Posted on 06/07/2010 12:07:51 PM PDT by Borges
Factory farming, green living among topics sparking discussion Animal advocates gain ground in religious circles
In Genesis, the Lord created animals, said they were good and then gave man permission to eat them.
While not a universal belief, many Christians traditionally have embraced a biblical stance on animals as a source of companionship, food and labor, but not much else.
"We know from the Bible that God created animals, he cares about them intimately and he wants us to care about them," said Ben DeVries, 30, of Kenosha, Wis., who started a blog, "Not One Sparrow," to encourage his conservative Christian brethren to become more like shepherds than hunters.
During a time when people increasingly treat pets as family members, animal advocates are gaining ground in religious circles. DeVries is among a growing number of people of faith who have joined the appeal for help in promoting causes such as relocating homeless pets, preventing animal cruelty and investigating factory farming practices.
The Humane Society of the United States has started a faith outreach program that, within the past two years, has distributed 7,500 DVDs at church and college campuses on "Eating Mercifully." The DVD and booklets draw on Scripture to remind Christians of their duty to be good stewards of all God's creatures.
But defining what it means to treat animals with compassion ranges wildly across faiths and within denominations. For some, it means trying to end animal abuse, volunteering at an animal shelter, having their pet blessed or pushing for vegetarian diets.
Others seek to fulfill spiritual needs that go beyond a simple desire to treat animals with dignity and kindness. Some religious leaders welcome pets to worship services, memorialize them at death and discuss them as spiritual beings without distinction from humanity the most controversial ideology...
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Could someone put down their 'friend', if they said NO? My life is way too complicated as it is without that.
I think once we see the Savior face to face, very little that we thought important on earth will seem important any longer.
That's not to say there won't be some animals in heaven. After all, they are beautiful creations of God. But animals won't go to heaven because they were "good" or "saved".
I know my thoughts have swerved this thread from its original intent, and I truly apologize. I just really want to believe that our pets, by comparison to those meant for food or those that keep the world in balance for the Lord, are more than just animals. Of course, who am I to try and “figure out” the Lord’s plan? I’ll just have to deal with all of this in His time and not mine.
I believe that heaven will surpass this world’s understanding and my silly love for my pets. Now, in swerving this thread back around full circle — how can we teach liberals to value human life?
Wish I knew.
Thats hysterical. Thanks.
LOL. Yeah, made me laugh, too.
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