GSI Streaming Seminar:
* My time is very limited now, so it's your turn.
Seminars (ppts/audios/videos) are being converted and will be uploaded for YOU to use.
God Loves His
Suffering
Animals
More Than Most Theologians and Scientists Realize
© Sid Galloway BS, M.Div.
Just an old sheepdog of the Good Shepherd
Genesis 1:1
Communicating conclusions from 100's of PhD scholars
Supporting the authority of His Word & the consistency of His character
** According to the classic and massive reference work,
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, by R. A. Torrey:
"[The following biblical laws were] certainly intended to inculcate mercy and tenderness of heart; and so the Jews have understood it."
[After the global catastrophic tectonic flood, God said to Noah]
"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you.
And as I gave you the green plants, I [now] give you everything.
But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."
Genesis 9:3-4
"Any one also of the people of Israel,
or of the strangers who sojourn among them,
who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten
shall pour out its blood and cover [bury] it with earth.
For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life.
Therefore I have said to the people of Israel,
You shall not eat the blood of any creature,
for the life of every creature is its blood.
Whoever eats it shall be cut off."
Leviticus 17:13-14
"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."
(Exodus 23:19; 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21)
"If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young ..."
Deuteronomy 22:6
"[Whether it is] a [mother] cow or ewe,
do not kill both her and her young on the same day."
Leviticus 22:28
Why is it so important to understand how animals can suffer?
* What you believe about the suffering of nephesh animals is inseparably connected to what you believe about the suffering of people, the character of God our Creator, and how we all should live. ** How we treat animals either sensitizes us to compassion or desensitizes us to cruelty, both personally and culturally. - If your worldview is not consistent, it is . Remember, beliefs produce behaviors, so "politically correct" yet biblically incorrect deceptions can lead to destruction. |
Dr. James D. Hunter, describing the outworking of Christian character in the lives of culture changers like William Wilberforce leading to the end of trans-atlantic slave trade says:
"The abolition of . . . slavery . . . may have been their primary concern but it was not their only concern. Among other things, they devoted themselves to everthing from the care of the poor and charity schools to prison reform and the prevention of cruelty to animals."
[Emphasis Added] TO CHANGE THE WORLD: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, 2010
Dr. Hunter at the University of Virgina is Professor of Religion, Culture, and Social Theory. Since 1995, Professor Hunter has served as the Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, a university-based, interdisciplinary research center concerned with understanding contemporary cultural change and its implications for individuals, institutions, and society.
Animal Rights? Human Rights?
What about our Creator's Right to command
how we treat His people and His nephesh animals?
Biblical Biology Course & Scores of Biology Notes/Lessons available online
-- Please take special note of the relevant parts of various Units and Lessons that focus on the distinction between plants that have no nephesh and thus cannot think/feel/suffer, vs nephesh animals that can think/feel/suffer, vs nephesh animals that are also *self-aware, and finally we humans who are additionally God-aware and thus accountable to Him.
(an article on this important subject will be completed soon, hopefully)
* Self-Aware animals include Apes, Elephants, Cetaceans, Parrots, Ravens
". . . . We may inquire, in the First place, What was the original state of the brute creation? And may we not learn this, even from the place which was assigned them; namely, the garden of God? All the beasts of the field, and all the fowls of the air, were with Adam in paradise. And there is no question but their state was suited to their place: It was paradisiacal; perfectly happy . . . .
How beautiful many of them were, we may conjecture from that which still remains; and that not only in the noblest creatures, but in those of the lowest order. And they were all surrounded, not only with plenteous food, but with every thing that could give them pleasure; pleasure unmixed with pain; for pain was not yet; it had not entered into paradise. And they too were immortal: For "God made not death; neither hath he pleasure in the death of any living.
Thus, "as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; even so death passed upon all men;" and not on man only, but on those creatures also that "did not sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression." And not death alone came upon them, but all of its train of preparatory evils; pain,
and ten thousand sufferings."
John Wesley's Classic Sermon
"The General Deliverance - Romans 8:19-22"
(on God's compassionate view of His animals)
"The problem that biological evolution poses for natural theologians
is the sort of God that a darwinian version of evolution implies ... .
The evolutionary process is rife with ... death, pain and horror ... .
Whatever the God implied by evolutionary theory ... may be like,
He is .... not a loving God who cares about His productions.
.... The God of the Galapagos is careless ... almost diabolical."
Non-Christian Philosopher of Science,
David Hul
The God of the Galapagos, Nature 352:485-86, 8 Aug 1991
"I am surprised that a Christian would defend the idea
that this is the process which God
more or less set up ... evolution."
Atheist Jacques Monod, The Secret of Life,
ABC interview, Australia, 1976
Have you taken the time to carefully and comprehensively study this?
Would you tolerate this treatment on your family dog?
The above photos are mild - there are much worse examples
For the lost lambs in our broken world
(painting by Larry Dyke)
Did you know that, historically, all cultures in which insensitive cruelty toward animals has been tolerated are cultures that also tolerated or encouraged abusive oppression of vulnerable groups of humans.
(this seminar is a start for your further study - to educate & motivate)
- Iowa Law Review Article RE: animal & human abuse connection
- Linking Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, & Animal Cruelty
- PAWS RE: connection between violence to animals & people
- ASPCA RE: interrelationship between human & animal abuse
- Humane Society RE: link between animal abuse & human violence
** Each of us is responsible before God our Creator to know and apply His view of animal treatment from His Word, not merely tradition or our own rationalized personal philosophy. You and I will one day stand before Him, accountable for how we treated all of his creatures that can think and feel.
Sadly, most people only know "about" wild animals, but they don't "know" any personally. So, it becomes easy for people to harden their hearts and either tolerate or even practice cruelty toward them.
Nephesh animals (able to think and feel) belong to the Good Shepherd, their Creator. The issue is not "animal rights", but His right to command how we treat His animals. By the way, sadly most people only know "about" the Good Shepherd, but don't "know" Him personally.
Genesis is clear that after the catastrophic events of the global tectonic flood (Gen 1:29-31 vs Gen 9:3), when thousands of species of protein rich plants were destroyed, man was allowed to take protein from animal meat. Yet the process commanded the reverent recognition of the loss of nephesh life from a sentient creature (see also Lev 17:13-14 re: hunters).
Ancient Judaism: Unique in its protection of nephesh animals -
The prevention of the suffering of living creatures (tza'ar ba'alei chayim),
is the primary principle underlying the humane treatment of animals in Jewish law. It was the Gentile's unbiblical philosophies and cultures that historically introduced the horrors of animal cruelty and even celebrated it as entertainment:
The Encyclopedia Judaica reports that
"The two famous hunters in the Bible, Nimrod and Esau, were regarded in a derogatory light, as rebels against God and the very antithesis of the spirit of Judaism." The Encyclopedia also reports that "the rabbinical attitude toward hunting is entirely negative. Harsh things are said about those who hunt even for a living."
Josephus states in "Antiquities of th Jews":
"Herod also got together a great quantity of wild beasts, and of lions in very great abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon strength or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were trained either to fight one with another, or men who were condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised and delighted at the vast expenses of the shows, and at the great danger of the spectacles, but to the Jews it was a palpable breaking up of those customs for which they had so great a veneration." - Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
(quoted from: Morality, Halakah, and the Jewish Tradition)
** Humane Hunting -
I certainly don't agree with everything in the "Encyclopedial Judaica", yet the biblical concept of humane hunting is clear and unequivocal. As you will see below, the Bible allows for hunting and raising animals for food (Genesis 9:3-4; Lev 17:13-14), after the globally catastrophic flood and concurrent catastrophic plate tectonics of the Earth's crust that destroyed many species of protein rich plants), but only within humane limitations.
Even the kosher laws for taking an animal's life required the utmost care to be as quick and painless and fear free as possible. If the knife was not sharp, it was not allowed for use. If an accident occurred so that the animal suffered significantly, then the animal's meat could not be used. This rule helped to insure that profit never eclipsed compassion.
(http://www.jewfaq.org/animals.htm)
Modern "Christianity": Sadly many Christian's have ignored God's principles commanding the compassionate treatment of His nephesh animals and have actually ridiculed people who speak up. Even attempts to promote humane hunting that seeks to reduce suffering as much as possible are ridiculed as unmanly or liberal. Get ready, my brothers, you will soon stand before the only real man, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. You will have to give account for the type of hunting you chose (humane or unnecessarily cruel). ** By the way hunters, if you are a lousy shot, then practice shooting until you can ensure one shot / instant kill.
Also, because modern meat is most often produced in "factory farms" (inhumane warehouses), we will also have to give account for our silence and participation. Worse will be His judgment on those who ridiculed others who tried to speak out and stop the horrors of animal cruelty. Ignorance is no excuse for the law. * This especially applies to my conservative brothers who believe in the inerrancy of the Shepherd's Word and His original creation of a peaceful Eden.
AMAZING VIDEO: Africa's Krueger Park of a wild buffalo herd defending a calf from the combined predatory attack from both lions and a crocodile.
(Don't worry, no gory violence, & it has a happy ending.)
BELOW - Sample Power Point Presentation slides:
Wing-Deformed Goose, "Stubby", with his faithful mother & father
Stubby's Photo Album on Facebook
Many more pics of GSI Wildlife Rescue / Rehab on Facebook
What would you think and feel if you heard a news report exposing a group of boys who for fun used sticks with razor blades to slowly kill animals in their backyard? What if another report revealed a group of teens who raised and sold animals out of their garage in horribly abusive conditions that caused constant pain, fear, and suffering both physically and mentally?
Rhinos killed simply for the horn - Why?
* I don't condemn all hunters, and I spent my youth bonding with my Dad in the woods hunting, however my own six children and I have bonded by "shooting" with a camera, hiking, camping, kayaking, and seeking to rescue & reduce suffering . . .
(Lev 17:13-14; Pro 12:10)
- If you do choose to hunt and kill, at least practice on targets until you are an excellent shot, consistently able to end life with as little suffering as possible (instantly if you are able).
- And please, if you are a Christian, don't present a false machismo by glorying in how insensitive (or desensitized / hardened) you are to the pain, fear, and suffering of the animals. That is not Christ-like character.
- As for your kids, my own six children have enjoyed the woods and my fellowship "shooting" with cameras, as well as rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Also, please ask yourself prayerfully. Is the story of the boys with sticks qualitatively different from men who bow hunt, especially when most bowhunters are very bad shooters?
- How would the Good Shepherd view actions that cause unnecessary suffering of His nephesh animals?
- Why are conservatives inconsistent when it comes to His animals?
- Why are liberals inconsistent when it comes to His aborted babies?
* Yes, humans are biologically and spiritually unique from animals, but that does not give us the "right" to abuse animals or murder children.
- He has the right to command how we treat His creatures:
(Lev 17:13-14; Pro 12:10)
* For related articles from others see:
- "Going Ape About Human Rights?", by Lisa Cosner
- "Fear Factories: Case for ... Compassionate Conservatism", Scully
- "The Carnivorous Nature & Suffering in Animals", R. Gurney MD
- "The Fall: A Cosmic Catastrophe", Dr. Sarfati PhD
- "Cosmic & Universal Death: Exegesis of Romans 8", H. Smith
- "Romans 5: Paul's View of a Literal Adam", Lita Cosner
- "Our Creator has the right to command how we treat both"
* Note: I do not agree with all of Matt's theological or biological views, yet his book should be required reading for anyone who claims to follow the Good Shepherd, Jesus, as Messiah and Lord.
"Matthew Scully, a former editor at National Review (who has contributed to NR frequently in subsequent years), was most recently a speech writer for President George W. Bush. He is the recently publish author of Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy. The book has received rave reviews from the likes of the New York Times and mixed reaction from conservatives. It's a fascinating — and disturbing — read, whether you come out agreeing with it or not."
* Below are excerpts from Scully's book:
ABUSE OF POWER
"In the same way that human beings are prone to abusing any other kind of power — by forgetting that we are not the final authority. The people who run our industrial livestock farms, for example, have lost all regard for animals as such, as beings with needs, natures, and a humble dignity of their own. They treat these creatures like machines and "production units" of man's own making, instead of as living creatures made by God. And you will find a similar arrogance in every other kind of cruelty as well."GOOD SHEPHERD
".... At the same time, if I read my Bible right, then there is Good News even for the lowly animals — that love and mercy have come into the world, and we can be its agents. And when I think of the suffering of the creatures in our factory farms, laboratories, puppy mills, or of any animal neglected or mistreated by man, for me there is no more powerful question than to ask: "What would the Good Shepherd think of this?"HUNTING
".... In the book, however, I do not pass judgment on all hunting. I just try to fix a clear standard, to lay down the same kind of basic moral boundaries we need in livestock farming. Pick up any hunting magazine and you will find page after page of ads for fenced-in hunting ranches promising a "100 percent guaranteed kill." Many hunters today use high-tech firearms and other gadgetry described in the book, or else bows that kill like a knife, maximizing their own pleasure at the cost of maximal suffering for the animal. They have professional guides whispering at their side. They shoot birds and other creatures — even aging animals sold by zoos — released from cages at their command. They routinely bait animals, as any game warden will attest. It gets even worse, as you will find in my chapter about a group of trophy hunters called Safari Club International. Hunting of the kind I describe there is dishonorable, occasionally depraved, and immoral by the standards of "fair chase" that hunters themselves profess on the rare occasions they are called to account. All such practices should be illegal as well — on the general principle that if a man's going to hunt, let him at least hunt like a man."
An actual display in the Victorian era. Why?
(CONSERVATIVES / LIBERALS) (Animals / Abortion)
".... Conservatives like to think of animal protection as a trendy leftist cause, which makes it easier to brush off. And I hope that more of us will open our hearts to animals. I also believe that in factory farming and other cruelties conservatives will find some familiar problems — moral relativism, self-centered materialism, license passing itself off as freedom, and the culture of death. Among liberals, I don't really detect a great deal more sympathy for animals than on the Right. The Nation and Mother Jones, for instance, are as unlikely to give the subject serious attention as, well, a certain conservative journal which shall go unnamed. For those on the Left who do identify with animal causes, however, my message is that no creature on earth is more innocent, or defenseless, or in need of compassion than a child waiting to be born."
Matt Scully - Interview in National Review
Because it's easier to love an ape
than to love a roach
Much more in the seminar . . .
Past articles, ppts, and seminars on this subject are being reworked ...
Two Decades writing - 100's of articles - 1,000's of files -Not gone
- The OLD resources are not gone, just retired (archived).
* As I upgrade the site piece by piece, trying to teach myself Dreamweaver CSS :-), some pages could temporarily not work well . .