1. Original Sin, part 1
Animal advocates are acutely aware that humans are capable of great evil.
Rather than avoid contributing to extreme animal suffering, most people
readily sponsor factory farming by choosing to satisfy their own food
preferences at minimal cost. For those who do not take animal issues
seriously, pointing out humanity’s treatment of nonhumans does not
demonstrate humanity’s capacity for evil. For such people, perhaps citing
the Holocaust makes the point more compellingly.
Germany was a very cosmopolitan and highly educated nation prior to the Nazi
rise to power. How, then, did German citizens commit one of the greatest
atrocities of human history? Many said that Germany “went mad,” but this
view offers no insight. In seeking answers, we might note that there have
been many genocides and mass murders, some involving a few victims and
others thousands or millions. While genocides are, fortunately, uncommon,
they are not rare and have occurred throughout the world. More broadly,
human history is littered with wars that have caused massive suffering and
death.
Particularly subsequent to World War II, many cultural anthropologists
sought to understand what prompted humans to kill each other. While the
advent of weapons of mass destruction makes this project more urgent today,
the various religious traditions have also explored the problem of human
violence, which has plagued humanity since the dawn of human civilization.
Does the Judeo-Christian tradition offer us insights, and perhaps hope, into
this problem? Next week, I will start to consider the Garden of Eden story.
Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.
2. Upcoming Activist Opportunities
Leafletting
07/14/2017 NC, Charlotte
Summer Lights Tour, Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp
07/22/2017 GA, Duluth
Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour
07/28/2017 GA, Forsyth
Jason Crabb Live in Concert
07/30/2017 MO, Springfield
for King & Country
07/31/2017 OH, Columbus
for King & Country
08/01/2017 PA, Clearfield
Matthew West
08/05/2017 TX, Frisco
Hillsong United Headlines OUTCRY Festival
08/06/2017 CO, Denver
Newsboys, Colorado Rockies Faith Day
08/11/2017 WA, Spokane
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/12/2017 WA, Seattle
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/14/2017 CA, Concord
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/19/2017 CO, Denver
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/21/2017 TX, San Antonio
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
08/22/2017 TX, Houston
Outcry Tour Summer 2017
09/08/2017 FL, Orlando
Chris Tomlin, Rock the Universe
09/09/2017 TX, Houston
Sisters, Celebrating the Art of Friendship (Women of Faith)
09/15/2017 CA, Fresno
Sisters, Celebrating the Art of Friendship (Women of Faith)
09/21/2017 MO, St. Louis
Love Life Women’s Conference
10/07/2017 PA, Reading
Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/07/2017 TX, San Antonio
Disciple
10/08/2017 OH, Cleveland
Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/13/2017 IN, Indianapolis
Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour
10/14/2017 IL, Peoria
Mercy Me, Life Tour
10/19/2017 PA, Reading
Chris Tomlin, Good Good Father Tour
10/26/2017 FL, Jacksonville
Mercy Me, Life Tour
11/2-7/2017 CA, Los Angeles
Hillsong Conference
11/04/2017 FL, Tampa
Chris Tomlin, Good Good Father Tour
11/10/2017 NC, Charlotte
Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference Tour
11/25/2017 AR, Little Rock
Christmas Tour
11/26/2017 KS, Wichita
Christmas Tour
11/28/2017 TX, San Antonio
Christmas Tour
11/29/2017 LA, Baton Rouge
Christmas Tour
12/03/2017 CO, Denver
Christmas Tour
12/08/2017 IL, Chicago
Christmas Tour
12/10/2017 IN, Indianapolis
Christmas Tour
12/16/2017 PA, Philadelphia
Christmas Tour
12/17/2017 NY, New York
Christmas Tour
Tabling
07/22/2017 WA, Spokane
Spokane Vegfest
07/22-23/17 CO, Golden
VegFest Colorado
08/12-13/17 IL, Leslie
Veggie Fest 2017
09/12/2017 DC, Washington
DC Vegfest
09/17/2017 OH, Columbus
2017 Ohio Vegfest
09/23/2017 IL, Chicago
Chicago Vegan Mania
10/01/2017 CA, San Francisco
World Veg Festival Weekend
10/14/2017 OR, Portland
Portland VegFest
10/28/2017 FL, Orlando
Central Florida VegFest
11/11/2017 GA, Atlanta
Atlanta Veg Fest
When you volunteer for the CVA, the CVA donates $20/hr. to the veg. or animal protection group of your choice. Contact Lorena at lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com if you can help.
3. Health Benefits of Veganism
CVA member Jen Miller writes:
I’ve just written a detailed, up-to-date 7,000 word guide on 20 health benefits of going vegan according to science, and it includes 6 delicious vegan recipes: https://www.jenreviews.com/vegan/.
4. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman