Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - August 7, 2023
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. The Problem of Evil – Being Grateful
  2. Season of Creation Resources
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. The Problem of Evil – Being Grateful

What is the faith of Christ? I think a component of this faith is gratefulness to God. Such an attitude accepts, as a matter of faith, that God does not want suffering but rather God wants all creation to flourish. Repeatedly, Jesus thanked God for food and other blessings. For example, he said, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). Jesus also said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Despite the suffering he saw around him and the suffering he anticipated as part of his destiny, Jesus was grateful to God. It is tempting not to be grateful. We want to credit ourselves and not good fortune when we are doing well, and want to believe that those who suffer “deserve” their plight. We do this for many reasons, which I have discussed in previous essays. Here, the important point is that we are not creators of our destiny. We do not choose our parents; we do not select our other family members or our neighbors; and we do not control the environmental, social, and political factors that shape our lives. Further, we neither choose our skill sets nor our behavioral predilections such as a tendency to be industrious or to be lazy.

Though some lives are much more difficult than others, every life includes both joy and sadness. As Christians, we are called to be grateful regardless of our personal circumstances. The implications of such an attitude are profound. Being grateful means not being entitled, and this encourages sharing with others and seeking to minimize harm to others. Others should include nonhumans, in large part because they are also creations of God. Another good reason is that we did not choose to have our sense of self housed within a human body. Evolutionary theory tells us that there is continuity between the human and nonhuman world, and the personhood of nonhumans should be obvious to anyone who has interacted with dogs, cats, or many other animals. It follows that it was possible for any of us to have inhabited the body of a nonhuman. That possibility should remind us to be grateful for the benefits that come from being a human and discourage us from harming any person who happens to go through life in nonhuman form.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD

2. Season of Creation Resources

CVA member Rev. Ana Gobledale writes:

I find the Season of Creation, now part of the Christian Church Year calendar, to be a great opportunity to bring the concerns of our animal sisters and brothers into times of worship.

I’ve included numerous items, free and ready to use, all using inclusive language and from a progressive Christian perspective in Worship Words.

The Season of Creation ends on 4 October, the day set aside to remember the ministry of St Francis of Assisi and his care for animals, so there are ‘Blessing of the Animals’ services included.

Have a look: Season of Creation — 1 Sept – 4 Oct

Thank you for the commitment you have to a just world.
Sincerely,
Ana

Ana Gobledale
Editor of Worship Words 

3. From All-Creatures.Org Ministry

We hope you enjoy these two newsletters.

Did you know about the deaths from editing ‘farmed’ Animals’ genes — again exposing the expanding hype of ‘welfare’ — decrease in U.S. Animals killed for their fur in 2022 — a rescued Hen’s first breaths of fresh air — books: The End of Heart Disease and Embracing Limits: A Radical and Necessary Approach to the Environmental Crisis — more costs of the “wall” to Humans, Animals, Environment — Tom Regan on philosopher critics — what’s in it for M.E. (Mother Earth)? — and more…
All-Creatures.org Newsletter for July 26, 2023

Affinity (poetry book by Lisa Kemmerer) — vegan food for cats and dogs — the interminable suffering of farmed Fishes — Cops killing K9 cops? (book) — bird flu is killing Polish pets — why veganism may be patriotic — Beloved Bull — disc-on-chip helps humans, eliminates torturing Animals — zoo Elephant’s handstands — the myth of ‘humane’ deer control — and more…
All-Creatures.org Newsletter, August 2, 2023

We are really enjoying the safety of learning and sharing together in our free reading group! – join us by signing up here: Reading Vegan Books Aloud Together - Pride Goes Before Destruction


Do you have things that you would like to see included in future newsletters? Then send it to us at veda@all-creatures.org. 

 

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

and

Kindness,
Tams Nicholson
Executive Directress
All-Creatures.org 

2023 Newsletters Archive