Good News for Animals and All Creation: What Does it Really Mean

From all-creatures.org
ARCHIVE OF COMMENTS AND DISCUSSIONS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Our subjects cover: animals, religion (Christian, Jewish and others); diet and lifestyle (vegan and vegetarian); and other miscellaneous subjects.

Good News for Animals and All Creation: What Does it Really Mean
By Frank and Mary Hoffman - 3 Aug 2011

Dear Maynard:

Thank you very much for your deep insights into the problems that exist in the religious community and the meaning of good news for animals or for all creation.

This problem of what good news for animals and creation has been plaguing the religious community, and those not associated with it, for thousands of years, and we joined the struggle over 25 years ago.

Over the years of our experience, we have seen some very small improvements within some religious communities, but mostly in grass roots movements of individuals.

25 years ago the animal rights and religious communities and individuals rarely talked to one another, but that former stalemate has been steadily dissolving at a much more rapid pace than that existing between the religious community and those who care about animals. The key has been the ability of these individuals to focus upon the commonality of the suffering and exploitation of animals, and their willingness to engage in conversation about what can be done to improve the situation.

Within the church this has not happened, because they have, for the most part, twisted the Bible message to justify the exploitation of animals, so the animal issue becomes a no starter and usually ends up in arguments. The only area we have found to drive a wedge into the hard rock, is in the areas of the church's lack of compassion for the people who care about animals, and the ways these people suffer because of the way the church views animals, which also ties into the discussion of the church's way of limiting their expression of love and compassion, which they usually fail to recognize until it is politely pointed out to them.

This is where we believe that our focus should be.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary