I was Googling for PETA and Christianity, and found this old article: ‘Too Radical for PETA’

I weigh in somewhere in the middle, glad that PETA gave up their “Jesus was a vegetarian” campaign, mainly for general credibility’s sake among other things, but not agreeing that by dropping that, it hurts the case for ethical vegetarianism. I don’t know what Jesus’ eating habits were. I read that there is only one account in the Bible of him eating a piece of fish after the Resurrection, I asssume, to prove that he was really alive. (Everything else about his diet is based on assumptions due to associations with his fisher friends or pervasive religious traditions, or projections, but not explicitly written in the Bible, and probably not provable one way or another. I could say more, but won’t.) But my argument is that whether or not he was a vegetarian, he lived in a very different time where they didn’t have the choices we have, and where animal suffering wasn’t as pervasive as it is today. (And I believe that the Jews had, and have, a more humane ethic toward animals than anything that got passed along to us Christians. As one example, why do Christians think it’s OK to hunt for sport, when Jews do not?) Anyway, I did find the last three paragraphs of the article compelling. And it behooves Christians, whether or not they take animal rights people seriously, or whether they want to build Bible studies to “debunk” animal rights from a Christian perspective, to examine what kind of message they send to the world. When it comes to our treatment of animals, Christianity really needs to take a humane approach, if it doesn’t want to come off as hypocritical, self-serving and the cruelest of the world’s religions. It’s an evangelism issue, as well as one of self-examination, to find out what truly motivates Christians to justify their favorite forms of animal exploitation on religious grounds. How does animal exploitation serve the cause of Christ?

Here’s the last part of the article:

Youíd have to be blind not to see that Christianity is in a major crisis over what, exactly, its tradition means. Some people seem to think that Christianity is a license to wage aggressive war in the Middle East, preach intolerance of othersí beliefs, persecute homosexuals, and insist on the literal interpretation of the Bible (whatever THAT means). Can we remain neutral in this conflict and just let them fight it out among themselves, while promoting vegetarianism to whichever Christians will listen? I donít think that anyone who cares about Christianity and is aware of these other issues will want to do this.

Why is this predominantly “Christian” nation also the wealthiest and has the biggest military in the world? Isnít real Christianity about simple living and nonviolence? Shouldnít we talk about getting rid of our consumer culture, about stopping aggressive war, about reversing our “car culture,” about changing our lives, about changing our society and our world? Donít we need to completely re-examine Christianity, and isnít vegetarianism just part of this?

Rethinking the whole Christian tradition, and taking the gospel message seriously, is so much more than vegetarianism, even ethical vegetarianism. But this “so much more” is not just a cranky sectarian left-wing viewpoint. It is in fact the message of Jesus ó precisely what both the world at large, and Christianity in particular, now urgently requires.

It is a message which is also, alas, too radical for PETA.

– Keith Akers

While looking for the site where I ordered my
custom-made ‘Go Vegan for Lent’ car magnet, I found some interesting sites about cancer awareness.

If you have an interest in cancer prevention or cures, check these out. They seem to substantiate things I’ve read elsewhere, and thought at a gut level, only more than I expected.

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Think Before You Pink”

Cancer Prevention Coalition

Avoidable Exposures: Consumers

Avoidable Exposures: Patients

Avoidable Exposures: Work and Environment

Avoidable Cancers

“Milk: America’s Health Problem”

The Politics of Cancer, Revisited

Cancer, Inc

They make the chemicals, they run the treatment centers, and they’re still looking for “the cure” ó no wonder they won’t tell you about breast cancer prevention.

Think Before You Pink

Information on Select Cause Marketing Campaigns

Take Action

It had to happen sooner or later, that I would need to update this page, which would bump the most monumental event of my past year from the home page — my first post on ‘A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion’ unveiled in Washington DC and my second post. If you haven’t seen them, please click on the highlighted words. (Eventually, I’ll add them to the story column on the right.)

And as they say, now for something completely different:

Last Sunday, I took a picture of my odometer, as it reached an symetrical “111111″.

I have a 2001 Chevy Cavalier. So it isn’t all that old. I’ve just made some big trips out to the east coast, and two General Conventions in it — mostly “highway miles”. I hope to hang on to it until I can find an affordable “green car” to replace it. Interestingly, some of the hybrids and others that are touted as being green don’t get mileage that is much better than mine. There is a dealer in the area that will be selling commuter cars that only get about 41 MPG. My old Geo Metro got at least 52-58 MPG. It’s too bad Chevy doesn’t make them anymore. I’ll be interested in taking a look at the Volt when it comes out. But I’m phobic about electrical outlets. I’m also interested in solar powered and compressed air cars that are in the works. Until then, I think I want to keep my Cavalier.

On the topic of ‘Now For Something Completely Different’ category, Lisa forwarded me this link to her blog, with a creative video about spaying & neutering. Ironically, one of the ladies in the credits is someone whose name I recognize from Spay & Stay here. I did a search for the organization who put out the video, and was surprised that they’re located in the town just north of me. Small world! Here’s the post she sent me, with a link to the video:
http://my-manner-of-life.blogspot.com/2008/01/now-for-something-completely-different.html. When I was looking for that, to post the link, I found this picture, and laughted out loud.

Episcopal Bishop Marc Andrus Supports California Ballot Initiative to Improve Lives of Factory-Farmed Animals

January9,2008

The Right Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, has endorsed the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, a historic California ballot initiative that will greatly improve the lives of millions of farm animals.

Bishop Andrus presides over 27,000 Episcopalians in the Californian dioceses, which includes San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. He gave his support for the initiative during a recent interview with The Humane Society of the United States.

“The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act is a modest but important measure that will simply give veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens enough room to engage in basic movements,”Andrus said. “God entrusts animalsto our care.Denying them the ability even to turn around is surely not an example of faithful stewardship.”
Californians for Humane Farms, supported by The HSUS, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals, is gathering signatures to place the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot. The measure prevents some of the worst factory farming abuses such as keeping animals confined in small crates or cagesóspecifically, veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs.

“Bishop Andrus’ endorsement is certain to inspire Episcopalians to take notice of this measure, which all people of faith can support on the basis of compassion and mercy towards all creatures,” said Christine Gutleben, director of Animals & Religion for The HSUS.

Last year, San Francisco was ranked America’s most humane large metropolitan area, according to a study calledthe Humane Index,released by The HSUS.

For more information, visit humanesociety.org/religion and humanecalifornia.org.

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The Humane Society of the United States isthe nation’s largest animal protection organization ñ backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS hasbeen fighting for theprotection ofall animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web athumanesociety.org.

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Click here for an endorsement form (.pdf file), which lists other ways to help.