Religous Responses Flashcards
What do Buddhists & Christians think about animal rights?
Religions do not teach that animals have the same rights as humans but that they should be protected, managed and cared for with respect.
Religious believers would support animal welfare groups work but it must be non-violent & lawful.
Buddhists believe animals have the potential to become enlightened and should be treated with compassion following the eightfold path and first precept. Animals could be an ancestor so deserve respect and care.
For Christians God created the world and therefore it deserves respect. Humans do not own the planet, but have a sacred duty to care for it (stewardship).
The idea of the sanctity of life (life is a gift from God and is sacred and precious), including animals, influences Christians views on the treatment of animals.
Humans have a responsibility for the way they use their power over the natural world.
What do Buddhists think about animal use?
Animals should be protected, managed and cared for with respect.
Buddhism teaches compassion and non-violence. If an act is not well-intended it will result in bad karma.
Animals are part of the cycle of rebirth & have a possible future as a human. It is important to show respect to all life.
Humans have a duty to care for all living beings ‘to refrain from harming any living thing’ (1st Precept).
‘Right livelihood’ (eightfold path) includes not having a job that harms or exploits animals.
What do Christian’s think about animal use?
God gave humans dominion over the world and all in it. This gives humans license to use it as they wish, but remembering that God wants humans to look after the world (stewardship) & that one day God will want the world back.
God made the world & gave humans dominion over it (Genesis).
Animals are part of god’s creation and deserve respect and protection (St Francis of Assisi).
Jesus taught that God cares for all creation even the sparrows.
The earth and everything in it is the Lord’s (taught in the Bible).
What do Buddhists believe about animals?
The natural world is very important.
All living beings are connected and dependant on each other for survival.
Animals should be treated well as they are part of the cycle of rebirth.
Buddhism is a religion of love & compassion - 1st Moral Precept not to harm any living thing, applies to animals.
Buddhists practice meditation to develop feelings of loving kindness and compassion to all living beings, all of whom have the same right to happiness and the potential to become enlightened.
What do Christians believe about animals?
Christians believe God created the world, including animals and people, and put humans in charge (“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” Genesis 1:28).
Christians believe they have a duty to care for all creation, including animals.
Jesus spoke about the value of every living creation, even each individual sparrows (“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God” Luke 12:6).
What do Buddhists think about eating meat?
Most Buddhists are vegetarian. They regard animals as part of the cycle of birth, death, rebirth. To them killing an animal might mean killing the physical body that houses an ancestors soul.
Buddhists believe in ‘ahimsa’, or not harming/using violence towards animals.
Buddhist monks will it refuse meat if it is offered but would not kill an animals themselves.
Buddhist scriptures say that living creatures should not be killed, treated with violence, nor abused or tormented.
What do Christians think about eating meat?
Individual Christians may chose to not eat meat but Christianity doesn’t teach people to avoid meat.
Animals were created by God to provide humans with food.
Some Christians may believe that because of dominion humans can eat animals as God gave humans power over animals.
Other’s believe because of stewardship animals must not suffer and should be protected.
After the great flood God told Noah that people may eat animals.
St. Paul wrote to the Romans that all foods could be eaten but that Christians shouldn’t eat anything that should cause anyone else to sin.
What do Buddhists think about animals in sport?
Compassion and loving kindness should extend to all living things.
Hunting, fishing and trapping animals is not in keeping with steps on the Eightfold Path.
-Right action: living an ethical life acording to the precepts.
-Right livelihood: doing work that doesn’t harm others and is helpful to them.
-Right effort: thinking in a kindly and positive way. Non-violence.
-Right mindfulness: being fully aware of oneself, other people, and the world around you.
Buddhists would consider these activities as tormenting and abusing living creatures, which scriptures forbid.
What do Christians think about animals in sport?
Some believe hunting is justified as God told humans to bring animals under their control (dominion).
Other Christians say animals are part of God’s creation and humans have a duty as stewards to protect them.
What do Buddhists think about animal experiments, genetic modification & cloning?
Some religious people are against GM and cloning of animals. They oppose all animal experiments on the grounds of cruelty.
Buddhists oppose animal experiments. They believe life is as precious to every animal as it is to a human.
Since all forms of life are dependent on each other, they think care for all living things will improve human life (good karma).
What do Christians think about animal experiments, genetic modification & cloning?
Some are against GM & cloning as scientists are ‘playing God’ and interfering with nature by artificially changing the structure of a living creature.
Some oppose all animal experiments on the grounds of cruelty, others accept animal experiments if they help save human lives.
Christians believe that animals and birds are valuable to God (Luke 12:6), but most Christians accept limited testing on animals in order to find a cure for diseases. (Human life is a gift from God and is sacred - sanctity of life).
What do Buddhists & Christians think about pets and working animals?
Buddhism and Christianity doesn’t forbid people having pets.
Humane treatment of animals is expected. Animals can provide companionship to people.
Buddhism and Christianity doesn’t object to using animals for work or transport as long as they are cared for. Contact with animals can offer therapy to people (helpful healing).
What do Buddhists & Christians think about wild animals?
Zoo’s are accepted by Buddhists and Christians if they are kept in good conditions that are as near as possible to their natural habitat.
It is good stewardship (Christianity) to care for and protect god’s creation. Good karma (Buddhism) is gained by protecting and looking after living beings.
Zoo’s help preserve species, offer research and breeding programmes which lead to protect and care for creation and living beings.
