Religion and Animal Rights

Sanctity of Life

lifer is sacred because it is God-given

Responsibility

duty; the idea that we are in charge of our own actions

Extinction

when all members of a species have died out and that species will never exist on
earth again

Free Range
Farming

farming that allows the animals to roam free and behave naturally

Factory Farming
small spaces

when animals are used for meat or dairy products but are kept indoors in very

Vegetarianism

the belief held by people who do not eat meat

Vegan

a person who will not use any animal product

Fur Trade
clothing

the business of farming or hunting wild animals for their fur to be made into

Ivory Trade

the sale of ivory from elephants tusks, often illegally

Animal Experiments
testing on animals either for medical or cosmetic purposes to ensure that
the product is safe for use by humans
Genetic Modification
plants and animals that have had their natural make up altered by
scientists
Cloning

the scientific method by which animals or plants can be created which have
exactly the same genetic make-up as the original, because the DNA of the original
is used

Animals and Humans

The theory of evolution describes life developing over millions of years, from tiny single celled creatures
into more and
more complex varieties of animals and finally humans.
Most people believe that humans are on a higher level than animals and religions tend to support this
idea with the
exception of Buddhism all religions are taught that God created animals for a purpose to be of value
and support to
humans.
Reasons why animals are considered of less value than humans:

Religious people believe that being reincarnated as an animal is a punishment for past misdeeds
Animals do not seem to have the ability to reason a decision
Humans can read, write and understand ideas
Humans have the ability to act in moral ways, animals cannot make that decision
Animals dont have religious beliefs, or do not worship and communicate with God nor follow
any kind of moral code

Most people would claim that just because the status of animals is lower it does not mean that humans
should mistreat them. Religions teach that although animals are not equal to humans, they should be
cared for and respected as a part of the natural world.

Protecting the Rights of Animals

Protecting Animals by Law

International Animal Rights Day 10th December each year

Campaigners from Animal Rights groups think animals
should have similar rights of protection from exploitation and
suffering as humans
Peaceful protesting includes; candle lit vigils, marces, letters
to MPs
Violent protesting includes; breaking into labs and releasing
animals held for research, targeting individuals who work in
the animal research field
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals)
Cruelty and neglect of animals are criminal offences in the
UK
Some restrictions to animals as pets
Animals experiments to research and test cosmetics are
banned
Legal experiments for medical and other research are
inspected to make sure animals are not suffering
Foxhunting/dog fighting are illegal
Strict regulations about animal exports/transporting animals
for slaughter/management of abattoirs where animals are
slaughtered

Contemporary Use and Abuse of Animals

Issues
Wild Animals

Useful
Animals

Overview
Zoos, Safari parks and Aquariums
(+)Dangerous wild animals seen in a safe
controlled environment provides
entertainment for families
(+)Educations activities and breeding
programmes that have saved rare species
from extinction
(+)Some zoos pay for research into
animals
(-) Some zoos and safari parks do not
always provide suitable environments for
animals
(-) Some animals cannot adjust to the
climate and environments as they are so
different

Pets provide companionship and a way of

expressing affection
Guide dogs provide partially sighted
people with the opportunity to lead more
independent lives e.g helping them to
cross roads
Animals are used for transport of people
and goods. Some animals used are
donkeys, camels and horses

Religious Attitudes
Most accept zoos if the
conditions are similar to
natural habitats
Most recognise that zoos
can help preserve species
Leaders of 6 world religions
met in Assisi, Italy, the
home of St Francis, the
patron saint of animals.
Here they made statements
about how people should
act responsibly for the
welfare of the earth
including animals (Assisi
Declarations)
Most religions do not forbid
pets
Many religions do not
object as long as the animal
is cared for.
Some religious people
believe animals have
healing qualities

Animals for
Food

Animals used in the workplace can include

sniffer dogs for police to follow a trail and
seek out drugs, or in the military they are
used to locate mines
Some people object to eating animals and
say that humans have no right to rule over
animals (usually vegetarian or vegan)
Others accept the use of animals for food
Free range farming
Factory farming
Slaughtering: In Britain the animal is
stunned first and then the animal is
slaughtered and bled out so the meat is of
better quality

Animals in
Sport

Animal
Experiments

The Fur and

Ivory Trade

Use of animals in sport is historically for

competitive purposes
Hunting is taken from the survival of the
first humans, whose life depended on
hunting. Once food became easier to
obtain hunting became a sport rather than
a necessity
Supporters of hunting claim that it helps
the countryside e.g. removing pests like
foxes which attack other livestock like
chickens
Opposers of hunting argue that it is cruel
and parliament passed a law in 2004
banning hare coursing and the hunting of
wild animal
Medical drugs are tested on animals before
they can be sold to humans
Testing cosmetics on animals is now illegal
The government inspects laboratories to
ensure animal suffering is kept to a
minimum
Genetic Modification means that
animals have been genetically modified,
usually so they are in better health and
produce better quality meat
Genetic Modification has also been used
to create organs that can be used for
transplants in humans
Cloning is creating an organism that is
the exact genetic copy of another e.g.
Dolly the Sheep was a clone of Tracy the
Sheep in Scotland
Over 55million animals are killed each year
for the fur trade
Fur farming was made illegal in England
and Wales in 2000
People who are against the fur trade argue
that it is not natural for the animals and
the methods of slaughter are cruel e.g.
electrocution

Most Buddhists and

Hindus are vegetarian
killing an animal might be
killing a body that contains
an ancestors soul
Christianity does not
teach followers not to eat
meat. They believe animals
were created by God to
provide humans with food
After the great flood God
told Noah that people may
eat animals
Buddhists first precept is I
will not harm any living
thing
Some Christians believe
hunting is justified as God
told them to bring animals
under control. Others say
they are part of Gods
creation and we have a
duty to protect them

Buddhists oppose animal

experiments, as they see
animals as equal to humans
Most Christians accept
limited testing on animals
in order to find cures for
diseases

People who are for the fur trade argue that

it is worth up to 500 million and creates
jobs for people in poorer countries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1989 the United Nations made the ivory
trade illegal everywhere
Recently the European Union approved the
sale of 108 tonnes of ivory in China where
there is a huge demand as they believe
that ivory has healing properties and use it
in medicines
In some countries they are allowing ivory
trade because it makes so much money
that it is able to fund military operations
killing elephants is funding war