Protecting the Modern "Noah's Ark"A $1 million campaign of print, television, and radio advertisements to urge Congress to keep the Endangered Species Act has been launched by the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) on behalf of more than 1,000 churches nationwide. Calvin DeWitt, co-founder of the network and an environmental studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said, "The Endangered Species Act allows not only for the preservation of the species but of their homes." He called the act "the Noah's Ark of our day." Formed in 1993 as part of Evangelicals for Social Action, the EEN's current campaign counters the perception that conservative Christians are often at odds with environmentalists, DeWitt said. He hoped to mobilize an estimated 30 million to 50 million evangelicals by distributing 30,000 "Creation Care" packets across the country, urging church members to participate in local nature preservation activities and to organize as "Noah congregations." The EEN has affiliates that include a group of 88 evangelical colleges and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, with a membership of 27,000 students on nearly 600 campuses and several other Christian groups for young people. Evangelicals for Social Action, a theologically conservative but politically liberal group, has been addressing social questions since the 1970s. The group is part of a larger effort spearheaded by the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, joining different religious traditions with secular environmentalism. Providing the financial backing is the Environmental Information Center, a Washington-based nonprofit group formed in early 1995 to work on environmental issues with religious, scientific, consumer and health groups that are not primarily part of environmental movement. Quoting from the book of Genesis, DeWitt said the story of Noah and the Ark is "the first endangered species act proclaimed in written history." Its conclusion, DeWitt noted, is a covenant with the creator to sustain all life. ARTICLES THE HOLOCAUST CONTROVERSY: How and why the fate of animals and the fate of humans were linked together DOMINION: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals and the Call to Mercy....An overview of the book that has broken through media barriers to reach the general public. Is Vegetarianism a Virtue? Is Carnivorism A Vice?...Can the eating of flesh become an anomaly in our Western culture? JESUS, OVID, AND VEGETARIANISM: Was the Christ less compassionate than the Pagan? THE CARNIVOROUS SHEPHERDS: The Prophets Zechariah and Ezekiel condemned those who ate the flesh of sheep. JESUS, THE MONEYCHANGERS & ANIMAL SACRIFICE. The moneychangers were not the target of Christ's outrage. THE POPE AND THE HOMELESS CATS: John Paul II Had A Dream.... ANIMAL RIGHTS: Contemporary Concern or Ongoing Issue?...........From the keynote address given at the 7th annual EarthCare Conference. RELIGION: FRIEND OR FOE OF ANIMAL ACTIVISM....by Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D, author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism." EASTERTIME AND THE LAMBS OF GOD. Warning: this article may be offensive to carniverous Christians The Christmas Story: Glad Tidings for All Creatures THE IMMORALITY OF WEARING FUR...Buying, selling or wearing fur manages to violate three of the ten commandments GOD'S COVENANT WITH ANIMALS: excerpts from the newly published book written by the editor of Humane Religion publications. God and Chick-fil-A Claiming that it is God who has made you prosperous, doesn't make it so. BOOK BONUS: Read the first chapter of THEY SHALL NOT HURT OR DESTROY: Animal Rights and Vegetarianism in the Western Religious tradition. Written by Vasu Murti, this book has been endorsed by ministers, rabbis and representatives of animal rights organizations like PETA and THE FUND FOR ANIMALS. AQUINAS, ANIMAL RIGHTS & CHRISTIANITY: The spiritual ignorance and prejudice of long-dead men continues to make life a hell-on-earth for animals. "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"....Not a sparrow falls to earth without God's knowledge and concern. ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.....Animal sacrifices are currently JESUS - ESSENES - DEAD SEA SCROLLS: The Dead Sea Scrolls give information about the kind of world in which Jesus lived. THE COMPASSIONATE PAGAN: Spiritual understanding takes root wherever it finds fertile ground. ALBERT SCHWEITZER: His
Christianity embraced and served all God's ON KILLING CARROTS: In a sermon heard 'round the world, a Christian minister equates eating plants with eating animals. SPIRITUAL PIONEERS: Animal Activists as Spiritual Pioneers. An Editorial by J.R.Hyland. LIFE ATER DEATH: Animals And Humans, together in heavenly places ANIMAL SACRIFICE: Both Jews and Christians support the restoration of Temple sacrifices in Jerusalem HOMO SAPIENS: Was Adam created to be master of creation or was he a caretaker/gardener? ECOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS: The Christian concern for environmental causes is not animal-friendly. AFTER THE FALL: GENESIS 3:21: Does Genesis 3:21 really portray God as the world's first murderer? KILLING IN JONESBORO: An editorial by J. R. Hyland - From the May/June 1998 issus of Humane Religion THE LION WHO LAY DOWN WITH THE LAMB. The True Story Of A Vegetarian Lion. SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT. The relationship between the sacrifice of animals at the Jerusalem Temple, and the crucifixion of Jesus. JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND HUNTING. When it comes to the matter of hunting, there is a wide divergence between Jewish and Christian tradition. GOD'S COVENANT WITH ALL CREATURES. Both Ministers and scholars ignore God's covenantal relationship with animals. WHY METHUSELAH LIVED SO LONG. The Bible posits a relationship between longevity and vegetarianism. ANIMAL AND HUMAN COMPANIONS. The book of Genesis tells us that animals were expressly created by God as companions for human beings. THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF VEGETARIANISM. Carnivorism represents just as much of a fall from Grace as does any other sin. THE NEW MAN? When killing animals is represented as an opportunity for spiritual growth. THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED: One Man's Journey To A Compassionate Lifestyle.
Notes: Resources
Ahimsa Catholic-Animals Jewish Veg Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals For those interested in joining the religious animal rights movement, resources which may be helpful are listed below. International Network for Religion and Animals (INRA), P.O. Box 77591, Washington, DC 20013-7591. Publications, videos, and resource kits for all major religions can be obtained from INRA. Videos: Fox, Michael. Animals, Nature and Religion. Washington: The Humane Society of the United States (2100 L Street, Washington, DC 20037. Also available through INRA). Regan, Tom. We are All Noah. Raleigh: Culture and Animals Foundation (CIN Services, Inc., 3509 Eden Croft Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609. Also available through INRA). Books: Hyland, J. R. The Slaughter of Terrified Beasts -- a Biblical Basis for the Humane Treatment of Animals. Sarasota: Viatoris Ministries, 1988. Linzey, Andrew. Christianity and the Rights of Animals. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1987. Linzey, Andrew, and Tom Regan, eds. Animals and Christianity -- A Book of Readings. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1988. Linzey, Andrew, and Tom Regan, eds. Love the Animals -- Meditations and Prayers. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1989. McDaniel, Jay B. Of God and Pelicans -- A Theology of Reverence for Life. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1989. Regan, Tom, ed. Animal Sacrifices -- Religious perspectives in the use of animals in science. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1986. Regan, Tom, and Andrew Linzey, eds. Song of Creation -- An Anthology of Poems in Praise of Animals. Basingstoke, UK: Marshall, Morgan and Scott Publication Ltd, 1988. Sobosan, Jeffrey G. Bless the Beasts -- A Spirituality of Animal Care. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1991.
All Things Herriot: Animal Sacrifice in Islam Judaism and Vegetarianism Returning to Eden: Thou Shalt Not Hurt or
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