Religious Teachings Related to Animals | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

The Use & Abuse of Animals

Animal Rights

• Humans utilize animals for various purposes.
• Opinions on animal use vary widely.
• Vivisection: animals used in medical experiments to test products before human use.
• Animal testing also occurs for cosmetics, food, and color additives.
• Animals are commonly raised for food, often in factory farms with intensive agriculture and limited animal freedom.
• Religious and non-religious views differ on animal rights.
  • Some advocate for equal rights for animals and humans.
  • Others believe mistreating animals is wrong, but humans may use animals for benefit in certain cases.
  • Some argue animals have no rights and exist solely for human benefit.

Christianity and Animal Rights

• Christians believe God created the world and humans are stewards of His creation.
• God granted humans dominion over animals and resources:
  • “Everything that moves is food for you” (Genesis 9).
  • “I give you every seed-bearing plant... and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:29).
• Some Christians view humans as superior, made in God’s image, making only human life sacred.
• Christians are taught to care for animals: “The righteous care for the needs of their animals” (Proverbs 12:10).
• Quakers (Society of Friends) believe any animal mistreatment is wrong.

Christianity and Animal Testing

• Most Christians oppose animal testing for cosmetics but support it for medical advancements because:
  • Animals are part of God’s creation, meant to help humans but not be abused for non-essential purposes.
  • Human life is sacred; animal testing has led to medical advancements like vaccines.
  • Medical testing minimizes greater suffering, seen as the lesser evil.
  • Medical research extends human life expectancy by ~23.5 years, which Christians believe God supports.
• Some Christians oppose all animal testing due to:
  • Harm caused to animals.
  • Unreliability of animal testing for humans.
  • Belief that animals, as part of God’s creation, deserve care.
  • Animal suffering and death from testing.
  • Animals feel pain like humans, and such treatment would not be allowed for humans.

Christianity and Animal Consumption

• Christians have personal choice in eating meat, as no specific food laws govern Christianity.
• Paul taught that vegetarians and meat-eaters should respect each other’s choices.
• Meat-eating Christians cite:
  • Dominion over animals implies using them as resources.
  • God permitted Noah to eat meat post-Flood: “Everything that lives and moves will be food for you” (Genesis 9:3).
  • God allowed St. Peter to break Kosher laws: “Get up, Peter – kill, and eat” (Acts 10:13).
• Vegetarian Christians argue:
  • St. Francis taught animals have souls, implying killing them is wrong.
  • Stewardship means caring for all creation; farming animals causes harm.
  • Factory farming conflicts with Christian agape love.
  • Jesus’ teachings on compassion for the weak apply to animals.
  • Killing animals promotes violence, which Christians oppose.
  • Adam and Eve were vegetarian in Eden, a model for Christians to emulate before sin corrupted creation.

Islam and the Use & Abuse of Animals

Islam and Animal Rights

• Islam teaches that mistreating animals is unacceptable.
• Muslims believe Allah created the universe and entrusted humans (Khalifah) to care for it, including animals.
• “Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger without just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment” (Hadith).
• Prophet Mohammed taught that harming animals without cause leads to judgment.
• Muslims may eat meat but must ensure ethical treatment of animals.
  • “It is Allah who made for you the grazing animals you eat” (Qur’an 40:79).
  • “It is who provided for you all manner of livestock, that you may ride on some of them and from some you may derive your food...” (Qur’an 40:79-80).
• Slaughter must be humane, in Allah’s name, and follow Halal food laws.
• Muslims sacrifice a goat during Eid-al-Adha to commemorate Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice Ismail.

Islam and Animal Testing

• Muslims generally allow animal testing only for medical advancements because:
  • The Qur’an states animals were provided to meet human needs, including for health.
  • Unnecessary harm to animals is forbidden; they must be treated respectfully.