Reviews
Animal Sacrifices
Edited by Tom Regan (Temple University Press, 1986)
During 25-27 July 1984 the International Association Against Painful
Experiments on Animals convened a conference in London on "Religious
Perspectives on the Use of Animals in Science", chaired by Tom Regan.
Here we have the solo papers given, but not quite all the
contributions. Ashley Montagu's keynote address, presented in
absentia and reminding us of H.G. Wells's trenchant dictum that we
are in a race between education and catastrophe, is sadly not included,
and two round table discussions, including some excellent material from
Dr. Alice Heim, are omitted.
But it is a book for every animal rightist's library. Although Rabbi
David Bleich's lack of qualms over ritual slaughter, and extreme
utilitarian view that anything goes if benefit to man is anticipated, is
chillingly predictable, there is much of greater value.
Indeed, the book is one of a small spate to examine the teachings of
major religious systems concerning animals. Other recent important
contributions to this debate include Andrew Linzey's Christianity and
the Rights of Animals (reviewed in the Winter '87 issue of The
Vegan), and Stephen Rosen's Food for the Spirit: Vegetarianism
and the World Religions.
Review by Jon Wynne-Tyson
From The Vegan, Spring 1988 edition. Reproduced with
thanks to the Vegan Society
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