Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - April 24, 2024
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Toward the Beloved Community: Challenges of Contemporary Society, Part 2
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

1. Activist Feedback

Rick Hershey writes:

I handed out 1650 CVA booklets to a friendly crowd of mostly kids at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, Kansas in cold weather. The crowd was much smaller than last year here, but last year it was on the weekend.

[Later] I handed out 3750 CVA booklets at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock in pleasant weather today for Winter Jam.

[Comment: Pretty amazing. -SK]

2. Toward the Beloved Community: Challenges of Contemporary Society, Part 2

Last time, we noted how social media can promote values that undermine efforts to create the Beloved Community. Another difficulty is that there is widespread cognitive impairment by prescribed and unprescribed drugs. Humans have sought mind-altering drugs since the beginning of recorded time, but their use was largely restricted to communal religious events in which they facilitated a sense of connection to the divine. Modern drug use seems largely oriented toward soothing minds stressed by work, relationships, and existential crises.

A difficulty is that human psychology and physiology, which has changed little in the tens of thousands of years since humans lived exclusively on the savannas of Africa, is ill-equipped for modern living. Widespread anxiety, stress, and depression has prompted the use of drugs. About 1 in 6 Americans are taking psychiatric medications, with the most popular including Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Wellbutrin. All these medications influence mood and thinking and have a wide range of other physical and psychological effects.

The book Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker details the massive increase in use of psychiatric medications among children, particularly central nervous system stimulants (such as Ritalin and Adderall) and anti-depressants. These medications have profound effects on developing brains. Perhaps my difficulty understanding the thinking of many Generation Z people reflects my age, but perhaps it is due to significant differences in brain development.

A key component of living in the Beloved Community is mindfulness, which promotes empathy and alerts us to the needs and desires of other community members. Mind-altering drugs tend to reduce mindfulness. The decision to use mind-altering drugs relates to difficulties coping with modern living. How can we find peace of mind, which is helpful in generating the Beloved Community, without mind-altering drugs? Perhaps ancient wisdom, as manifest in the teachings and ministry of Jesus, can help show the way. I will consider this next.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD

3. From All-Creatures.Org Ministry

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, April 17, 2024:

Lucy the Lobster’s tale of being rescued - ethical investing? - watching the decline of U.S. horseracing - clarifying sustainable and regenerative agriculture - loving rascally raccoons - Storm: on being an activist - vegan grandmothers speak - No Kill Companion [book] - What to Eat When You Don’t Eat Animals - hidden-camera ban is struck down by Canadian court - and more…

All-Creatures.org Newsletter, April 24, 2024:
Kind knitting means no abused sheep - humans are eradicating non-human lives - Food for Freedom by Will Tuttle [book] - litigations to ban plant-based ‘meaty’ labels are failing - ending Icelandic whaling? - Earth Day 2024 - frighteningly destructive deep-sea mining - how driving kills Coho Salmon - more medical breakthroughs without animal torture - 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 

Newsletter Archives 2006-2021