Animal Liberation and the Bible: Christianity and the Question of "Speciesism"

Animal liberation theology argues that humans and animals are of equal value and that animal rights should be recognized. It views animal sacrifice as murder and advocates for a creation free of predation. The book critiques animal liberation from a biblical and theological standpoint, demonstrating its incoherence with human evolution, the use of animals in Israel, and the New Testament assertion of human uniqueness. It reasserts historic Christian faith as sufficient to address animal studies' challenges and concludes with an appraisal of ethical concerns regarding animal use.

Format: Hardback
Length: 372 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2021
Publisher: Peter Lang AG

Animal liberation is a movement that asserts that humans and animals are of equal value and that the traditional views of human uniqueness, often referred to as speciesism, are an anthropocentric prejudice. It advocates for the cessation of human use of animals, recognizing their inherent rights. Animal liberation theology seeks to ground these views in the Bible, envisioning a creation free from predation and the restoration of animals to a state of freedom from meat-eating and animal use. It views animal sacrifice as murder and emphasizes a profound incarnation by which God in Christ takes on all flesh for the salvation of all creatures in a cosmic redemption.

This book is the first comprehensive critique of animal liberation from a biblical and theological perspective, accompanied by scientific and philosophical analysis. It introduces the major thinkers in the field and demonstrates the inconsistencies of animal liberation with human evolution, the use of animals in Israel's domestic and religious life, and the New Testament assertion that God the Son was uniquely incarnated in the human Jesus for human salvation.

The book reasserts the historic Christian faith as sufficient to address the scientific, philosophical, and ethical challenges posed by animal studies. It concludes with an appraisal of key ethical concerns regarding animal use and foundational issues within the animal liberation movement.

In conclusion, animal liberation is a movement that challenges the traditional views of human superiority and seeks to establish the equal value of humans and animals. It advocates for the cessation of human use of animals, recognizing their inherent rights and dignity. Animal liberation theology seeks to ground these views in the Bible and emphasizes the profound incarnation of God in Christ for the salvation of all creatures. This book provides a comprehensive critique of animal liberation from a biblical and theological perspective, accompanied by scientific and philosophical analysis. It reasserts the historic Christian faith as sufficient to address the ethical challenges posed by animal use and emphasizes the need for foundational issues within the animal liberation movement.

Weight: 549g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783631851647
Edition number: New ed