Religious Teachings Related to Animals (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

The Use & Abuse of Animals

Animal rights

• Humans use animals for many different purposes

• There are different opinions about the use of animals

  • Animals are sometimes used for medical experiments to test products before human use. The process is called vivisection

  • Sometimes the safety of cosmetics, food or Colour additives is tested on animals

  • Animals are commonly used for food Often this is factory farming which involves intense agriculture with limited freedom for the animals

• Religious and non-religious people have different opinions regarding the rights of animals

  • Some people believe that animals should have equal rights with human beings

  • Others believe that the mistreatment of animals is wrong but humans have control over animals and they should be used to benefit humans in some circumstances

  • Others believe that animals have no rights at all and exist to benefit humans in all circumstances

Christianity and animal rights

• Christians believe that God made the world and everything in it and that humans are the stewards of His creation

• They believe that God gave Christians dominion over the world meaning that they have control over the resources of the world including animals:

• ‘Then God said,

• Some Christians believe that man is more important as they believe humans were made in the image of God. Therefore they believe only human life is sacred

• Yet, Christians are also taught that they should be kind to and look after animals

• Some Christian denominations, for example, the Society of Friends (Quakers) believe that any ill-treatment of animals is completely wrong

Christianity and animal testing

• Most Christians believe that it is wrong to test animals for things like cosmetics but would support testing on animals for medical advancement

• Christians might believe this because:

  • Animals are part of God’s creation. God created animals to help humans but they should not be abused for something that is not essential

  • Human life is sacred. Animal testing has led to the development of medicines and technologies that improve human life e.g. vaccinations

  • Testing to enhance medical developments prevents more suffering than it causes, and is the Lesser of two evils

  • Medical research has improved the life expectancy of humans by approximately 23.5 years. Christians believe God would approve of this

• Some Christians may be against animal testing of any kind because of the harm it does to animals

  • Humans are not the same as animals, and medical testing can be unreliable

  • Animals are part of God’s creation and should be treated with care

  • Animal testing leads to suffering and death

  • We would not allow this treatment against humans, and animals can still feel pain like humans can

Christianity and animal consumption

• Most Christians believe that it is up to the individual to decide if they want to eat meat or not

  • There are no specific food laws that govern Christianity and so it is a matter of personal choice

  • Paul taught that vegetarians and meat eaters should not judge one another but respect each other’s choices

• Those Christians who do eat meat might point to Christian teachings suggesting that eating meat is permitted

  • Christian teaching about humans having dominion over the world implies that we should use animals as a resource to live

  • After the Flood, God permitted Noah to eat meat

• God permitted St. Peter to break the Kosher food laws

• Those Christians who do not eat meat might point to Christian values and relate that to the treatment of animals

  • Francis taught that animals also had souls. One interpretation of this is that because they have souls, killing them would be wrong

  • Christian teachings of stewardship suggest that we should care for the world and everything in it. Farming and consuming animals can cause harm

  • The conditions of factory farming do not fit with the Christian values of agape love

  • Jesus taught his followers to be loving to those who are weaker. Animals are weaker than humans, so following Jesus’ teaching means not causing them harm

  • Killing animals for food encourages violence, which many Christians disagree with

  • In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were vegetarian. Many Christians believe they should try and emulate this lifestyle before Creation was corrupted by sin

Islam - The Use & Abuse of Animals

Islam and animal rights

• Islam teaches that the mistreatment of animals should never happen

• Muslims believe that Allah has created the universe and everything in it. They believe that He has trusted humans to look after it. They call this Khalifah

• Animals are part of Allah’s creation and all Muslims must seek to look after them

• Mohammed (pbuh) taught that Muslims who harmed animals without good cause would be judged

• Most Muslims believe that humans have a right to eat meat but that this should be as ethical as possible for the animal

• Muslims believe that meat must be Slaughter of animals must be humane and in the name of God

  • Halal food laws state which types of meat can be eaten, but eating meat is permitted in the Qur’an

• Muslims sacrifice a goat during the festival of Eid-al-Adha to remember Ibrahim and his readiness to sacrifice Ismail

• Muslims will normally only allow animal testing if it is for medical advances for humans

  • The Quran teaches that animals were provided to meet the needs of humans, and medical animal testing is needed for human health

  • Any unnecessary harm is forbidden and animals must be treated with respect