A Union of Christianity, Humanity, and Philanthropy: The Christian Tradition and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Nineteenth-Century England

Abstract

This paper offers an historical perspective to the discussion of the relationship between Christianity and nonhuman-human animal relationships by examining the animal protection movement in English society as it first took root in the nineteenth century. The paper argues that the Christian beliefs of many in the movement, especially the evangelical outlook of their faith, in a considerable way affected the character as well as the aims and scope of the emergent British animal welfare movement - although the church authorities did not take an active part in the discussion and betterment of the conditions of animals. An explicitly Christian discourse, important in creating and sustaining the important philanthropic tradition in Britain, mobilized the movement. The paper also traces the gradual decrease of the centrality of the movement's Christian elements later in the century when evolutionary ideas as well as other developments in society shed ahternative light on the relationship between human and nonhuman animals and brought about different trends in the movement. This paper sees Christianity not as a static and defining source of influence but as a rich tradition containing diverse elements that people drew upon and used to create meanings for them. The paper implicitly suggests that both a religion's doctrines in theory and the outcome of a complex interaction with the changing society in which the religion is practiced determine its potential to influence animal-human relationships.

Using animal history to inform current debates in gene editing farm animals: A systematic review

“…Brutality toward animals going to market was one such example that spurred public concern for more humane treatment. In 1824, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) formed to enforce a new law in Britain that fined drovers and butchers for flagrant abuses to livestock (Li, 2000). As Donald (2019) has reported, over 70% of RSPCA membership by the late nineteenth century was women-reflecting an empathy developed for sentient creatures who also suffered under male domination.…”

Τα Ζώα Στο Σχολικό Πλαίσιο: Αντιλήψεις Παιδιών Και Εκπαιδευτικών Της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης Για Τα Ζώα

“…(Maehle 1994) Συνοπτικά αυτή είναι η πνευματική καταγωγή της εκστρατείας ενάντια στη μη αναγκαία σκληρότητα απέναντι στα ζώα. Ανατράφηκε από τη (μειοψηφική) χριστιανική παράδοση ότι ο άνθρωπος θα πρέπει να φροντίζει για την υπόλοιπη δημιουργία και την επίσης χριστιανική αντίληψη της φιλανθρωπίας (Li 2000). Ενισχύθηκε από την κατάρριψη της παλιάς άποψης ότι ο κόσμος υπάρχει χάριν του ανθρώπου, και σταθεροποιήθηκε από τη νέα επικέντρωση στην αίσθηση και τα συναισθήματα σαν βάση του επιχειρήματος για την επίδειξη ηθικού ενδιαφέροντος.…”