Animal Rights
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.2.9
Animal Rights
Life and death moral questions usually focus on human beings. But there is also a moral debate about the status of animals.
Animals and humans
- Many people accept the process of evolution.
- As a result, they might say that human beings are just another species of animal.
- So, to distinguish human rights from animal rights is artificial.
Sentience
- At the very least, people recognise that one thing we have in common with animals is sentience.
- Sentience means that we are both capable of suffering and feeling pain.
- Perhaps this alone should make us think hard about how animals are treated.
Dominion over animals
- Animals are referred to in the Book of Genesis.
- Some say that they are created by God to serve the needs of human beings.
- It says that human beings "may rule over the fish... and the birds...over the livestock and all the wild animals" (Genesis 1:26).
- We know that through history human beings have used animals for many reasons.
- For food, kept as pets, and sometimes used for experimentation.
- Some believe this is what God intended.
Stewardship
- Others point to the idea of stewardship found in the Bible.
- Psalm 24:1 says 'The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it."
- This idea suggests not dominion over animals, but the duty to care for them and for all God’s creation.
- This highlights the duty of religious people to support environmentalism.
- This means a duty to protect the planet rather than exploit it.
Test yourself on Animal Rights
What ability do animals and humans share?
What are some of the ways that humans have used animals?