Is animal abuse/cruelty a sin in the eyes of religion?

Question

In my previous question I asked about the value of life, I was told by many religious people that human life is more valuable than that of animals such as cats or dogs, and that furthermore animals (such as dogs/cats) have no soul. I was told that it is the word of God as written in the bible which says man has dominion over the animals of the earth. But I am curious.. if animals have no soul and their lives arent worth as much as human life, does that then mean animal abuse is not a sin? According to an answerer killing a human is the worst thing you can do and quote "To end an animal's life is, well, ending the life of an animal." So my question is do religious followers consider animal abuse a sin and if so how is it considered sin if the belief system places the life of an animal below that of human life? I am not trying to be rude I am just trying to understand how religion views animal abuse, and which bible passages/word of God they base it upon.

Answer 1

Yes, animal abuse and cruelty is sin in the eyes of God. Religion... is an inaccurate way to phrase this question. This is not 'religion'... the bible states pure religion is to help widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep yourself pure from sin.



When God created the earth, animals and humans...our purpose (in His image) was to care for the garden and the animals. We are like God, in that sense. Animals are not created in God's image. God did not need to provide a savior for the animals, they are not sinful creatures. They are not given the choice to follow God or not... they are created to simply serve God. Even if that means they have to die to serve us. Which sin...did come with a price for the Creation, all of it. This includes plants, fish... etcetera...; Many species on the earth have been wiped out because man abuses and is cruel to the Creation.



I do not see where God tells us to abuse His Creation, or be cruel to it. However, he has allowed animals as food. And, for awhile... animal sacrifices were made (prior to Jesus' death on the cross) for sin. Someone had to pay for our sins, and God allowed animals to be used for that purpose. Their deaths, were the blood sacrifice for our sins. We deserved to die, but God had allowed their deaths to pay for our sins. This is tragic. But, it is reality.



Because you believe that animals have souls, you obviously have somewhat of a different perspective. Animal sacrifice for sin, and eating meat will be viewed as abuse and cruelty to you. At some level, I can relate. But, I believe it to be the consequence of sin - all sin. Sin is ugly, IT is abuse and cruelty. Most especially our abuse and cruelty to our Creator.



Since Jesus went to the cross, animal sacrifice became no longer necessary. We can use animals for food, and this is somewhat of a necessity since the plants, fruits and vegetables available to us now - cannot supply all that our bodies need to survive properly. Many people (including me) believe that sin has cut us off from the optimal nutritional levels available to us by the foods that were provided in the garden of eden. Not only to us, but to the other animals on the earth. However, blood sacrifice for our sins in no longer necessary. Jesus was considered the lamb of God. The ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. When he died, the necessity of a lamb, bird or baby goat (kid) was gone.



The scriptures talk of the Creation being in subjection to humanity. When Christ returns - this will be changed. We will return to our original state of living in harmony with the Creation. We will have to answer to God in how we took care of His Creation.



I hope this helps you to understand the biblical perspective. I do not seek to abuse or treat animals cruelly. I do not see them as less worthy of my respect and kindness. But, humans are at a higher level in my view when it comes to the sanctity of life. If a cat crossed in front of my car, I would not necessarily slam on my brakes if I thought my life would be in danger. However, if a human crossed in front of my car...I would be more inclined to slam on my brakes, whether or not I am injured in the process. I do value my life higher than that of an animal. But, in regard to another human life, I regard that person as equal to myself. If you consider it cruel for me to say so or abusive... then I am sorry to offend you.



If I have a pet in my care... my job is to care for it, as best as I can. It has become my responsibility. My kitty had kidney troubles. I paid the money, and took the time, and loved him enough to provide the medicines and discipline it took to care for him in those last days. He had to have an i.v. line of fluids every day. I overcame my fears of needles and cared for him.



When his kidneys failed, and he was in extreme pain. I took him to the vet and had him put to sleep with as much mercy as possible. I cried for him, as much I think, as I would for a family member. So... that seems to me... that I value the life of the animals entrusted to my care. My cat is a part of my spirit, my soul...regardless of whether or not he was created in God's image. I took his care very seriously. He always knew I loved him, and he trusted me.



God sees all the sparrows that fall... He is truly a loving, and giving creator.



He asks us to care for His creation, as He cares for it. So, that is what I do...



But, He has made it clear to me that I am more important to Him, than the animals. It was His choice, to provide this level of love to me over the rest of His Creation. I do not think it wise for anyone to take this for granted... it actually should be very humbling. That we are considered more important.

Answer 2

Most religions consider man to have stewardship responsibilities towards animals. Most would not condone cruelty although some religions do sacrifice animals in a way that the religion does not feel is cruel but which other people might feel are cruel to the animals involved.



For example, in judaism and christianity, the relationship between god and man is often compared to the relationship between man and animals. Animals are seen as something that should be treated well but are not meant to be treated as equals. The bible even prescribes ways of killing animals which, compared to other possibilities, were somewhat humane for the time.

Answer 3

Its funny how most people say it's a "sin." I mean the meat in the burger you enjoy grows on a tree? Or all the animal sacrifice that you had to do before Jesus was not really cruelty to animals?



The fact of the matter is, when you walk you are being cruel to animals. Hundreds of ants must have died beneath your shoes within your life time?



Are not ants alive? Do ants count? Your existence has an impact on all life, plain and simple. If you don't want to be cruel to any creature, cease to exist!

Answer 4

Yes animal abuse is a sin. All living things have a soul. We are stewards over the animals as they belong to God and not to us. Therefor we do not have the right to abuse them.

Answer 5

From a spiritual standpoint if we substitute 'without God' for the word sin ,Then of course cruelty to animals is operating without God.

Answer 6

I'm an agnostic pagan so I can't tell you about the sin and religion part, but I know that animal abuse is the symptom of a very sick and perverted mind that has probably suffered abuse at the hands of others.



There was a little kitten set on fire by 2 young teen aged girls near where I live recently, and although the kitten will probably make it, it will always bear the scars it has suffered. The girls were caught and are in custody. What should happen to them? The outrage in our community is vocal.



I don't know. Of course they should have severe consequences resulting form their actions, but what consequences? And why did they do such a horrific thing? Mental health professionals should step in in situations like this to see what their thinking was.



A sin? I don't believe in sin. But there are sick, cruel acts that people do, and finding out why they happen in order to prevent them from happening again is a prudent course of action.



Bright Blessings,

Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 7

First, we are the caretakers of the planet and animals. We do not own them.



The Bible contains too many verses about animals for me to think that abuse, cruelty or even just turning a blind eye is acceptable. See my 360 for one of my favorites.



Below are a bunch of sites that list verses about animals. Please enjoy them.



Right now my husband and I are caring for an 8-week-old baby Egyptian Goose who lost a leg to fishing line left lying around the park. Her parents escaped from a safari theme park and live near us. We're praying she'll be able to live wild, but if not we're lining up a lovely place with a pond.

Answer 8

I think it is wrong. I read a great book a few years back called "God, Humans, and Animals: an Invitation to Expand our Moral Universe." It was very in depth and enlightening.



Even if you think animals don't have a soul, they can still suffer. I believe that causing pain and suffering is wrong. I also think that if we see the world as God's creation, we should take care of it. This covers everything from natural resources to land to animals.

Answer 9

In the Old Testament, you are not to eat abused animals or bring abused animals to sacrifice them to God. So that hints that abusing animals is wrong.



In the New Testament, Jesus said to love everyone and treat them fair, animals too have a soul so that means to love them as well.



In the Buddha's Dharma, Buddha says inflecting pain onto anything living is bad karma.



Hinduism's Dharma says inflecting pain onto anything living is bad karma.



So Yes animal abuse is just plain wrong and is a sin or bad karma

Answer 10

If they don't consider it a sin, they're worse than the individuals who are abusing animals. If we have dominion over the planet (which we don't, or else wouldn't hurricanes and tidal waves be controlled?), isn't it our duty to protect it? What other purpose would we have?

Answer 11

It is a sin. We are given dominion over animals, that doesn't mean we can torture them.



I have no verse, but Kosher slaughter was designed to minimize the animal's suffering.

Answer 12

Animal abuse leads to human abuse. It has to do with culture. Some cultures sacrifice animals. Others have dog and bird fights and bull fights. Free will.

Answer 13

I can't remember exactly where, but there is a passage in the Old Testament that says a person should feed his animals before he feeds himself, so he does not forget. That one always stands out in my memory because it does reinforce that we are to care for animals, not neglect or abuse them.

Answer 14

It's not a sin in the eyes of religion, but it is in the eyes of God.

Answer 15

Yes, in monotheism. Experts in all the monotheist religions (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) have interpreted the holy books (Torah, Koran, Bible respectively) to mean that while mankind has dominion over the animals he/she is not to purposefully mistreat them for they as well as humans are gods creatures.

Answer 16

In Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism - taking of a life is not encouraged as killing another being creates very bad karma that will eventually come back to bite the aggressor in the behind. Mahatma Gandhi ( Hindu ) was a pure vegan and an advocate of non-violence



Now.. although going vegan is highly encouraged in these faiths, it is not enforced with a "Divine Rifle" to your head... Follow or Else. The teachings of Karma says, we are responsible for our own actions, speech and intentions, therefore, that which we encounter be they good or bad is due to us from a previous cause, just as what we do now will be a cause that matures in the future - be it 1 sec away or 1 million secs away.

Answer 17

Yes it is a sin. Animals don't have spirits, but they do have souls. They wouldn't be alive without a soul. The difference is that their soul dies when their body does, unlike human beings.



It is not a sin to eat animals or use them as beasts of burden, but needlessly tormenting them is a sin.

Answer 18

Hi. I'm a Christian and I say absolutely yes! To hurt something God has put on this earth is terribly wrong, human or non-human. :)

Answer 19

I don't adhere to the whole idea of sin but I do believe its wrong. Life is life no matter who's life it is (or what's life it is). And isn't that being judgmental to determine who or what's life has more value???

Answer 20

Okay, here's how I see it at least.



Animals are fundametally different than people. Animal death is not the same as human death.



'Dominion' is being abused here. Back in the day it meant that we were given to rule over nature like a king rules over his domain. In otherwords, to take care of it. A more apropriate term these days would be 'stewardship.' In other words, yes, to use nature as we need to, but to take care of it as well.



So yes, we can kill animals to eat or for other uses of survival. But we are not allowed to abuse animals. We are supposed to take care of creation (and this applies to much more than animal rights). So I consider animal abuse a sin for several reasons:

One, it goes directly against our explicit instructions to care for creation.

Two, Animal abuse is not a result of positive Christian qualities. I cannot imagine a situation where deliberate cruelty to an animal is a display of any virtue.

Three, domesticated animals trust us to take care of them. I do think that betraying this trust is a sin.

Answer 21

God is the giver of life here on this earth. He has promised to "destroy those that destroy the earth." So, that would include all animal life. It is a sin! The Bible says God takes care of the birds and flowers....if He cares that much about them...shouldn't we?

Answer 22

I is a sin to be cruel to animals.

Answer 23

Good question.



Dominion does not mean slaughter. Dominion means to protect.



We have dominion over our children. We would never treat them the way we treat animals.



We have dominion over this earth as well. If dominion meant destroy then Revelation 11:18 would be contradictory. It states those who destroy the earth are in deep doo-doo with the Almighty.



"The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to recompense your servants, the prophets, and the holy ones and those who fear your name, the small and the great alike, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."



The bible is very specific. Abuse of any innocent is a crime against God. Psalm 104 shows God's love for the animals.

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm104.htm



Animals are innocent. They do not deserve the horrible deaths we give them in factory farms.

Answer 24

If your causing pain to the animal for no reason, yes. If it's for the advancement of human medicine (animal testing) then no.

Answer 25

This verse immediately came to mind-

Deuteronomy 5:14

but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do.



If God thought the even the animals should rest on Sunday, then it would naturally follow that He would wants us to care for them.

We were provided with animals that can be used for food. And given dominion over them, but that doesn't mean you abuse them.

I think this holds a key regarding our actions toward animals...as with our interaction with fellow man-

Philppians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Think of it this way....abuse often happens out of anger....and anger is a sinful emotion.Because the vehicle of the abuse is anger...it becomes sinful.

Does that help any?

I really don't know all God's thoughts on animals, except to say He has certainly given us a lot of wonderful companions and helpers over the years....I like to think that somehow that is important.

Answer 26

Man is able to abuse anything they wish...does it make it right? They abuse themselves and others mostly without reason. You hit my dog..I will beat your cat?

Answer 27

People that abuse animals deserve to be anally electrocuted.

Answer 28

As a Christian it does not matter to me if it is a "sin" or not it is just plain wrong. . .end of story. :)

Answer 29

I was "taught" that animals were placed here for our use. I was also "taught" that we should respect and value all of God's gifts. This certainly leaves a lot of room for abuse and cruelty, when it's of benefit to us, such as raising livestock in inhumane conditions to save a few bucks, and slaughtering them without regard for whether or not there's a less painful way of doing this. With or without a soul, no one can deny that animals experience many of the same emotions that humans do when mistreated- fear, depression, a sense of loss, and pain. As I've moved away from organized Christianity, which seems to teach people a sense of superiority rather than humility, I find it absolutely astonishing that anyone with a sense of right and wrong can knowingly and deliberately inflict pain and suffering on any living being, without viewing it as an insult to their Creator, and without the expectation that they will be held accountable for it. Likewise, to knowingly pollute and exploit our planet- God's greatest gift, and to the detriment of those that follow us- is like spitting on and demanding more from someone that just gave you a free meal. One would think, based on New Testament teachings, that Christians would be at the forefront of animal rights and environmental issues; how unfortunate that the opposite seems to be the case. They're too busy pointing fingers and assigning blame to care about kids torturing cats, and heck, if it saves them a nickel a pound on bacon to hack off the pig's head while it's still conscious, have at it!

Answer 30

yes

Answer 31

Just one more reason to hate "religious" people: their arrogant pronouncements like "animals have no soul." The idea, of course, being that man is special, and we'll link that up with Genesis to "prove" it. "I have given you dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28.)

Answer 32

In both my physical and my one psychic eye it is.



Good enough for me.

Answer 33

Animals cant choose for Jesus, but they are creations of God, and they do have feelings too. It is a sin to hurt anyone or any thing, absolutely. . Do unto others what you would hve them do unto you? Remember that in scripture?

IF you had been born a dog or a cat, or any other animal, would you want someone to hurt and abuse You/ I think not.

Animals have feelings too and emotions THey express fear, love and joy, all of it, even being ashamed. God gave us dominion over the animals, meaning if we needed to eat them to survive, we could do so. But you have a way to do it that is quick and not cruel. I personally do not eat meat, as I find there are enough other foods to eat without having to do that, and I do believe that was Gods orginail intention.

BUt to just hurt any animal is absolutely sin and its wrong and to anyone that just can hurt something or someone, you are on dangerous ground with God. GOd wants us to be kind and loving and fair, all of that, and to look over the things He made for us to enjoy. IF we dont, we will be held accountible

And why would anyone just want to hurt an animal? HOw sick is that? They have nothing else to do other than watching soene hurt at their hands. That is evil, its of the devil and they will surely pay for it all.

Any cruelty is sin, we dont serve a cruel God.

Others can say whatever they please and convince themselves its ok with God, but it doesnt matter. ITs only what God says that matters, and we are called to love,not hate and hurt, be it animals or anything else. And its wrong to pollute this planet too We are to take care of the things GOd gave us, or we will pay for it big time.

Answer 34

i'll say yes if it keeps people from doing it!!