LettersLetter from Josie Wagoner about the Ethics of Animal Consumption - 8 Apr 2006
Letters From All-Creatures.org and The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation

Letter from Josie Wagoner about the Ethics of Animal Consumption - 8 Apr 2006

Dear All-creatures.org,

I do respect what you are doing, and applaud your efforts. The world does need to be aware the abuses going on towards animals, and action does need to be taken. I do, however, have some comments on some things posted on your sight. There are some actions (as mentioned throughout your site and specifically in your photo gallery) that are inexcusable. One of the best examples I can give is dog racing. One of my family's dogs is an ex-racer, who we adopted from a rescue organization. I have learned of the cruelties of that sport, and believe it needs to stop as soon as possible. My main comments are about your campaign towards vegetarianism. I do not believe that the Bible says that we should be vegetarians. If it did, then why would God throughout the Old Testament demand sacrifices? The Bible tells us to respect the animals on Earth, which I believe means that when we kill an animal, we have a just cause to do so, kill the animal in the most humane and harmless way, and then respect the animal for the sacrifice it made. Eating meat in itself is not cruel; the true cruelties lie in how the animal is killed and how it is treated beforehand. As a long-standing Christian and animal lover, I believe that a perfect world is not a vegetarian or vegan one, but one in which animals are respected and taken care of in the most humane ways possible, both in life and in death.

Josie Wagoner

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Josie:

Thank your for writing, but over the past week we've received several letters worded almost exactly like yours. You seem to be writing from a scripted letter that is trying desperately to excuse the unbelievable cruelty involved in the raising of animals for food and clothing, even though you say you are against such treatment. We also find it very hard to believe that you and the others don't realize what's happening on these factory farms.

We also find it interesting that you have to go back 3500 years in the Bible to find passages to justify killing and eating animals. If you truly want to know the truth, you should look at the differences between God's intent and the concessions He allowed in the early days of the Hebrew people because of the evil intent of the human heart.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary


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