What Can You Do To Help Animals?
The JW Organization And It's Views Towards Animals
If you read some of the Watchtower's views on animals, it paints a very positive picture. Read the following quotes from Awake! Magazine, February 22, 2004, pages 10 and 11:
Page#10, paragraph# 2:
"Maria was such a lover of animals, she would certainly enjoy living in the new world that God had promised. The Witnesses explained that humans would then be at peace with all the animals." Page#11, paragraphs# 2, #5, Subheading "Pets in God's New World.", #6,#7 and #9:
"Like Maria, many have been thrilled by evidence that God's orginal purpose for humans to live forever on paradise earth and to take care of all its animals will eventually be fulfilled."- Isaiah 45:18.
"In Jehovah's new world, people will be able to tuch the furry mane of a lion, to stroke the striped coat of a tiger and, yes, to sleep in the woods without fear." -Ezekiel 34:25; Hosea 2:18.
"Just think of the marvelous prospect of enjoying animal pets forever in a righteous new world!"
This last phrase," enjoying animal pets forever-", is a very interesting to examine because we should ask, "What 'PRECISELY' does this mean? Does this not give the impression that animals as well as all nature are part of Jesus' promise of his "restoration of 'ALL' things..."? However, read the direct statements from the previous pages found under the heading,
"Pets - Keep a Balanced View Of Them."
Page#6, paragraphs# 3,4 and 6.
"Humans, not animals, were made 'in the image and likeness of God."
To this statement I say, So?
"Animals were created with a limited life span, humans had the prospect of living forever."
Where in the Bible does it verify that animals were not meant to live forever? Acts 3:21 says that "Christ comes in the restoration of 'ALL' things." It does NOT say, ONLY humans."
Their answer on this?
"Jesus said that to enjoy "everlasting life," we must exercise faith and take in knoweldge of God - things animals are incapable of doing." (John 3:36; 17:3)
Animals don't need to because animals were NOT the ones who sinned knowingly against God. Humans did, remember? And since humans have a higher understanding of morality than the mere instincts that animals have, all the more reason WHY. This type of presumption on the Watchtower's part is not so much different from the fundamentalist branches of Protestantism that teaches that animals don't have souls so they won't go to heaven.
The subheading:
"Provided for Man's Good"
Again, where this presumption coming from? Man's ego? Animals were created for God's pleasure as were humans.
Page#9, under subheading, "Balanced View Challenge"
[No Kidding!]
"Some people's concern for pets take predence over even more important considerations."
What?! And what would be considered by the Watchtower Society to be a, "more important consideration" than helping animals? Circulating the Watchtowers? Besides sometimes animals are more kind than people.
Paragraph#4:
"As noted eariler, animals were not created in God's image, nor were they really meant to live forever."
What haughty presumptious statements! So THEY are telling Jehovah how long THEY think different species of creation should live? Umm.. I think one should leave that up to Jehovah.
Here are some logical points to ponder
'If' animals were not meant to live forever on paradise earth...and this issue has already stated that people have great affection for them...then how do you address the FACT that the Bible says that in paradise there will be "No sorrow or pain, for these things will pass away and will not be called to mind"? Either suddenly in paradise people would stop feeling a love for animals when they died or then this promise in the Bible of feeling no sorrow would be lie. However, there IS a third possibility that would not contridict these promises stated in the Bible by God and would also be in harmony with Jesus' promise to "Restore 'ALL' things." -Acts 3:21 and this would be that JW's as well as Protestant's presumptions on this matter are wrong..and that animals and all nature will be eternal when the Kingdom comes.
A More Positive Way Of Viewing Animals
Scriptures have been widely interpreted in the justifcation of the exploitation of animals. Such individuals 'claim' that God told Adam and Eve to dominate over the animals. However, in the November/December 1996 artcile of Seirra Club magazine intiled, "The second Creation Story," Rabbie Daniel swartz explains that God said to "tend" and "care FOR" the animals, explaining that the Hebrew word SHAMAR is found in the Bible here which means "to guard," or "to watch over," NOT to "rule OVER" or to exploite, and Scriptures indictae that the earth and animals are NOT owned BY humans, but rather they are "intrusted TO them."
Nevertheless, unforuantly, there prevails a haughty heir of a superiority complex amoung a vast majority of Evnagelicla and Fundamental Christians 'claiming' to be the true representives of God and Christ. These individuals 'claim' that only the lives of human beings matter and not the lives of animals.
Much of this likely rests on their belief that only humans have souls. However, the says that BOTH humans AND animals 'ARE' souls. In Luke 12:6 Jesus explains that even the more simple creatures such as the sparrows are cared for by God, so much so that even when each and every one of them falls from the sky in death God remembers them each. Proverbs 12:10 tells us that the righteous person cares for their animals but that the wicked are thoughtless and cruel towards them. And Psalms 36:36 tells us that God cares for animalkind and humankind alike.
By putting into action new behaviors of kindness towards animals our lives can be greatly enriched. Do you view your dog or cat as simply back yard accessories? Do you just let your pets breed as they wish, then only to dump their offspring off, not knowing their outcome? Throughout history humans have exploited animals in wanton hunting, for fur coats and unnessary testing. Shamelessly treating them as throw away dixie cups raher than as living beings worthy of our respect and love. Let us move to an enlightened state of mind and heart where animals are not hunted for mere sport and where they do not spend their lives simply toiling for our benifit. While we can not erase the past harm done by others, we CAN change our own behaviors now. The 5th Chapter of Jon and Isaiah 11:6-9 prophecied a time when all humans will live in peace and harmony with the earth and animalkind.
Conserving Animals Of The Forests
Creatures Great And Small
Recommended Animal Kindness Links
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