1. Original Sin part 61, Truth, part 4
“In war, truth is the first casualty,” wrote the Greek tragic dramatist
Aeschylus (525 BC - 456 BC). Perpetrators have justified the war against
animals, which involves violence on a scale that exceeds the capacity of
human imagination, with obvious lies about the nature of animals and the
nature of humans. Meanwhile, those who believe they benefit from the harmful
exploitation of animals – the vast majority of humans – readily accept these
obvious lies rather than recognize these abuses as evil. They have a last
defense. They can claim that God endorses their activity.
Because we have such limited information about God, it is easy to make
irrefutable claims about God. Though the evidence is weak at best that God
endorses animal abuse, it is also impossible to disprove the claim that God
is pleased when humans harm nonhumans.
Many Christian have claimed that the Bible demonstrates that God gives
humans free reign to treat animals as humans please. However, this requires
that one hold the Bible as the inerrant word of God. Otherwise, it would be
easy to dismiss this Christian claim by saying that anti-animal passages
aren’t really from God. I’ve discussed problems with the Bible inerrancy
theory previously. Second, this humanocentric claim presumes that humans are
always trustworthy when they interpret the Bible.
This is doubtful for at least two reasons. First, time and again,
intelligent people have come to diametrically opposed interpretations of the
Bible. Among the reasons, they emphasize different passages, they differ in
which passages should be taken literally and which should be taken
metaphorically, they choose different translations and endorse those that
are friendly to their general worldview, and they highlight different
passages to show the “context” with which a given passage should be
interpreted. Second, humans tend to believe what they want to believe. We
should be very skeptical of self-serving interpretations, particularly when
they defend harming others. Indeed, animal friendly interpretations of the
Bible exist, and these interpretations have inspired Christian Vegetarian
Association members.
Next week, I will review how humanity is harmed by mistreatment of animals
as this lengthy series on Original Sin winds down.
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
2. Upcoming Activist Opportunities
Leafleting and tabling are effective, enjoyable ways to show our brothers
and sisters in Christ that a plant-based diet is good for God’s Creation. We
have found that Winter Jam events are particularly productive, because they
feature large, younger audiences. When you volunteer for the CVA, the CVA
now donates $16/hr. for tabling and $25/hr. for up to 3 hours for leafleting
to the veg. or animal protection group of your choice. Contact Lorena at
[email protected]
if you can help.
01/25/2019 IA, Des Moines
Winter Jam 2019
01/26/2019 MO, Kansas City
Winter Jam 2019
01/27/2019 MO, St, Louis
Winter Jam 2019
01/31/2019 LA, New Orleans
Winter Jam 2019
02/01/2019 AL, Birmingham
Winter Jam 2019
02/02/2019 KY, Lexington
Winter Jam 2019
02/07/2019 IL, Peoria
Winter Jam 2019
02/07/2019 AL, Huntsville
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
02/08/2019 KA, Wichita
Winter Jam 2019
02/08/2019 TN, Nashville
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
02/09/2019 KY, Louisville
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
02/09/2019 AR, N. Little Rock
Winter Jam 2019
02/10/2019 OK, Tulsa
Winter Jam 2019
02/10/2019 IN, Indianapolis
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
02/14/2019 PA, Reading
Winter Jam 2019
02/15/2019 PA, Pittsburgh
Winter Jam 2019
02/16/2019 OH, Cincinnati
Winter Jam 2019
02/21/2019 MS, Tupelo
Winter Jam 2019
02/21/2019 FL, Jacksonville
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
02/21/2019 VA, Richmond
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
02/22/2019 TN, Knoxville
Winter Jam 2019
02/23/2018 MA, Springfield
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
02/23/2019 NC, Greensboro
Winter Jam 2019
02/24/2019 VA, Norfolk
Winter Jam 2019
02/28/2019 MO, Springfield
Winter Jam 2019
02/28/2019 OH, Toledo
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/01-02-19 VA, Fairfax
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/01/2019 LA, Bossier City
Winter Jam 2019
03/02/2019 OK, Oklahoma City
Winter Jam 2019
03/03/2019 TX, Austin
Winter Jam 2019
03/08/2019 TN, Nashville
Winter Jam 2019
03/09/2019 KY, Louisville
Winter Jam 2019
03/09/2019 PA, Pittsburgh
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
03/10/2019 TN, Chattanooga
Winter Jam 2019
03/10/2019 MI, Grand Rapids
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/14/2019 AR, North Little Rock
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/15/2019 SC, Columbia
Winter Jam 2019
03/15-16/19 TX, Grand Prarie
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/16/2019 NC, Asheville
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
03/16/2019 GA, Atlanta
Winter Jam 2019
03/22/2019 NC, Raleigh
Winter Jam 2019
03/23/2019 WV, Charleston
Winter Jam 2019
03/23/2019 PA, Pittsburgh
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/24/2019 SC, Greenville
Winter Jam 2019
03/24/2019 IL, Peoria
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
03/27/2019 NY, Albany
TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour
03/28/2019 MO, Springfield
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
03/29/2019 TN, Memphis
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
03/29/2019 PA, Philadelphia
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/29/2019 IN, Indianapolis
Winter Jam 2019
03/30/2019 PA, State College
Winter Jam 2019
03/30/2019 FL, Jacksonville
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
03/30/2019 OK, Oklahoma City
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
03/31/2019 OH, Columbus
TobyMac Hits Deep Tour
03/31/2019 OH, Cleveland
Winter Jam 2019
04/04/2019 AZ, Glendale
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
04/05/2019 CA, Los Angeles
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
04/06/2019 IN, Indianapolis
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/12/2019 MN, Minneapolis
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/13/2019 OR, Portland
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
04/14/2019 SD, Sioux Falls
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/18/2019 SC, Greenville
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/19/2019 NC, Raleigh
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/25/2019 MI, Grand Rapids
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
04/26/2019 OH, Cincinnati
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
04/27/2019 MO, St. Charles
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
05/04/2019 FL, Orlando
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
05/05/2019 FL, Tampa
Mercy Me Imagine Nation Tour
09/26/2019 WA, Spokane
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
09/27/2019 OR, Portland
Casting Crowns Only Jesus Tour
3. The January-February Issue of “The Peaceable Table” Is Now Online
Contents include:
4. All-Creatures.Org Ministry