Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - February 26, 2024
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Intrepid CVA leafletter Rick Hershey
  2. Dedication to Truth
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. Intrepid CVA leafletter Rick Hershey writes:

1/28: I handed out 2100 CVA booklets mostly to kids at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte for Winter Jam today. I would have done more except there was an accident on the interstate enroute.
I had to drive through heavy rainstorms with low visibility yesterday to get to Charlotte from Florida, but it didn’t rain at WJ today!

2/18 message: I handed out 1200 CVA booklets today at TN Food City Arena at University of Tennessee (formerly Thompson-Boling Arena), mostly to kids.

2. Dedication to Truth

I have been discussing what policies are important in promoting Christian principles, and last time I argued that foremost among them is freedom of speech. Today, I will discuss dedication to the truth.

It is tempting to see the world in ways that promote one’s own interests or the interests of one’s community or tribe. Yielding to this temptation leads to conflicts which can easily become hurtful or even violent. At the least, it undermines efforts to establish the “beloved community.”

The Internet, and particularly social media, encourages people to envelop themselves in “information bubbles.” With different people having fundamentally different views about what is real in the world, it becomes increasingly difficult to have intelligent conversations, respectful exchanges, and amicable resolution to conflicts. Indeed, the tribalism promoted by social media fuels the scapegoating process by identifying people outside one’s group as evil and a threat that must be neutralized by whatever means are necessary.

The advent of AI and of “deep fakes” videos, which can provide false depictions of people and events, has made it increasingly difficult to discern truth. We need trustworthy people to help us sort through the mountains of information out there, because “do your own research” is not practical for most people. There are people I trust who are both left-leaning and right-leaning, but finding such people can be challenging. And, thanks to AI and other technologies, people are becoming increasingly sophisticated in building trust, which can then be exploited at opportune times.

I offer a few guidelines to help discern truth:

  • Be highly skeptical of people’s claims about their opponents say or do.
  • Never trust peoples’ claims regarding the motives of their opponents.
  • People who admit their mistakes tend to be more trustworthy.
  • People who do not have a conflict of interest tend to be more trustworthy.
  • Those who have resisted corrupt authorities, often at great risk to themselves, tend to be trustworthy.
  • Those who advocate on behalf of others tend to be more trustworthy.
  • Those whose lives reflect their stated values tend to be more trustworthy.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD

3. From All-Creatures.Org Ministry

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, February 14, 2024:

Dear Friends,

We hope you enjoy this week's newsletter. There are so many thought-provoking articles to share with you ...

Heartwarming book “My name is Skye” — 46 U.S. dog racing tracks in 2000 and now only 2 U.S. dog racing tracks in 2024! — Paul Watson Foundation’s “Church” of Biocentrism — plant-based nutrition and the medical profession — another pesticide banned — some good news for Tule Elk? — huge monkey breeding facility proposed — learn about faux vs. real fur — “Smell of Money” documentary exposes food, environmental, community injustices — and more…

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