Weekly Newsletter - October 12, 2016
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Why Humans Abuse Nonhumans – Tribalism
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Feedback

Grace, who leafleted with friends at a recent Casting Crown concert, writes:

This outreach event went really well. I couldn't have done it without my friends who are members of The Humane League. Special thanks to Heather Bolint, Seattle-based Humane League coordinator, who came out with her interns with their Mercy for Animals leaflets. So many Christian concert goers came and most of them accepted our box [600] of leaflets delightfully. All of CVA leaflets were handed out quickly. Lukkily, The Humane League brought many leaflets made by Mercy for Animals, so we handed them out. I went out around 5 pm (2 hours earlier than concert time), and many people had already showed up. I felt happy seeing people reading leaflets attentively while waiting in line, some even came to me saying, "Thank you for all you do. This really makes sense."

Upcoming Outreach Opportunities

10/20/2016 OK, Tulsa The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
10/21-22/16 MN, St. Paul Belong Tour 2016
10/21/2016 TX, Frisco Abundance Women’s Event
10/22/2016 MO, St. Charles The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
10/22/2016 TX, Dallas Earth Shaker Tour , Colton Dixon w/ Building 429
10/26/2016 OH, Cincinnati Crowder
10/27/2016 IN, Indianapolis The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
10/28/2016 TN, Nashville Newsboys
10/30/2016 IN, Indianapolis Newsboys
10/30/2016 VA, Richmond Be One Tour
10/28/2016 OH, Columbus The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
11/02/2016 CT, Stamford Earth Shaker Tour, Colton Dixon w/ Building 429
11/03/2016 FL, Jacksonville The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
11/04/2016 MN, Minneapolis Newsboys
11/05/2016 NC, Greensboro The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
11/10/2016 FL, Pensacola The Very Next Thing Tour Casting Crowns
11/12/2016 TX, Corpus Christi Spirit Fest (Mercy Me, Newsboys…)
11/12/2016 IL, Naperville Earth Shaker Tour , Colton Dixon w/ Building 429
11/13/2016 CA, Sacramento Winter Jam
11/17/2016 ID, Boise Winter Jam
11/18/2016 OR, Portland Winter Jam
11/18-19/16 TX, Houston Newsboys
11/20/2016 TX, Dallas Newsboys
11/19/2016 WA, Tacoma Winter Jam
11/20/2016 Spokane, WA Winter Jam
12/03/2016 LA, Baton Rouge Newsboys
12/04/2016 FL, Panama City Newsboys
12/09/2016 IA, Sioux City Newsboys
12/16/2016 TX, Dallas MercyMe
01/02-04/17 GA, Atlanta Passion 2017

Tabling

10/22-23/16 OR, Portland Portland VegFest
10/22/2016 FL, Orlando Central Florida VegFest 2016
10/22/2016 TX, Dallas Texas Veggie Fair 2016
10/22/2016 MA, Boston Boston Veg Food Fest
11/12/2016 GA, Atlanta Atlanta Vegfest 2016
11/12/2026 FL, Tampa Tampa Bay Veg Fest 2016
12/03/2016 FL, Fort Lauderdale South Florida Veg Fest
12/11/2016 OR, Portland Portland: Green Festival

Contact Lorena at LorenaValenziVeg@gmail.com if you can help. The CVA donates $20/hr to the veg. or animal protection group of each volunteer’s choice.

2. Why Humans Abuse Nonhumans – Tribalism

In exploring why humans abuse nonhumans on a massive scale, this week I would like to reflect on the importance of the human tendency toward tribalism. I think we all recognize that humans tend to identify with and to defend the interests of those individuals regarded as “one of us.” The bases of these bonds include perceived familial, communal, ethnic, political, and national identities. I suggest that species membership is a similar tribal identity.

One attribute of tribalism is that it gives the individual a sense of importance. Typically, people regard their tribe as “superior” to other tribes, however flimsy the evidence. Merely belonging to a tribe offers a person a sense of identity and value, regardless of one’s individual attributes. Further, to the degree that one promotes the interests of one’s tribe, one can gain a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.

People often laud communal pride, nationalism, and other forms of tribalism for loyalty and respect for tradition. Indeed, tribalism is not all bad – much good work is done for the benefit of one’s community. But, there is danger in uncritical fidelity to one’s group when it comes at the expense of other individuals. Perhaps this is most dramatically and tragically illustrated when it comes to animal issues, because nonhumans are so vulnerable. Human chauvinism facilitates animal abuse, because it transforms what should be regarded as reprehensible activities into admirable glorification of humankind. Examples abound, and include sport hunting, bullfighting, and pig roasts.

Members of a given tribe often ostracize those who have a prophetic voice – those who question who is “in” the group versus those who are “out.” This has often been the experience of animal advocates. Those who challenge the boundaries of the tribe often pay a social price, whether they are humanists who regard all fellow humans as deserving equal moral consideration or animal advocates who argue that we should fully include nonhumans in our circle of compassion and respect.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

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

Wanting More than God’s Will

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