Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - October 22, 2022
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. The Need for a Universal Ethic
  2. Counter Revolution by Larry Brown
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. The Need for a Universal Ethic

Many people are kind toward and protective of people belonging to “their” tribe, religion, community, nation, or species. Such people tend to be well regarded by other members of their group, and this tends to make them feel good about themselves. However, by definition, those who are “loyal” to “their” group will have limited compassion and concern for those outside their group. Jesus taught that, to the degree that we restrict our compassion and concern, we fall short of the ideal. Restricted concern is particularly problematic today, because we live in a world of global communication, global trade, global environmental impacts, and global threats of violence.

Jesus repeatedly showed that those who were widely regarded as outsiders should be treated as members of our community. The many examples include a sinner (John 8:3-17), a tax collector (Luke 18:13-14), a prodigal son and a judgmental son (Luke 15:11-22), a disabled person (Luke 13:11-16), a person with leprosy (Mark 1:40-45), and “the least of these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40). Jesus lauded the outsider Samaritan as a paragon of virtue (Luke 10:25-37). I think Jesus understood that a narrow concept of justice is unstable and leaves everyone at risk, because the largely arbitrary boundaries of concern can easily be moved when it is expedient to do so. This is one reason that several months ago I expressed dismay about cancel culture, which has been a phenomenon of both the political left and the right. It puts everyone, including animal advocates, at risk.

As we learn more about the similarities between humans and many other life forms, we come to see that the boundary between human and “animal” is largely arbitrary. Consequently, abuse of nonhumans renders marginal humans vulnerable, just as abuse of marginal humans renders somewhat-less-marginal humans vulnerable, which in turn renders slightly marginal humans vulnerable, which makes the world unsafe for everyone.

Before I propose an ethic that might save human civilization, I will review current threats to human civilization and how animal exploitation and abuse are essential components of those threats.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

2. Counter Revolution by Larry Brown

CVA member Larry Brown has a collection of clever and engaging songs with animal rights/animal liberation themes. Check them out at Counter Revolution by Larry Brown.

3.  From All-Creatures.Org Ministry

Peace be with you! This week’s newsletter is jam packed with helpful vegan, faith-based, and animal rights information to keep you up to date with all that is going on. Please feel free to share vegan information with us as well!

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, October 20, 2022

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, October 13, 2022

In the Love of the Lord,
Frank L Hoffman
All-Creatures.org

and

Kindness,
Tams Nicholson
Executive Directress
tams@all-creatures.org
All-Creatures.org 

2022 Newsletters Archive