The Bible and Farm Animal Welfare
Ebook
The Bible was composed by and for people who farmed animals and observed them every day. It contains many descriptions of farm animals and farming, images that use farm animals, and prescriptions relating to husbandry practices. Farm animals are viewed as part of God's creation with their own purposes and modes of flourishing. Both the Old and New Testaments take their welfare seriously, prohibiting practices that cause pain or suffering, and endorsing methods that promote welfare. These prohibitions and endorsements are consistent with modern animal welfare science. Examining animal groups, bodies, behavior, and stockpersons, this book shows that a biblical understanding of farm animal welfare is scientifically valid and should motivate both farmers and consumers to take welfare seriously.
“The world when the Bible was written involved both friendly and exploitative interaction with non-human animals. David Grumett presents evidence from the words of the Bible for careful observation and deduction as a lesson for each person organizing their life to respect sentient animals and all of the living world. He explains that modern attitudes to animal welfare involve a return to biblical values as well as use of the latest scientific knowledge.”
—Donald M. Broom, professor emeritus of animal welfare, University of Cambridge
“This book examines the biblical description of the evolution of the relationship between humans and farm animals. Read it, think about it, and consider how politics, legislation, economics, farmers, retailers, and consumer interactions impact on the welfare of the animals. It will stimulate discussion on what must be done today to improve farm animal welfare with the increasing use of technology for animal husbandry, which will reduce even more the contact between animals and people.”
—Sarah Wolfensohn, professor of animal welfare, University of Surrey
“David Grumett draws our attention to the lives and welfare of farm animals, who have interacted with humans and made our lives possible from biblical times to the present. Significantly, he brings animal welfare into explicit dialogue with biblical and theological traditions. His book is a valuable resource for making ethical decisions about the foods we eat, the policies we promote, and other animal-related issues.”
—Ken Stone, professor of Bible, culture, and hermeneutics, Chicago Theological Seminary
- Title: The Bible and Farm Animal Welfare
- Author: David Grumett
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798385218615, 9798385218592, 9798385218608
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385218615
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-11-02T07:33:06Z
David Grumett is senior lecturer in theology and ethics in the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of many books, articles, and chapters on food and animals, and has advised the UK national and regional governments on animal welfare.