Use and abuse of animals

• Vegetarian


  A person who does not eat meat or fish
• Vegan


  A person who does not eat animals or any product that comes from an animal e.g. dairy
• Stewardship


  The belief that we have a duty to care for God's creation
• Dominion


  The belief that we have authority over God's creation
• similar beliefs about treatment of animals

  Many Christians believe God created animals. This means we have a responsibility to take care of his creation like a gift for future generations and not eat or experiment on them.

   

  The Bible says ‘rule over the animals’. This can mean that we have a responsibility to look after God’s creation (stewardship) e.g. give animals rights
• Contrasting beliefs about treatment of animals

  Some Christians believe when God said for us to ‘rule over the animals’ this means we can do what we want with creation as we have authority e.g. test on animals or eat them.

   

  The Bible says ‘man is made in God’s image’ so humans have a spark of the divine which makes them more important than animals.
• For animal experimentation

   

  Dominion – rule over the animals

  Humans are more important – man is made in God’s image

  Saves countless human lives e.g. cures for diseases

   

   
• against animal experimenation

  Stewardship – rule over the animals, everything is the Lord’s

  Often painful and cruel to the animals

  Is not very effective e.g. penicillin kills guinea pigs

  Other alternatives available e.g. test on human cells

   

   
• FOR eating animals

  Dominion – rule over the animals

  Humans are more important – man is made in God’s image

  Good source of protein

  People like the taste of meat

  Can be done ‘morally’ e.g. Organic, free range farming.
• AGAINST eating animals

  Stewardship – rule over the animals, everything is the Lord’s

  Often painful and cruel to the animals e.g. factory farming

  Other sources of protein available now

  The meat industry has a huge environmental impact (negative) e.g. transport, methane, global warming etc.
• The Bible says ‘The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it’. Christians believe we have stewardship / a responsibility to care for God’s creation and not abuse it.  
• The Bible says ‘Man is made in God’s image’. Christians believe all humans have a spark of the divine and are equal (link to dominion – most important part of creation) 
• The Bible says ‘rule over the animals’. Some Christians to interpret that to mean we have dominion and can do what we want e.g. eat meat
• Others interpret it to mean stewardship, that we have a responsibility to care for the God's creation and not abuse animals.