIMALS Animals can be used as/for: Pets, guide dogs, sled dogs, transport (e.g. horse and carriage), Indian elephants are used for logging, cormorant birds used for fishing, sniffer dogs, dogs were used to carry messages through the trenches in WWI etc… Animals can also have a therapeutic effect on sick people (helps with their healing). ZOOS, SAFARI PARKS AND AQUARIUMS Animals are often kept in captivity in zoos, safari parks and aquariums. Many people disagree with zoos, but they have changed over many years after pressure from animal rights groups. Arguments FOR zoos: People get to see wild animals up close Dangerous animals can be seen safely Educational activities are provided for children Breeding programmes help to prevent extinction Many zoos fund research into protecting animal species Arguments AGAINST zoos: Not always a suitable environment for wild animals Animals kept in small cages will suffer stress Not a natural climate, many animals find it difficult to adjust to this Religious views on zoos etc: Most religious people accept zoos if the animals are kept in conditions close to what it would be like in the wild. Religious people recognize that zoos can help to preserve animal species through breeding programmes. There have been two major religious conferences on animals in captivity. These were the Assisi and Ohito Declarations. The later said that religions need to treat animals with care, sustaining environmental life is a religious responsibility and that nature needs to be treated with respect and compassion FACTORY FARMING VS FREE RANGE FARMING Factory Farming Free Range farming Factory Farming is intensive Animals are raised to roam freely farming to generate a higher profit. and live a life like they would in a Pesticides are used to prevent natural environment. This costs disease in the crowded conditions more money but many think that and often the animals’ movement is the quality of the food produced is restricted. Growth hormones may much higher and that the animals be given to yield more milk or eggs. are treated with more respect. Positives – production is more Slaughter Animals are usually efficient and cheaper Negatives – stunned before they are killed. The cruel to the animals and pesticides halal method of slaughter used by can affect human health Muslims is to slit the throat of the animal then let the blood drain out. Animals are often treated as little more than “machines” on factory farms. Every year millions of animals are crammed together in tiny spaces. In factory farms chickens have their beaks cut off, cattle are often dehorned and castrated and many animals are branded and their tails are cut off without the use of anaesthetics. Dairy cows are kept constantly pregnant through artificial insemination so they keep producing milk. Due to the overcrowded conditions on factory farms diseases quickly spread and so farmers routinely feed or inject the animals with antibiotics. They are often sprayed with pesticides and to fatten them up quickly they are fed growth hormones. ANIMALS IN SPORT Sports involving the use of animals include bull fighting, horse racing, greyhound racing and fox hunting. Sports that involve the death of animals are often called ‘blood sports’. Throughout history people have used animals in sports to: Compete with the animals against opponents (as in horseracing, polo or show jumping) Watch animals compete against each other (as in greyhound or pigeon racing) Compete against animals (such as rodeos and bullfighting). Arguments for and against using animals in sport Hunting Survival of the first humans depended upon the skill of a hunter to bring food to his family and tribe. Once food became easier to get, hunting became a sport rather than a necessity. However, in some parts of the world, like the Arctic, people still need to hunt for food to survive. In Britain, most hunting is classed as a sport. HUNTING People in the Arctic still rely on hunting animals to feed themselves Supporters say it helps the countryside, for example, by removing pests like foxes, which attack livestock or wildlife and can spread disease. They think trapping or poisoning animals may be crueller and less effective than hunting. Opponents of hunting successfully argued that chasing and killing a fox with hounds is cruel. Parliament passed a law in 2004 banning hare coursing and the hunting of wild mammals with dogs. RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON HUNTING Some Christians think hunting is OK because we should control the animals. (Dominion) Other Christians think we have a duty to protect and care for Gods creation. (Stewardship) Islam teaches that animals have feelings and a reason for living. Muslims can hunt animals for food but not for sport. If Muslims kill an animal for no good reason they will have to answer to Allah. THE FUR TRADE Fur For most of human history, particularly in cold climates, humans have used all sorts of animals for fur clothing to keep themselves warm. Some are well known, such as mink, fox and rabbit. Some might surprise you, such as seal, squirrel, and even cat and dog. If humans kill animals for food, and use their skins for leather goods, what is the problem with using their fur for coats? The fur trade Some people wrongly think that fur has come from an animal that was killed for its meat rather than just its fur. This is not so. Over 55 million animals are killed each year for the fur trade. Fur farms keep hundreds of wild animals in small, individual cages to save their fur from damage. This prevents them from living a natural life. Methods of slaughter, such as electrocution, sometimes leave the animals conscious while they are being skinned. Fur farming was made illegal in England and Wales in 2000 (2002 in Scotland). After many years of being seen as wrong, wearing fur recently made a comeback at designer fashion shows. Supporters argue the fur trade is worth up to £500 million a year to the UK economy. Fur is a natural, renewable resource. The fur trade helps people who make their living by trapping and hunting. No endangered species are used. Some animals are taken to reduce their numbers. The British Fur Trade Association is introducing an ‘origin assured’ label to reassure customers that the fur comes from a country with rules about producing fur. THE IVORY TRADE Elephants are killed and their tusks are removed to create objects out of ivory. Elephants are becoming an endangered species and this is partly because of the illegal ivory trade. In 1989 the UN made the ivory trade illegal however the law is broken because of corrupt governments. Some countries are using the profits from the ivory trade to fund military operations. BULL FIGHTING ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS Animals are used to test that medicines are safe for humans to use. However, the effect on the animals is not always the same as on humans. Testing cosmetics and toiletries on animals is now against the law. ARGUMENTS FOR EXPERIMENTS Experiments on animals are essential for creating better treatments, perhaps cures, for serious illnesses and health problems. These can improve the quality of life for millions of people. Animals are often well cared for before, in-between and after experiments. There are not enough humans volunteering for experiments. Experiments further science. ARGUMENTS AGAINST EXPERIMENTS Animals suffer from being treated cruelly. Animals are different physiologically (biologically) to humans. Animals cannot communicate pain etc. Animals cannot stop humans testing on them. They have no rights. RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS Some religious people don’t agree with scientists ‘playing God’ and interfering with nature by cloning or genetic modification (see below as well). Most Christians accept testing on animals so long as it is to find a cure for diseases. Animals have had legal rights in Islam since the 13th century. Caging animals is forbidden in Islam. Many Muslims accept animal testing to find a cure for diseases so long as the suffering is minimal. Genetically modified animals are created to study how genes work. Arguments for and against are similar to the above. One example is Oncomouse, which was genetically modified to develop cancer so that new medicines could be tested on them. Another example is Enviropig, which has less toxic faeces (poo). Cloning is also an issue. Dolly the sheep was cloned to try and create genes that could treat lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. EATING MEAT Many people think it is wrong to use animals for food and either choose to become vegans or vegetarians. People may object to eating meat because they don’t want to hurt animals, it’s against their religion, they think its healthier or they don’t like the taste of meat. Christianity and Islam have no laws about avoiding meat. After the flood Noah was told he was allowed to eat the animals and Muslims must follow the halal rules. Muslims cannot eat pork, carrion or blood according to the Qur’an. DEFENDING ANIMAL RIGHTS Animals do not have the same rights as humans, but many people believe in the sanctity of life and believe that as stewards we should protect and care for the animals. Religious believers support animal rights groups but do not always support the violent methods some people use to defend the rights of animals. A non-religious organisation that defends Animal Rights is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). They protest and campaign for animals and encourage the public and government to do more for animal rights. Other organisations include the Cats Protection League and the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The RSPCA can remove poorly treated animals from homes and prosecute people under the law. They also run animal shelters. Religious groups include Quaker Concern for Animals and the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals, which are both Christian. There is also the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences. CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES Organisations such as the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and Sea Shepherd (at sea) campaign and protect animals that are endangered. The WWF runs projects and Sea Shepherd take a more direct, sometimes illegal, approach to preventing whaling. Endangered animals are animals close to extinction. They may not exist (in the wild) at all soon. Endangered animals include Orangutans, Asian Elephants, Snow Tigers and Giant Pandas. CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES TO ANIMALS Animal rights are an issue on which Christian traditions vary. Many devout Christians such as St Francis of Assisi and Dr Albert Schweitzer have encouraged respect and reverence for all life. The description of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” reinforces to Christian followers the need for a caring attitude towards animals. All Christians would agree that cruelty to animals goes against the belief in the sanctity of life and the will of God. Opinions, however, remain divided over certain issues. Whereas some Christians support the use of animals for food or scientific experiments, others, such as the Quakers, actively campaign to stop such things as experimentation, blood sports and the live transportation of animals. Recognising that animals are an important part of God’s creation, some Christian churches now set aside time in the religious calendar for “pet or animals services”. People, especially children, are encouraged to bring their animals to church to receive God’s blessing. Ely Cathedral, for example, has an annual pet service for the Wood Green Animal Shelter Most Christians believe that humans should not be cruel to animals and that farmers should care for their animals humanely. God gave humans the right to control animals as according to Genesis (in the Bible) God gave man ‘dominion’ (power) to ‘subdue’ (control) animals. This suggests we can use them for our benefit. Animals do not have souls whereas humans do. Moreover, humans are made ‘in God’s image’ and animals are not. On the other hand, God appointed ‘man’ as steward of the animals. This suggests we should look after them. It is called ‘stewardship’. God is also the creator of animals as well as humans and the Bible says that humans should respect God’s creation. MUSLIM ATTITUDES TO ANIMALS The Qur’an teaches that animals have feelings and that their lives have a purpose which, like humans’, is part of Allah’s plan. “There is not an animal that lives on the Earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you... and they all (shall) be gathered to their Lord in the end.” (Surah 6:38) Muhammad (pbuh) told many stories in which he stressed the importance of caring for animals. This became an important part of Islam and as early as the 13th century, a Muslim legal scholar formed a bill of Animal Rights. All domestic animals such as farm animals should be well cared for and not be over-burdened. Owners of cows are instructed to cut their nails before milking, and not to buy or sell an animal when it is still in need of its mother. Hunting is only allowed for food and never for pleasure. The use of animals for scientific experiment is not approved of if there is known to be cruelty involved and if it is done for non-essential reasons such as the making of cosmetics. Assisi Declarations At the 25th anniversary of the Worldwide Fund For Nature in Assisi, Islam was represented with the other five major world faiths to meditate on the theme of nature and to declare its message to the world. “His trustees are responsible for maintaining the unity of his creation, the integrity of Earth, its flora and fauna, its wildlife and natural environment.” (The Muslim Declaration on Nature) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) forbade cruelty to animals (A). He condemned the branding, beating or imprisonment of animals as well as hunting them for sport and forbade the setting up of animals to fight each other. The teachings of the Qur’an make it quite clear that animals should not be treated as mere resources for humans. Practices on factory farms, for example, contradict the Prophet’s teachings to cause no pain to an animal before it is killed. The Qur’an does permit meat-eating but many Muslims have concluded that animal products should not be consumed. Given these traditions, many Shi’ite Muslims and the Islamic mystics such as the Sufis, choose vegetarianism as the proper diet. The majority of Muslims however eat halal meat that is meat prepared according to specific dietary laws. According to Muslim law, animals must be killed according to the halal method where the jugular vein is cut with a sharp knife, allowing the maximum drainage of blood. When the animal is being killed the name of Allah is invoked in a prayer (Tasmiyyah) to show that the animal’ life is being taken solemnly, with the permission of God and the act must be done out of sight of any other animals that are going to be killed. Muhammad(pbuh) and animals There are many stories and sayings of the Prophet that demonstrate his concern for the welfare of animals. Once someone travelling with the Prophet took some eggs from a nest, causing the mother bird great grief. The Prophet saw this and told the man to return the eggs. When the Prophet was asked if Allah rewarded acts of charity to animals, he replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." The Prophet said "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment." The Prophet explained that a killing would be for a just cause if it was for food. Halal Meat Muslim ritual slaughter Muslims are only allowed to eat meat that has been killed according to Sharia law. This method of killing is often attacked by animal rights activists as barbaric blood-thirsty ritual slaughter. Muslims disagree. They say that Islamic law on killing animals is designed to reduce the pain and distress that the animal suffers. Some experts say that the animal killed in this way does not suffer if the cut is made quickly and cleanly enough, because it loses consciousness before the brain can perceive any pain. Islamic slaughter rules These are the rules for Islamic slaughter: the slaughterer must be a sane adult Muslim • the slaughterer must say the name of God before making the cut • The name of God is said in order to emphasise the sanctity of life and that the animal is being killed for food with God's consent • the animal must be killed by cutting the throat with the single continuous back and forth motion of a sharp knife • the cut must sever at least three of the trachea, oesophagus, and the two blood vessels on either side of the throat • the spinal cord must not be cut • animals must be well treated before being killed • animals must not see other animals being killed • the knife must not be sharpened in the animal's presence • the knife blade must be free of blemishes that might tear the wound • the animal must not be in an uncomfortable position • the animal must be allowed to bleed out ‘"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." (Proverbs 12:10) Stewardship – This is world is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants (Leviticus 25:23) “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.” Luke 12:6 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Deuteronomy 25:4 . ." Peter, kill, and “Rise, eat” (Acts 10:9-13). ‘Fear Allah in your treatment of animals’ Hadith "Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal." Hadith “There is not an animal that lives on the Earth ,nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you... and they all (shall) be gathered to their Lord in the end.” (Surah 6:38) Religious Attitudes to Animal Use Islam Christianity Allah created the world and everything in it. Humans are Khalifah – stewards – and have a duty to look after it. Their success in carrying out that duty will be assessed at Judgement Day, when everyone has to account for their life’s deeds before Allah. Christians believe God gave them power over the world and everything in it. This gives them licence to use it as they wish. They should remember they have a duty to look after it, and they will be judged on this at Judgement Day. For Muslims, using animals is acceptable, because humans are superior. However, they must be looked after properly, not exploited or abused. Prophet Muhammad criticised people for their maltreatment of animals, and praised others for their kindness. Farming helps to feed people. Battery farms do not allow enough rest or exercise. This makes them haram. Slaughterhouse meat is haram, because the methods are not as stated in Shari’ah Law. Christians believe that because all life was created by God, it should be protected and looked after. The developed world, which is mainly Christian, is the biggest consumer of meat, so has the most farms, has many traditions of hunting for sport, and leads the world in medical research. Many Christians choose to eat organic and free range meat, if they are not vegetarian. Many actively campaign against hunting for sport. Many agree with the use of animals only in medical experiments, and encourage research in methods which do not use animals. Animal experimentation can be helpful to the wellbeing of humans. However, duplicate trials and non-medical testing are unacceptable as an abuse of the role of khalifah. Muslims should work towards non-animal based experimentation. Islam teaches: Hunting is enjoyed as a sport in many Muslim countries, though the animals caught are usually Christianity teaches: • People are Khalifah – trustees of the eaten. world, and its guardians (Qur’an). • God made the world and gave Nature can be used to improve the humanity dominion over it (Genesis). well-being of people and society. Scientists must abandon laboratories Muhammad (pbuh) insisted animals be and factories of death (Pope John Paul well treated, be given adequate food II). and rest, and, if any are to be Animals are part of God’s creation and slaughtered, be killed in the most as such deserve respect and humane way possible (Sunnah). protection (St Francis of Assisi). Showing kindness to an animal is an act Respect for life… extends to all of that is rewarded by Allah. creation (Pope John Paul II). If a man unjustly kills any animal, he The earth and everything in it is the will have to answer for it to Allah at Lord’s (Bible). Judgement Day.