Transcript Animal Rights Revision - The Grange School Blogs

Religion and Animal Rights
Revision
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.
Companionship
Food
Medical testing
Clothing
Use & Abuse
of animals
Entertainment
Cosmetic testing
Sport
Work
Transport
Factory Farming
Make notes on the clip
Factory farming
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 God’s creation.
Attitude 2:Some Christians believe that animals should have similar rights
to humans
3 reasons:
1. God is the creator of animals as well as humans and the Bible says that
humans should respect God’s creation
2. it is impossible to use animals for food or experiments without being
cruel to them and this is wrong
3. The Bible says that God morns the loss of one of his creations
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 doesn’t say
you can’t eat meet but animals must be slaughtered humanely.
Animal Rights
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?
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. ‘We’ve 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 God’s 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.
Explain the religious attitudes to making
animals extinct. Use beliefs and teachings in
your answer. (6 marks)
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 God’s 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.