Animals and World ReligionsDespite increasing public attention to animal suffering, little seems to have changed: Human beings continue to exploit billions of animals in factory farms, medical laboratories, and elsewhere. In this wide-ranging and perceptive study, Lisa Kemmerer shows how spiritual writings and teachings in seven major religious traditions can help people to consider their ethical obligations toward other creatures. Dr. Kemmerer examines the role of nonhuman animals in scripture and myth, in the lives of religious exemplars, and by drawing on foundational philosophical and moral teachings. She begins with a study of indigenous traditions around the world, then focuses on the religions of India (Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain) and China (Daoism and Confucianism), and finally, religions of the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). At the end of each chapter, Kemmerer explores the inspiring lives and work of contemporary animal advocates who are motivated by a personal religious commitment. Animals and World Religions demonstrates that rethinking how we treat nonhuman animals is essential for anyone claiming one of the world's great religions. |
Contents
| 3 | |
1 Indigenous Traditions | 19 |
2 Hindu Traditions | 56 |
3 Buddhist Traditions | 91 |
4 Chinese Traditions | 127 |
5 Jewish Traditions | 169 |
6 Christian Traditions | 205 |
7 Islamic Traditions | 241 |
Conclusion | 277 |
Factory Farming and Fishing | 291 |
| 317 | |
| 335 | |
| 339 | |
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Common terms and phrases
ahimsa Allah animal exploitation anymal liberation anymal liberationists anymal products anymals atman beasts Bhima birds bodhisattva Buddha Buddhist calves cattle chickens Chinese Christian traditions compassion compassionate Confucian consume contemporary core cows created creation creatures cruel cruelty dairy Daoist death deer deity Dhammapada divine earth eggs example factory farming farmed anymals fish Foltz forest Gandhi God's Guanyin hadith halal Hanh Hanuman harm hens Hindu human hunter hunting important Indian indigenous individual industries Inuit Islamic Jataka Jesus Jewish karma kill king Koyukon Linzey living Mahabharata mals Masri meat mercy milk monkey moral Muslims myths natural world Neo-Confucian nonhuman animals notes peace pigs plant-based diet Precepts protect Qur'an Rabbi religions religious teachings religious traditions reminds requires respect Rumi sacred saints Schochet scriptures sentient shared slaughter slaughterhouses snake species spiritual story suffering Sufi Tanakh things turkeys understanding vegan diet vegetarian Waddell Wuwei Xiaogan Yudhishthira Zhuangzi