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From Autumn 2010 Issue
Congratulations To Professor Andrew!
Clergy who have not made a place for the animals through their
prayers, praise and preaching are not only lacking in Christian love but
also very seriously lacking in their knowledge of Holy Scripture as well
as extremely limited in their theology. Few, indeed, have reached the
theological and academic status of a colleague in our great cause such
as self-effacing Andrew Linzey. He was a lecturer at Mansfield
Theological College, Oxford; was awarded a Lambeth DD from Archbishop
George Carey and would, surely, have been an ideal candidate for the
episcopacy? However, such a recognition is hardly to be expected from
present day blinkered and humanly chauvinistic clergy. At least, not
upon a modern day professor so dedicated to furthering animal welfare!
I’m delighted to know that the RSPCA has conferred Andrew recently
with a just reward, honour and rightful respect for the pioneering work
he has undertaken within the academic world covering past decades. Such
books as his should not only find a place within every English speaking
theological college, seminary and hall of divinity, but need to be an
integral part of student studies. Sadly however - as things stand - most
students read little more than what their course tutors recommend and
such tutors - in common with their principals! - are barely in the
kindergarten stage as far as Christianity and biblical references to
God’s animal creation are concerned. Even the many Bible colleges that
exist seem to be blinkered to the many references, direct or indirect,
that relate to the ‘lower’ creation over which we are to have a Christ
like dominion.
From the early 1970s I became aware of Andrew Linzey’s concern for a
rightful place in Christendom for the animals. This was due to an Oxford
Unitarian college principal’s daughter – a fellow animal activist - then
based in Bradford. Indeed, two decades were to pass before I met Andrew
in person; and this was on the occasion of Vickie Moore’s memorial
service in Liverpool. The Anglican cathedral was full for the service
and Andrew gave a most moving message concerning this delightful lady
who’d received fatal wounds through jumping into a Spanish bull ring so
as to take video close ups of the many darts that had been inflicted
upon this now demented beast. Yes, a creature which had suddenly turned
in its frenzy and had tossed her several times with its horns.
Noticing Andrew engaged in conversation with two or three more
enquirers after the service, he suddenly spied me and said: “Here’s the
man who can answer all your queries concerning the animals: the Reverend
James Thompson here!” Well, I was quite taken back. How did he know me?
We’d never met! Regrettably, I was hardly to find the answer because a
bout of M.E had drained me of all energy. Things were caving in on me
around that period of time; and if I hadn’t got into the freshness of
the air outside, and away from the masses, then I sensed I would have
lost consciousness.
Yes, our paths had met but once ‘as ships that pass in the night!’
However, such a blessing lingers and in our respective missions we seek
- along with all other animal activists worthy of the name - to
complement each other’s calling. In the New Testament some groups said
‘I am of Peter’. Others said ‘I am of Paul!’ However, provided Christ’s
mission was furthered such rivalry was to some degree pardonable though
not commendable. Well, I sense a similar state of affairs exists amongst
Christians who seek to further animal care, rights and welfare.
The fact is that God entrusts His work of grace to earthen vessels of
a fallen humanity. It is part of human nature that trail blazers love to
receive adulation for their efforts even if its sometimes at the cost of
a prison sentence! Their followers may equally make them their idol,
while castigating rivals. All activists, however, of true spiritual
maturity will prefer to look for efforts of co-operation to those of
contradiction; for signs that are complementary to those that conflict.
Indeed, I couldn’t ‘for the likes of me’ rattle a tin for Animal Aid or
PETA in the High Street, but I compliment sincerely those who can! It is
contrary to my nature to become a mole in a vivisection laboratory in
order to discover, first hand, what barbaric practices go on there; but
I complement to the hilt those who do such a heroic work for our cause.
The fact is that God has given each of us gifts to use for the benefit
of the animals, and they are far more often complementary rather than
conflicting tasks for us to fulfil. As Andrew Linzey’s top gift – and he
has many - has been ‘via the scholastic pen’ then my own might well be
considered as via ‘the wooden spoon’?.
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