Weekly Newsletter - May 21, 2015
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Moral Behavior among Nonhumans
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Feedback

I (Steve Kaufman) tabled at the Michigan Veg Fest in Novi on April 19. The event went well, and there was a lot of interest in the CVA’s ministry. Many people were pleasantly surprised to see a Christian group advocating for God’s creatures, and 35 people signed up to be CVA members. I enjoy tabling at such events, because the atmosphere is relaxed, the conversations are good, and the crowd is supportive.

Upcoming Activist Opportunities

5/29-31/15 FL, Jacksonville Franklin Graham Festival
06/5-6/15 LA, Baton Rouge Promise Keepers
06/14/2015 CO, Morrison Third Day
06/19-20/15 PA, Pittsburgh Promise Keepers
06/27/2015 FL, Miami Xtreme Christian Music Conference
07-24-25/15 OK, Oklahoma City Women of Faith 2015
08/4//2015 TN, Nashville Casting Crowns
08/7-8-15 CO, Denver Women of Faith 2015
8/14-15/15 KY, Louisville Women of Faith 2015
08/14-15/15 TX, Dallas Promise Keepers
8/14-16/15 AL, Birmingham Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham
8/21/22/15 PA, Philadelphia Women of Faith 2015
8/22-23/15 OK, Oklahoma City The Good News Festival with Franklin Graham
9/11-12/15 CA, Anaheim Women of Faith 2015
9/17-19/15 MO, St. Louis Love Life Women’s Conference
9/18-19/15 FL, Orlando Women of Faith 2015
9/25-26/15 IL, Hoffman Estates Women of Faith 2015
10/2-3/15 TX, Dallas Women of Faith 2015
10/16-17/15 MN, St. Paul Women of Faith 2015
10/22-24/15 New Jersey Hillsong Conference
11/1-14/15 CT, Hartford Women of Faith 2015
11/06-07/15 WA, SeaTac Promise Keepers
11/20-21/15 CA, Sacramento Women of Faith 2015
12/4-5/15 OR, Portland Women of Faith 2015

TABLING
06/20-21/15 CO, Golden Vegfest Colorado
06/27/2015 WI, Madison Mad City Vegan Fest
07/9-12/15 NC, Hot Spring Wild Goose Festival
08/15-16/15 IL, Lisle Veggie Fest 2015
08/02/2015 NY, Buffalo VegFest
10/03/2015 DC, Washington DC VegFest 2015

2. Moral Behavior among Nonhumans

Many people regard nonhumans as instinctive, machine-like creations. In truth, they show feelings and desires that are obvious to anyone paying attention. They also show intelligence, concern for others, and even moral behavior.

For example, a series of laboratory studies (which I should note was ethically objectionable) illustrated moral character among monkeys as well as an important degree of abstract thinking ability. In one study, rhesus monkeys, upon pulling one of two chains to get food, observed through a one-way mirror a second rhesus monkey receiving a simultaneous electric shock. One chain caused a fellow monkey to receive an electric shock, and the other did not. Ten of fifteen monkeys preferred the non-shock chain, and two monkeys did not pull either chain, preferring instead to go without food for 5 days and 12 days. Self-starvation was more likely among monkeys who had previously received electric shocks themselves. (See Masserman, Jules H., Stanley Wechkin, and William Terris. 1964. “ ‘Altruistic’ behavior in rhesus monkeys.” American Journal of Psychiatry vol. 121, pp. 584-585.)

Similarly, in the documentary People of the Forest, an adult male chimpanzee watched over and protected an unrelated, crippled, adolescent chimpanzee from the torment of other adolescent chimpanzees. (See Van Lawick, Hugo, director. 1991. People of the Forest, Discovery Channel Video.)

Next week, I will reflect on intelligence among nonhumans.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Rapture, Ascension, and Godly Living

Archived 2015 Newsletters
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