Religion and Animal Rights Revision Animal rights Animal

1
Religion and Animal Rights Revision
2
Animal rights

• Animals are often used for medical experiments in
  order to improve the lives of humans. Without
  animal testing many life saving drugs could not
  be used.
• Animals are part of the food chain but are often
  kept in poor conditions until slaughter. This has
  led 10 of the UK not eat meat (vegetarian) or
  even not use any animal products (vegan).
• Sometimes animals are used in blood sports. This
  is when animals are killed in the name of sport.
  Their deaths are often violent and painful. Many
  people in the UK hate the idea of blood sports
  and have called for a complete ban of fox hunting.

3

• Companionship Food
• Medical testing
• Clothing
• Entertainment Cosmetic testing
• Sport Transport
• Work

Use Abuse of animals
4
Factory Farming
Factory farming
Make notes on the clip
See blog for website link to clip
5
Christianity and Animal Rights

• Attitude 1 Most Christians believe that animals
  do not have rights but humans should not be cruel
  to animals and that farmers should care for their
  animals humanely.
• 2 reasons
• 1. God gave humans the right to control animals
  according to Genesis when he appointed them as
  stewards
• 2. God is the creator of animals as well as
  humans and the Bible says that humans should
  respect Gods creation.
• Attitude 2Some Christians believe that animals
  should have similar rights to humans
• 3 reasons
• God is the creator of animals as well as humans
  and the Bible says that humans should respect
  Gods creation
• it is impossible to use animals for food or
  experiments without being cruel to them and this
  is wrong
• The Bible says that God morns the loss of one of
  his creations

6
Buddhism and Animal Rights

1. Buddhists believe that all life, in all forms,
   should be respected, and no suffering should be
   caused e.g. so no experimenting on animals, bull
   fighting etc
2. Buddha taught compassion (love and kindness) for
   all life. Harming animals is not showing
   compassion.
3. Do not harm others (First Precept)
4. Right Livelihood includes NOT having a job that
   exploits animals
5. There are Karmic consequences for all our
   actions. Karma affects our rebirth.
6. Most are vegetarian for these reasons. However,
   it doesnt say you cant eat meet but animals
   must be slaughtered humanely.

7
Animal Rights
See blog for website link to game
8
Test yourself

1. Name 3 things that animal are used for
2. What are the 2 different Christian attitudes to
   animal rights?
3. What reasons are given?
4. What is the Muslim attitude to animal rights?
5. What are the 4 reasons given?

9

• ANIMAL RIGHTS
• Give two ways animals and humans are
  different. (2)
• Give two reasons why people use animals in
  sport. (2)
• Name two ways in which humans misuse
  animals. (2)
• Name the first Buddhist precept and explain its
  meaning. (3)
• Explain briefly why some religious believers
  choose not to eat meat. (4)
• Explain Christian and Buddhist attitudes to
  making animals extinct. Use beliefs and teachings
  in your answer. (6)
• Zoos should all be closed down, and the animals
  released. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 8. Weve learnt most of our medicine from animal
  research, so it must continue. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.
• 9. Eating meat is disrespectful to Gods
  creation. (6)
• Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your
  answer, showing that you have thought about more
  than one point of view, including the two
  religious views you have studied.

10
Explain the religious attitudes to making animals
extinct. Use beliefs and teachings in your
answer. (6 marks)
Example Answer

• Christians believe that humans were given
  dominion over animals, which was to care and
  respect all living things. This is known as
  stewardship. God created the world and all
  creatures in it, which means all creation belongs
  to him and we are looking after it for him. In
  the Ten Commandments, it says do not kill, and
  so if you are killing animals and making them
  extinct, you are against what Gods rules.
• Buddhists believe your actions have consequences,
  which means you should respect all life,
  otherwise you will have bad karma and affect your
  rebirth. You could also affect the animals
  chances of improving their karma. In the Five
  Precepts, its says not to harm sentient beings,
  because they should practice ahimsa, which is
  non-violence towards all life.
• Both Christians and Buddhists believe that
  destroying habitats, is destroying creation and
  animals chances of survival.