The notion that animals should have rights was widely ridiculed when it was first advocated in the 1970s. Now it is getting more respect. The movement has gained tens of millions of adherents and has already persuaded the European Union to require that all hens have room to stretch their wings, perch and lay their eggs in a nest box, and to phase out keeping pigs and veal calves in individual crates too narrow for them to walk or turn around. And earlier this month Californians voted 63 percent to 37 percent for a measure that, beginning in 2015, gives all farm animals the right to stand up, lie down, turn around and fully extend their limbs. The state's 45 major egg producers will have to rip out the cages that now hold 19 million hens, and either put in new and larger cages with fewer birds or, more likely, keep the birds on the floor in large sheds. California's sole large-scale pig-factory farm...
God commanded man to take dominion over His creation. That includes all animal species - not man, who is not an animal. God also told Moses that it is lawful to eat animal flesh after the flood. But as a human being we have a responsibility in the eyes of God to treat amimals "humanely" ie not with cruelty. I enjoy meat products but at the same time I respect that an animal should be treated humanely.
About a year ago I had this injured cat hanging around my "residence" so I took it to the humane society. As I thought I was doing the "socially responsible" thing, the experience was rather unpleasant, so much that I even wrote it all down. But, to be short: I told the lady about the cat and somehow the conversation lead me to ask if they were going to kill it, when she took great offense to the word "kill" and corrected me with the proper word "euthanize." She wanted me to take full responsibility for this cat and pay $40, which I refused. Apparently that wasn't an option for her so I simply said I'd put the cat back where I found it. She then threatened me with animal abuse if I were to do that. Eventually the supervisor came and I told her the situation, and she gave me another paper to fill out which was no big deal to me. As I was walking out, I asked the irritable woman if I could throw away the plastic container in their dumpster because the cat had pissed and pooped in it. She said no. I seen the supervisor outside and asked her if I could throw it away and she said absolutely.
Faithful Remnant wrote: Me too, Mike. Especially deer, elk, turkey and quail. Bear isn't bad either, nor is alligator. Have you tried these or do any hunting?
Deer, turkey, and bear, yes. Haven't tried elk or gator. Though a staunch gun-rights advocate, I've only been real hunting once. Didn't see a thing. Just as well, I wouldn't have known what to do with it anyway!
If God had wanted animals to have rights, he wouldn't have made them to taste like meat. If God had wanted Rosie O'Donell to be a human, he wouldn't have made her look like a wart hog.
It is in man's self-interest to treat animals mercifully. Whether this should be legislated as suggested above (and esp. on irrational, indefensible ethical grounds) is a separate question.
Examples: I was told by an acquaintance who hunts in Montana that game tastes better if killed instantly on the first shot. Otherwise, convulsions spread adrenalin to all the edible flesh, degrading flavor. I was told a similar story by a local sheep rancher regarding how livestock are handled before slaughter.
Yep, they should be allowed to roam more freely. We never kept our animals confined to prison cells(for lack of a better term) on our farm. They were allowed to eat natural food from the ground. It makes for healthier and better tasting meat and eggs. Of course wild game is even better.
I think there is a lot that needs to change about the farming industry; animals are God's creatures and He entrusted them to us. This means we are to use them kindly. HOwever, I am far from saying we should not eat meat. Just that if we are to breed animals for eating, they should be treated humanely, with room enough to move and graze/feed freely, and not be stuffed to the eyeballs with steroids and food that isn't natural to them. As far as I'm concerned, battery farming, etc. is wrong; but I'm far from saying that animals be given the same rights as humans created in God's image. Just that we should look after them well.
N.B.: Peter Singer, a notorious advocate of abortion, euthanasia, etc., is the author of this "Newsweak" article. Anyone who can say a chicken is a sentient being but a human fetus is not, has serious rationality problems. Since he claims that reason is a characteristic of "personhood," perhaps he is not a person & may (by his standards) be euthanized.
Recent news reports have it that even bacteria respond to negative environmental stimuli & can be "trained." Therefore, they too are "sentient beings," & we should not clean our dishes, cook food, or even wash hands, for these practices kill bacteria.
And if humans should respect animal "rights," why shouldn't other animals as well? Therefore, hawks, coyotes, snakes, & other predators inhabiting Calif. should be prosecuted for killing their prey.
While I do affirm that we are to be merciful to animals, this follows from Scripture (Prov. 12:10), a different basis from Singer's "thinking."
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a 101 meditation?
on sunday our preacher was saying that jesus..."
