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Animal Welfare in World Religion Teaching and Practice By Joyce D'Silva

Publisher: Routledge

Animal Welfare in World Religion Teaching and Practice By Joyce D'Silva
Available from GoodReads.com
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1032273992
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1032273990

REVIEWS

Also see Marc Bekoff's interview with the author: Religion and Animals: The Gulf Between Teaching and Action

"Today we stand on the shore of a great ocean of human spiritual evolution, where we extend the Golden Rule – to treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves – to our non-human, sentient sisters and brothers. Guided by the teachings and practices of the world religions, we set sail on this wondrous journey, and Joyce D’Silva’s Animal Welfare in World Religion: Teaching and Practice is the perfect guidebook to steer us on our course. It is such a privilege to share this exciting adventure with someone as insightful as Joyce. I encourage everyone to pick up this guide and set sail."
~ Andrew Knight, Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Winchester Centre for Animal Welfare

"This book provides a timely and comprehensive look at the major religions and their historical and indeed contemporary approach to animals and animal welfare. The authority of the work is underpinned by the fact that it is written by an individual who has actively made an actual real, measurable, and beneficial improvement in animals' lives over many years. This is a book which demands attention and deserves to be widely read."
~ Barbara Gardner, founder and CEO of the Animal Interfaith Alliance (AIA)

"Clearly written and beautifully argued book… The author takes great pains to explain the suffering of fellow animals… complex details that even theologians and scholars of religion overlooked and neglected. It is deep and bold thinking on our responsibilities to animals and what religious teachings of the major global faiths and some Indigenous beliefs can help us to develop an ethics of compassion and moral responsibility towards all creatures."
~ Chris Fegan, Chief Executive, Catholic Concern for Animals

"This book comes at a very appropriate time a few months after the adoption of a historic United Nations Resolution on Animal Welfare (UNEP/EA.5/Res.1). The resolution on animal welfare, environment and sustainable development calls on Member States to recognise that protecting animals and their welfare is an important contribution to the global objectives of protecting the environment, reducing the risks of emerging zoonoses, improving food systems and achieving sustainable development. This book is an important contribution to understanding the ethical and moral aspects of animal welfare as described in the teachings and practices of religions. Joyce, while not a theologian, has, masterfully, not only told us stories we didn’t know derived from religions, but has also showed us that we need to work on our practices that do not often match our beliefs and religious teachings. Religion is about creation, purpose, destiny, life, and love. People’s beliefs about the creator and the creation affect all aspects of their being and behaviour. The book will have a critical influence on how people look to animals. The language of the book is just suitable for everyone, decision makers, faith leaders and the public. This is an important factor in influencing readers. Covering a wide range of religions and addressing many aspects is a highly commendable effort that I hope will promote stronger engagement of religious actors in respecting the welfare of animals who are, to some religions, other communities created by God."
~ Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

About the Author

Joyce D’Silva is Ambassador Emeritus for Compassion in World Farming, the leading charity advancing the welfare of farm animals worldwide. She is co-editor of The Meat Crisis: Developing More Sustainable and Ethical Production and Consumption (Routledge, 2017) and Farming, Food and Nature: Respecting Animals, People and the Environment (Routledge, 2018). She has been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Winchester and the University of Keele, UK, and is a patron of the Animal Interfaith Alliance.

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