Killing Animals for "Sport"

[DarkNight]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?

And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.

Go with Love, Go with God

 

[pete_29]

Pete, here is the original OP. I do not believe I indicate any POSITION at all. It is a question for thought and debate/discussion. A thread can take any direction from the original OP, based on the opinions of the posters. FYI: I work with animals and this being my area of expertise it is naturally the topic that I feel most comfortable in, and feel I am most articulate in. I have participated in threads on other topics, and even follow some that I don’t post in, but when I start a thread I like to choose a topic that has a lot of familiarity to me. I belong to several Christian & Catholic animal organizations, have patched up a lot of injured wildlife, and have done a lot of reading on animal ethics and theology in relation to Church teaching. If these threads make you feel guilty, then by all means don’t participate! I admire deep thinkers and people who enjoy debate, people who fondly remember their high school years on the forensics team!

Pete: Are you trying to make me feel guilty about my choice of profession? Instead of taking care of animals, should I be thinking of a career change?? Should I consider a new career in factory farming? Should I consider becoming a hunting guide?

Not at all, what you do for a living is none of my business, but I have noticed that you have posted 12 threads concerning the treatment of animals in the last 6 months. It seems clear as to what your position is. From the number of threads and from what I have read of them, I get the impression that you don’t think very highly of people like me who hunt and fish and eat meat. Of course, this is just my opinion. Am I wrong?

 

[JaneGrey]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?

And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.

Go with Love, Go with God

Very well said. You have obviously experienced some great life lessons from animals and I dont see anything anti-catholic about what you have said.

 

[pnewton]

Not at all, what you do for a living is none of my business, but I have noticed that you have posted 12 threads concerning the treatment of animals in the last 6 months. It seems clear as to what your position is. From the number of threads and from what I have read of them, I get the impression that you don’t think very highly of people like me who hunt and fish and eat meat. Of course, this is just my opinion. Am I wrong?

People do tend to start thread in areas that their interest lie. Of course some also start threads in areas that they like to argue about. I prefer to take the more charitable approach here. Not because I just like being charitable, but because in some of these threads Marfan tends to be very tolerant to a carnivore like me.

 

[severus68]

I disagree, the only reason I can see for these numerous threads is to try and make people who disagree with the OP’s position feel guilty about their relationship with animals.

That is not correct. These threads are for discussions. How can anyone who believes his/her position is right be made to feel guilty? There is always the option of not joining such discussions and not readingthe poss

 

[severus68]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?

And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.

Go with Love, Go with God

Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I agree wholeheartedly with you. Love is not limited, the more you love, the more love there is. Animals have helped me and taught me too.

 

[4elise]

Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I agree wholeheartedly with you. Love is not limited, the more you love, the more love there is. Animals have helped me and taught me too.

Today my black lab mix is trying to teach me to have more fun and stop working… she keeps bringing me her throw toy!

 

[pete_29]

Today my black lab mix is trying to teach me to have more fun and stop working… she keeps bringing me her throw toy!

oh, she still wants you to work. She just wants you to work for her.

 

[4elise]

oh, she still wants you to work. She just wants you to work for her.

I find that “work” more fun than painting the inside of kitchen cabinets!

 

[severus68]

Today my black lab mix is trying to teach me to have more fun and stop working… she keeps bringing me her throw toy!

Give up and play with her.

 

[pnewton]

Today my black lab mix is trying to teach me to have more fun and stop working… she keeps bringing me her throw toy!

oh, she still wants you to work. She just wants you to work for her.

She’s a lab. A retriever. She probably wants you to take her hunting.

 

[vz71]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

Perhaps because there are some that insist that these lesser creatures are of equal status to humans. That they deserve rights, that somehow these animals are more important then humans.
In fact, it is still a matter of record that many of these animals are more protected under the law then humans.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.
Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?

The concept of brethren ceases when the species does.
If it is not human, I do not consider it God’s brethren.
Man alone was created in the image of God. Not animals.

And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

He would have to because he gave man dominion over these animals.
Let us not forget, it was God that first intoduced hunting.

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

We have much to learn from everything around us.
But let’s not forget that our surroundings are not actively teaching.
We are actively learning. Animals don’t teach.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.
Go with Love, Go with God

Please tell us, what rights are these and how exactly did they get endowed with such.

 

[4elise]

She’s a lab. A retriever. She probably wants you to take her hunting.

She LOVES her rope toy - so I guess there are some behaviors that translate well just for play!

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.

Go with Love, Go with God

We, as Catholics believe that Jesus was true God and true Man. Jesus came to earth to live as a human. We are created in God’s image, we were given immortal souls that will be judged at our deaths. God willing, we will be with him in Heaven. At the end of time, our souls will be reunited with our glorified bodies.

These are articles of the faith.

Furthermore, the mere idea that God would be Man offended the pride of one third of the angels who refused to serve a “man”.

God, did not give animals an immortal soul. So, it is just to believe that we humans do rank higher than animals. God wouldn’t become one of us if he thought us no more impotant than the animals.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Also I believe this point is relevant.

Last night I was watching the history channel. and a commercial was repeated at every commercial break. It was for the humane society. It was a pretty good commercial, regarding puppy mills, and dog fighting, etc. Why was this commercial ironic? The actress narrator has also been an advocate for “choice” Another set of these ads features Susan Sarrandon…also a pretty vociferous advocate for “choice”.

 

[pnewton]

Also I believe this point is relevant.

Last night I was watching the history channel. and a commercial was repeated at every commercial break. It was for the humane society. It was a pretty good commercial, regarding puppy mills, and dog fighting, etc. Why was this commercial ironic? The actress narrator has also been an advocate for “choice” Another set of these ads features Susan Sarrandon…also a pretty vociferous advocate for “choice”.

We must not fall into the fallacy of forming a false dichotomy where no relationship exists. This has been covered many times. Since one can love animals to the point of being a vegan and still be adamently anti-abortion, the point is moot, Susan Sarrandon’s sinful political advocacy not withstanding. It would be like saying one must disregard studying history because Sarrandon was on the History Channel and she advocates abortion. It is an illogical connection.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Some people need to demand that “Animals are NOT People” and insist “Animals have NO rights”. They need to make it clear that animals are somehow less important than they are.
Or, from a different point of view, that there is something that they are more important than.

I am reminded that “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Does the concept of my brethren stop at those who don’t have the same genetic make up I have? Or am I supposed to look beyond the accepted standard?
To something that I might consider to be lower then myself?

And then I wonder “Does God consider these things, these animals, as ‘lower’ ?”
He created them. He loves them. He made them an important part of His glorious universe.
Why would He consider them lower? Why would He put anything He created on a “sliding scale” of importance?

The animals I know & have known have taught me much - about God, about life, about love, about my fellow man.
I realize I am an infinitely better human because of all these animals have so graciously & patiently taught me.

I have come to believe that all of God’s creation has rights.

Go with Love, Go with God

If you want to understand who “brethren” (brothers) are, read Matthew’s gospel, Chapter 25.

 

[vz71]

Also I believe this point is relevant.

Last night I was watching the history channel. and a commercial was repeated at every commercial break. It was for the humane society. It was a pretty good commercial, regarding puppy mills, and dog fighting, etc.

Saw the same on the history channel.

A poster in one of these animal threads noted all of my posts appear ‘angry’
These commercials are exactly why.

Nothing but appeal to emotion over and over and over.
With the occasional painting of animals as having human emotions.

I consider every one an insult to my intelligence as well as the intelligence of every other human being within the viewing area.

 

[pete_29]

I find that “work” more fun than painting the inside of kitchen cabinets!

Quite true.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Saw the same on the history channel.

A poster in one of these animal threads noted all of my posts appear ‘angry’
These commercials are exactly why.

Nothing but appeal to emotion over and over and over.
With the occasional painting of animals as having human emotions.

I consider every one an insult to my intelligence as well as the intelligence of every other human being within the viewing area.

Truthfully, I hate -puppy mill too.

There is a danger in believing animals are remotely equal to us. Or in Ms Sarandon’s case, better than the unborn.