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Engaging Religion
- Sun. 11am
Christian, Jewish, Moslem, and minor religious denominations
Presenters: Dalal,
Grisham, Haley, Schwartz
Sue
Grisham
Episcopal
Network for Animal Welfare, www.enaw.org
Inspired years ago by the late, great Rev. J.R. Hyland's "Humane
Religion" web pages, I long for the day when Christianity-as-practiced
can be regarded as a humane religion, or at least, not
as a inhumane religion. As an Episcopalian, where
I am an "activist-of-faith in the One who desires mercy
and not sacrifice", I long for the day when people of my
denomination will take to heart the publicly-made promise
we hear made at every baptism, to "renounce the evil powers
of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of
God" (Book of Common Prayer, page 302), and allow
public discussion of this topic in our congregations.
In my talk, I plan to touch on:
- ASWA, ENAW, resolutions, conventions;
- challenges and successes; what works for me and what
I try to avoid;
- the importance of self-identifying as an "animal-person-of-faith",
connecting and organizing with others;
- qualities the Animal Rights Movement and Organized
Religion might have to offer each other;
- speaking out against overtly exploitive or abusive
local customs, language, dismissive attitudes; filling
in the gaps;
- building on what's available, and what others have
done;
- seeking mutually-acceptable alternatives/solutions
to suggestions by opposing interests (for example, other
church-related special interest groups).
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Richard
Schwartz
Jewish
Vegetarians of North America, www.JewishVeg.com
With the world rapidly heading toward an unprecedented
catastrophe, it is essential that religious organizations
be actively involved in educating people on the importance
of a major change to vegetarianism, in order to help shift
the world to a sustainable path.
I plan to outline why Jews should be vegetarians, as a
model for others to apply to their religions.
The basic case:
- God's first dietary law was strictly vegetarian, actually
vegan;
- A second vegetarian attempt was made in terms of
the manna;
- the Messianic period will be vegan, based on
Isaiah's prophecy that the wolf will dwell with the lamb, … the
lion will eat straw like the ox, …
- There are six
basic Jewish mandates that point to vegetarianism as
the ideal diet for Jews (and everyone else):
1. guarding human health
arguably the most important mitzvah or commandment, as
it overrides other mitzvahs
2. treating animals with compassion
“the righteous person considers the lives of
his or her animals”
3. preserving the environment
We are to be co-workers with God in working toward a
sustainable world
4. conserving natural resources
We are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything
of value (based on Deuteronomy 20: 19.20
5. helping hungry
people
Farmers must leave the corners of the fields and the
gleanings of the harvests for the needy
6. seeking and
pursuing peace
“All we are saying is give PEAS a chance.”
Realities of producing and consuming meat and other animal
products is contrary to these basic religious values. Hence,
we should respectfully challenge religious practitioners
to apply their highest values to their diets.