Unit 2 (year 10)

Religion and animal rights

Higher level than

animals
Intelligence- make
decisions
Communicate
ideas-understand
ideas
Create music, art
etc
Religious belief

-Humans
are
animals
-Share
many
biological
features

Being reborn is
as a punishment
Behave
according to
instinct
No ability to
reason

No moral
code of
behaviour
Live to
survive not
to create a
good QOL

Can
communicate
but not reason

Most would say that just because animals are considered to be lower than humans it
doesnt mean they can be treated poorly. Humans can use animals to help us live
without harming them. Religion generally teaches although animals are not equal they
should be cared for.

Rights
The term first used in 1892
Hundreds of organisations
Animal right campaigners believe animals
should be not exploited and treated cruelly
Also believe they should have the same rights
as humans
Oppose factory farming, experimentation, and
using animals for entertainment

Protecting the rights

of animals
Celebrate International
Animal rights Day each
year
Campaigners think animals
should have similar rights to
humans
Candlelit vigils, marches
and letters to MPs

Breaking into laboratories

and releasing animals

WWF/RSPCA raise
awareness and monitor
animals

Protecting rights
animals by law
Protects animals against
cruelty and neglect as they
are criminal offences

Can not keep certain

animals as pets
Animal experimentation
to research cosmetics
banned
Inspections carried out on
legal medical
experimentation
Foxhunting and dog
fighting illegal. Strict laws
on animal transportation

Religious attitudes towards animals

Religions do not teach that animals have the same rights as
humans but should be protected, managed and cared for with
respect
All religions except Buddhism believe God created the world and
therefore it deserves respect
Humans do not own the planet but have a duty to care for it
(stewardship). I will make humans to have dominion over the
fish in the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and all the wild
animals on the Earth. Humans will spread over the Earth and
subdue it. Genesis
Religious believers support the Sanctity of life (including
animals)
Humans have responsibility for how they use their powers over
the natural world

Religion

Belief about animals

Christianity

God created the world, including animals and put humans in charge. They
have a duty to care for creation. Jesus spoke about the value of every living
creature Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not
one of them is forgotten by God.
Luke 14:5 And he said to them, Which of you, having a son or an ox that
has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?

Islam

Muslims believe that Allah appointed humans to be stewards. They must care
for animals and treat them with respect. Animals have feelings and a purpose
in living. Those who are cruel will have to answer to Allah. Muslims have
rules about food (halal slaughter).

Buddhism

Animals treated well as part of the cycle of rebirth . 1 st moral precept is not
to harm any living thing, applies to animals

Hinduism

Believe in SOL of all life. All living things also part of the cycle of borth,
death and rebirth as the soul is reborn. The cow is sacred and is allowed to
roam free in India

In Support of zoos, safari parks and aquariums

Against of zoos, safari parks and aquariums

Religious views/responses
Religious people accept zoos if animals are kept
in conditions near to life in the wild.
Zoos can help preserve species in the wild by
research and breeding programmes
Assisi Declaration 1986
25th anniversary of the
creation of WWF, leaders
of 6 religions met in Assisi
in Italy to give a statement
on how people should act
responsibly for the welfare
of animals

Practical action- RSPCA

Started in 1824 by Christians in
response to cruelty, first animal welfare
organisation. There are now many others
such as WWF, Greenpeace.
Also environmental organisations such
as Islamic Foundation for Ecology and
environmental sciences and the Anglican
Society for the welfare of animals.

How are animals used in this way?

COMPANIONSHIP

WORK

TRANSPORT

-People grow to love

pets
-Treat them as a family
member
-A pet can keep people
company
-A way of expressing
companionship
-Dogs can bring exercise
and social contact with
other dog walkers
-Guide dogs
(pets/working animals) 7
years
-Some bury their pets
showing how close they
are to their pets

-Horses and dogs are

used on farms
-In India elephants are
used for logging
-In China, birds called
cormorants are used to
catch fish
-Guide dogs
Small African monkeys
have been trained to do
simple things like open
mail
-Sniffer dogs
-Dogs used to be used in
WW1 in the trenches to
carry messages

-Transport people
and goods all over
the world
-Dogs and sleds
-Horse and carts
-Camels in the
desert

Religious attitudes
COMPANIONSHIP

WORK

TRANSPORT

Most religions do
not forbid pets

Muslims can keep dogs

for hunting or guarding
their homes

Most religions do not

object to animals being
used for transport

In Islam, animals
shouldnt be kept in
limited spaces or
trained to do tricks
therefore most
Muslims do not have
pets

Islam teaches that

working animals must
not be beaten or over
worked.

The cow for Hindus is

sacred and can be used
for transport

Most religions do not

object to animals being
used for work
Most religious people
believe animals can be
used for work in terms
of healing (AUTISM etc)

What are the issues:

Humans shouldnt deprive the

animal a right to live
Some say it is acceptable as long as
they are not endangered and are well
looked after
Agriculture has grown and made
people question how animals are
being treated in the process

Why people eat meat

Reason to be
vegetarian

Religion

Exceptions

Buddhists
and Hindus

Most are vegetarian. Animals are part of cycle and therefore can
not kill. Some Hindus may eat meat but never the cow as it is
sacred

Sikhs

Many are vegetarian

The langar in the Gurdwara only serves vegetarian food.
Some do provided the animals are treated well and killed
humanely.

Jews/
Christians
and Muslims

Not taught to avoid meat

Animals were created by God to provide humans with food.
Noah was told that people could eat the animals after the flood

Ritual Slaughter according to

religious beliefs
Jews and Muslims only eat certain meats, and they
must be slaughtered in a particular way.
Jews only eat kosher meat (if its not its called
trefah)
Muslims eat halal meat (if its not its called haram)
Christians do not have a method of ritual slaughter
Many Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs are vegetarian

Factory Farming- Method of raising animals intensively

+A high output and higher profit
+Food production is more efficient
+Costs less to buy
-Use medication to prevent disease
-Animals kept indoors
-Movement is restricted
-Growth hormones given
-Crowded living conditions
Free range farming- Method raising animals so they can roam freely
+Animals are not separated at birth-form a close bond
+More natural environment
+Only kept inside at night
-Products usually more expensive

Animals used in sport- Hunting and bull fighting

Religion

Exceptions

Buddhists

Hunting, fishing and trapping animals is not in keeping with the 8

fold path

Christians

Some Christians believe hunting is justified since God told

humans to bring animals under their control
Others say that humans have a duty as stewards to care

Hindus

Hunting is cruel and unnecessary

Protecting animals is part of a Hindus duty

Muslims

Animals have feelings and a reason for living

Animals maybe hunted for food but not sport
Allah will hold people accountable if they kill for no purpose

Fur Trade
Animals are killed for fur not just
meat
55 million animals killed each year
Fur farms keep animals in small
individual cages to prevent damage
Electrocution used while being
skinned
Made illegal in England in 2000
Fur has made a comeback
Trade worth 500 million a year to
UK economy
Some animals taken to reduce their
numbers
British Trade is introducing origin
assured label to reassure customers
Creates jobs

The ivory trade

Ivory trade is flourishing
Armed gangs in Central Africa kill
elephants
Created jobs
The ivory finds its way into shops in
Nigeria and the Ivory Coast
In 2003 the amount of ivory found
there was represented from more than
760 elephants- only 563 left in country
so shows it is being imported
In 1989 the UN made it illegal
everywhere
Since then allowed some limited
trading
EU approved 108 tonnes of ivory to
China
Legal sales encourages the poachers
Profits from the ivory is funding wars
due to corrupt governments

Animal experiments

Genetic Modification (GM) Cloning

-New medical drugs are

tested on animals before
they can be sold to humans
-New drugs injected to test
the effects
-However, drugs do not
always affect animals in the
same way
-2006- Ryan Wilson- all
fingers and toes amputated
after such a bad reactionno affect on the animals
-Testing cosmetics and
toiletries is now against the
law
-Medical research now
using cheaper and quicker
ways
-Government inspects labs
to ensure suffering is kept
to a minimum

-People have always bred

farm animals to improve
health and better quality of
meat
-However, GM means
animals have been altered
genetically in a lab
-Scientists can study how
genes work, test new drugs
and the effects of genetic
diseases
-Pigs have been developed
with human DNA to supply
organs for human
transplantation
(not yet used)

-Creating an organism
which is exact copy of
another.
-Scientists cloned Tracy the
sheep (Dolly). She
produced a protein in her
milk that could treat lung
diseases.
-There are benefits but
1000s of embryos are
destroyed
-Many believe it is done for
money and as a result
human health and safety
risks might be ignored

Religion

Exceptions

Buddhists

Oppose animal experiments. Life is precious

Christians

Christians believe that animals are valuable to God (Luke 12:6).

Limited testing to find cure for diseases is acceptable

Hindus

Deities appear as animals, reminding the worshipper of the

qualities found in animal world. Animals should not be harmed as
part of the samsara cycle.

Muslims

Animals had had legal rights in Islam since 13 th Century

Caging animals is forbidden
Can be used to find cures