26 November 2006 Issue - Christian Vegetarian Association Update Newsletters


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Update Newsletters
26 November 2006 Issue

1. CVA Booklet Questionnaire
2. A Christmas Prayer for Animals
3. Vegan Pet Food
4. Leafleting Feedback, Suggestion
A. Feedback
B. Upcoming Events
C. Christmas Church Leafleting
D. CVA Calendar Group
E. Responding to "I Love Cruelty to Animals"
5. Christianity and Violence: Healing and Faith - The Woman with Perpetual Bleeding

1. CVA Booklet Questionnaire
Many thanks to the scores of people who completed our short questionnaire at www.christianveg.com/survey-hgc.htm. If I don't get your e-mail address, I am unable to thank you individually. It takes about 3-4 minutes and is a big help in our efforts to provide a concise, biblically sound booklet.

2. A Christmas Prayer for Animals by Jenny Moxham
As Christmas approaches
Dear God up above,
Please fill every heart
With compassion and love.

Fill all with the knowledge
That piglets and geese
And turkeys are also
Entitled to peace.

Please let people see
That to harm and to kill
Just doesn't make sense
At a time of goodwill.

This Christmas, dear God,
Please answer my prayer,
May love for all creatures
Abound everywhere.

3. Vegan Pet Food Comments
I work in the veterinary industry so I have a little knowledge on this subject. It is relatively easy to obtain a vegetarian diet for dogs - there are a variety out there. Just ensure they have gone through an AAFCO (Association Of American Feed Control Official) feeding trial to ensure safety and health. Homemade diets with supplements are also an option per veterinarian's recommendation.

Cats on the other hand are by nature obligate carnivores. Even vegan cat foods recommend only feeding them for a short period of time or supplementing with meat. Speaking with colleagues and researching on VIN (an on-line veterinary info center), no one has seen a cat who remained healthy on a vegan diet. Not necessarily sick, but not recovering well post-illness and not necessarily healthy. Some have done homemade diets with eggs and dairy and supplements, and the cats did relatively well. So, take deep consideration before trying a vegan diet on a cat. With my own cat, although I find it difficult to feed a carnivorous diet, but I have come to terms with the fact understanding it is the best for her health.

-Jana

4. Leafleting Suggestions, Feedback
A. I (Steve Kaufman) leafleted with Jen and my son Evan at Acquire the Fire in Cleveland. We leafleted a total of 1500 booklets! A guy with a loudspeaker informed people as they arrived, "No animals were killed in the making of this program."

B. Upcoming Leafleting Events

12/1 IL Peoria Superchick All Faith Night
12/1-2 AZ Phoenix Living Proof Live with Beth Moore
11/30-12/1-4 NC Charlotte National Youth Workers Convention
12/4 PA Northampton Punk the Halls Christian Concert
12/5-10 TX Dallas Hero- The Rock Opera
12/8 OR Medford Days of the Reckoning Tour
12/9 OH Cleveland INTENSITY Christian Rock Tour
12/9 PA Philadelphia Katina Family Christmas Tour
12/9 FL Orlando Behold the Lamb of God Tour

C. Christmas Church Leafleting
The rate of church attendance is much higher at Christmastime. We encourage leafleting, but we stress that it is CVA's policy not to leaflet on church property (because otherwise it looks like we represent the church) and we don't put booklets under windshield wipers.

D. CVA Calendar Group
To find out about all upcoming leafleting and tabling opportunities in your area, join the CVA Calendar Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group.christian_vegetarian/. Read the home page, and then join. You will then be able to log in anytime to identify upcoming events in your region. Contact Paris at christian_vegetarian@yahoo.com if you might be able to help.

E. Responding to "I Love Cruelty to Animals" Eugene, who leaflets for the group Vegan Outreach, relates the following encounter. After Eugene offered a booklet saying "booklet against cruelty to animals"

Him: "I love cruelty to animals. I used to work on a farm, and I loved to be cruel to animals. It was cool how after you cut a chickens head off, they would run around without their head."

Me: "Well, apparently the majority of the population agrees with you. You are just one of the few people honest enough to admit it."

He looked perplexed.

I continued: "The majority of people read the pamphlet, and then they continue to eat meat. So apparently, the majority of people agree with you."

He then shook his head in dismay and said, "Why do there have to be so many stupid people in this world like me? Actually, I was just messing with you. I actually think it is horrible what they do to the animals. I think its great that you're out here."

He and his friend then stayed to talk for a quite a while about this and a variety of other topics, and they requested a vegan starter pack.

5. Christianity and Violence: Healing and Faith - The Woman with Perpetual Bleeding

[This series reflects my views and not "official" CVA positions. It is being archived at http://www.christianveg.com/violence_view.htm.]

The story of the woman with perpetual bleeding provides important insights into the nature of healing. I will quote the version of Luke: "And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, 'Who was it that touched me?' When all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!' But Jesus said, 'Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.' And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace'" (Luke 8:43-48; see parallel, Mark 5:25-34).

According to Jewish law, menstruating women were unclean and could not touch anyone or be touched. When Jesus asked who touched him, she was afraid, because she feared Jesus would be angry about the violation.

However, Jesus did not express disgust or revulsion; rather, he said only that he sensed power going forth from him. Jesus' healing significantly drained his energy, because it involved more than eradicating disease. Healing the physical component of disease usually requires relatively brief time and attention. However, holistic healing involves psychological and spiritual assistance, and therefore it usually demands far more effort. The holistic healer must become attuned to all aspects of the sick person, not just the dysfunctional tissue or organ.

The woman was compelled to confess, because she knew that Jesus would identify her. However, in addition to acknowledging her act, she declared that she was healed. This, I think is what Jesus recognized as her faith. Though he had participated in her cure, he did not say that he had healed her. Instead, he observed that her faith had made her well. She had been perpetually unclean, but her healing involved more than cessation of the blood flow. Her faith made her well in a holistic sense, and this inspired her to publicly declare that Jesus had healed her.

I think this story illustrates an important point about disease. "Dis-ease" is a state of mind in which one is discontented with some aspect of bodily dysfunction. One can have a dysfunctional body and not be dis-eased, and one's body may be functioning quite adequately yet a person may experience dis-ease. Everyone has spiritual needs for a sense of direction and purpose in life, which often involves a sense of connection to God.

If our spiritual needs are not met, then we are prone to suffer existential anxiety and guilt and, consequently, to feel dis-eased, even if our bodies work well. The woman's faith made her well enough to align herself with Jesus, and she was prepared to "go in peace."

I do not think that Jesus would have withheld healing from those who lacked faith in him. The faith that helps heal the body, mind, and spirit is a faith that the divine cares about the cosmos, including all afflicted individuals.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

Your question and comments are welcome

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