It was my first day of a new job at a church in West London. During the morning break, upon being asked if I would like tea or coffee, I explained that I was a vegan and politely asked if there was any soya milk. The curate replied that there was not and, fixing me with a stern eye, said coldly “You won’t find many of those in this community”.
Christianity and Animals
Matthew C. Halteman, Professor of Philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, reflects upon God’s abundant love for creation and how veganism can offer an opportunity to model the Judeo-Christian vision of shalom.
Imagining Creation as a Christian Vegan – Matthew C. Halteman was last modified: May 16th, 2021 by admin
In this extended article, Dr Lisa Warden explores the Biblical mandate to care for God’s creatures, our contemporary treatment of animals and whether Christians may be called to challenge the status quo.
Christianity, Animals, and Coronavirus: A Time to Repent? – Lisa Warden was last modified: April 11th, 2024 by admin
Michael Gilmour, Professor of New Testament and English Literature at Providence University College, delves into the spiritual and ethical foundations of Christian veganism, presenting a compelling case for how his faith informs his dietary choices. Drawing on biblical teachings and personal convictions, Gilmour highlights veganism as a form of protest against animal cruelty, a means of protecting vulnerable people, and a manifestation of eschatological hope. Through this lens, he argues that Christian veganism is not merely a lifestyle choice but a profound expression of worship and a tangible anticipation of the coming kingdom of God.
Christian Veganism? – Michael Gilmour was last modified: August 14th, 2024 by admin
Dr Christina Nellist, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author, reflects upon her embracing of Orthodoxy and explores how its ancient traditions can provide important insights for contemporary animal advocates.
Orthodoxy and Care of Creation – Christina Nellist was last modified: May 13th, 2020 by admin
The Revd Janey Hiller, an ordained Anglican minister, recounts her journey towards veganism and how studying Christian perspectives on animals at theological college proved to be a life changing experience.
Why Vegan? A Synergy of Animal and Human Justice – The Revd Janey Hiller was last modified: March 12th, 2020 by admin
Though generally lauded by Catholics, Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ (henceforth, LS) was dismissed by some who saw its environmental call to arms as theological novelty. It’s no surprise then that, when a lightshow of wildlife was projected onto the façade of St. Peter’s basilica in 2015, quite a number of these same voices condemned the display as pagan, blasphemous, and even demonic. What these critics did not always recognize, however, is that a transformation in Catholic teaching about plants and animals has been underway for a while now; it did not begin with Francis. Vatican II initiated the environmental revolution, so to speak, and successive popes have furthered it. Not without reason did PETA deem Pope John Paul II a saint to animals or environmentalists nickname Pope Benedict XVI the “green pope.”
Shifts in Catholic Views of Animals – Christopher Steck was last modified: June 7th, 2019 by admin
As we all seek to further animal concerns on the fronts of industry, law, and social practices, let us not forget the essential and foundational role of prayer in any Kingdom-bringing endeavor. Yes, pray for reform in farming practices; yes, pray for laws to be written and enforced; yes, pray for God’s supernatural intervention to minimize animal suffering and to meet animal needs of all kinds. I actually have written Liturgical Prayers to add to Morning Prayer to address each of these prayer-needs.
Prayer and Pastoral Care for Animal Carers – Susan Bubbers was last modified: July 8th, 2019 by admin
If hot dogs were made of dogs, would you still eat one? If you’d asked me that question seven years ago (when I still ate meat), I would’ve answered with a firm (though puzzled) ‘no’. My previous answer fascinates me now because it highlights that our beliefs about what is (and is not) acceptable to eat typically derive from our cultural inheritance, rather than any Biblically informed ethic. After all, if, as we Christians might initially be tempted to think, it is okay to eat lambs and pigs because humans were given dominion over God’s creation (Genesis 1:26-28), then it will also be okay to eat cats and dogs, for nothing in Genesis (nor any other book in the Bible) suggests that lambs and pigs are for eating while cats and dogs are for cuddling. Yet most of us find the idea of eating cats and dogs horrific.
What Does the Bible Say About Veganism? – Simon Kittle was last modified: July 8th, 2019 by admin