Animal Writings

I like to keep a few copies of the Christian Vegetarian Association's (CVA's) Are We Good Stewards of God’s Creation? in my car and in my backpack. I never know when they'll come in handy as an outreach tool, but the opportunity seems to arise frequently.

I also recommend having some copies of this booklet within easy reach when leafleting, participating in a demonstration, or otherwise engaging in organized animal activism where you might interface with the public.

When the subject of veganism or animal protection comes up, many people—feeling defensive—will present Christian (or psuedo-Christian) rationalizations for exploiting animals. I've found that offering them the CVA brochure is usually the most effective response, and I imagine that for someone who is not well versed in the Bible, being able to hand out this literature could be quite valuable. By my reckoning, a fairly large portion of animal advocates are uncomfortable with religion, and the booklet provides a way to convey elegant religious justifications for veganism and compassion toward animals—in hard copy format—without having to actually discuss them.

Though a short primer on the biblical basis of our obligations to animals and the earth can't go into detail about everything, I find Are We Good Stewards of Creation? to be very well written and informative. It does an exemplary job of persuasively putting forth the main points and keeping "on message." Its style is engaging, respectful, and non-confrontational.

Here are some excerpts:

Did God put animals here for our use?

Adam’s “dominion” over animals (Gen. 1:26, 28), we believe, conveys sacred stewardship, since God immediately afterward prescribed a vegetarian diet (1:29–30) in a world God found “very good” (1:31). Created in God’s image of love (1 John 4:4), we are called to be care-takers of God’s Creation, not tyrants over God’s creatures.

Didn’t Jesus eat meat?

Luke 24:43 describes Jesus eating fish after the Resurrection. However, Jesus’ diet 2,000 years ago in a Mediterranean fishing community does not mandate what Christians should eat today. Similarly, what Jesus wore does not dictate how we should dress today. We are blessed with a wide range of healthful, tasty, convenient plant foods, much like in Eden. Meanwhile, we believe that the way animals are treated today makes a mockery of God’s love for them.

The booklet also contains an introduction to health concerns and easy food substitutions and offers a few sample vegan recipes (I've made most of them, and they're excellent).

You can order the booklet here. It is quite inexpensive. It is available in English and Spanish.

Labels: activism, Christian Vegetarian Association, CVA, religion