Why do Christians abuse, torture and eat animals and justify it by saying God gave man dominion over animals?

Question

It is true that someone wrote something like that, or at least it got translated like that in some editions of the Bible, but how does "having dominion" give one the right to abuse animals? That interpretation makes about as much sense as the interpretation that the Constitution means individuals have a right to own and kill each other with guns.

For anyone who seriously wants to know more about how we torture animals before we eat them, click on the following link:
http://factoryfarming.org/

Answer 1

Why does it just have to be christians?

Anyways, it was interpeted that way, which you could argue both ways. We're smarter, we've beaten them ( clearly not in a war but you get the gist) How is that any different from the romans invading other countries and defeating them and ruling them?

Im not going as far as comparing the eating thing because clearly we dont eat other humans but, in a sense, its really no different then us just being the alpha race.

Answer 2

Christians don't abuse and torture. Some extreme animal rights activists may characterize all meat consumption as torture and abuse but this is a tautological argument and not a serious question.

1. For Christians, God gave permission to eat meat. This was in the context of humane treatment and respect for the animal which was to be killed only in a manner that reduced animal suffering.

Please note that this was also after the Fall into sin - so some may argue that it is not God's original intent and may be a system that comes to end after God's return.

2. Biologically, human beings are omnivores equipped to eat both plant and animal food sources.

3. "Animal rights" is an interesting notion. What rights do non-humans have which are not conferred by humans?

This is a spurious argument. There seem to be no innate rights in the animal kingdom. Animals do not treat each other with respect to their rights - they are seen as prey. So only when human beings impose their moral philosophy on the animal kingdom do so-called "rights" appear.

Answer 3

Yeah, I've known about factory farming for many years. It's a sad and disgusting way to treat animals. I wouldn't click on the link for love or money.

Regarding Christians and abuse and God, etc... it seems you're lumping an awfully lot of different kinds of people into one category as well as going by what you've read perhaps out of context, I don't know.

I'm not a Christian anymore, I'll start there, but I was raised one and studied the KJV bible in detail, some of which is still stuck in my head. I don't know of any group who as a whole abuses animals, even farmers or Christians who swallow the bible whole with their breakfast every day.

About dominion over animals, I had always been taught it meant people could farm with them, use their hair to weave cloth, oh on and whatnot like that. And to eat, I'm sure, but not some wholesale slaughter. Slaughter would end the use of animals altogether!

So rest easy on the God folks and calm down on grouping people together so easily. Except the factory farmers... I just never could get down with that, either.

Answer 4

agree with Luthyin -- what first comes to mind: Not Christians per se, people abusing / eating animals world-wide [I don't mean: "two wrongs make a right" kind of thing];
true, Biblical verses, re Dominion -- but about hierarchy in a way, 'food chain' it's popularly called -- and if anything about using comp. to abusing other lifeforms;
have been vegetarian (non-meat-eater at least) for a while now -- thanx for Link to , things like this show disgusting reality behind much of meat-producing industry. As for Christian view: the idea is 'STEWARDSHIP', God (it's thus believed) gave Man / [humans i.e] authority over animals etc. but with proviso that this be done with wisdom & consideration.

Answer 5

I don't know any Christians like that, and most of my friends are farmers, they do not torture their animals. Their animals are their livelyhood, they depend on them to make their living, just like anyone with any other job.
Around here people do not torture their animals.
I don't think the Constitution gives people the right to shoot people with guns. I wish I had a gun when wild animals come around my house and kill my pets when they go outside. Or the time a skunk sprayed my dog and the poor dog had to stay out for a couple weeks till the odor disappeared.

Answer 6

Saying "God gave us dominion over the animals" is simply a statement of fact - we are the most powerful species on the planet. That fact doesn't mean that anything we do to the other animals is morally justified. One could argue that having such power implies a responsibility of stewardship. "With great power comes great responsibility."

That's why I'm going to get up early tomorrow morning and help clean a stream in my neighborhood as my contribution to Coastal Cleanup Day.

Answer 7

its a good question. a normal man cannot catch a chicken. i was in the meat industry for years, and its unbelievable what it takes sometimes to kill a cow or a hog. man without tools couldnt do it, theres no way. so how did we become meat eaters? animals are gross and they stink. its not like picking an apple off a tree. the bible is the biggest contradiction there has ever been, so you cant go on that. i dont need to click on the link, because i already know, and have to live with it. sorry to answer a question with another one, but when you find out, let me know.

Answer 8

Seems you don't know where or if the Bible says that. The Bible tells us what kind of animals we can eat.
Most consider us animals, so what is the difference in animals eating animals?
They were made for food for us and other animals, Other insects eat different things, everything has something it eats. Have you ever witnessed animals killed and slaughtered for food yourself? You might want to check it out. It isn't torturous or abuse.

Answer 9

People who think this way are bent and warped you and I both know from the time a chicken is an egg the only think a little chick can think about is the day it gets to become a nugget,and I went to a cattleman's association meeting last night and the guest speaker was a Angus cow she said to tell all the PETA people thanks for the concern but that you really didn't understand the needs and desires of the modern day bovine,she went on to say that she was happy to know she would be giving her life to feed a hungry child some day and that she was looking forward to it.

Answer 10

Animals? But what about the cries of the Carrots? On harvest day? Because to them, IT IS THE HOLOCAUST.

Bottom line: it's at least scientifically plausible that plantlife can feel, and maybe has a sort of self-awareness. So, what are you vegetarians going to do next, start eating your own waste? Because nobody's decided that it's intelligent or cute yet.

So seriously, stop laying the same old guilt trip down. It don't work anymore.