Veganism and religion: Traditional religions and their teachings on our fellow animals (Part 1 of 3)

Religion is very much a cornerstone of human society, with approximately 84.4% of the global population adhering to some form of belief.

Just 15.6% of people fall into the secular, nonreligious, agnostic, and atheist categories, which means they either don’t believe in the existence of deities, or they believe that it is not possible to know whether any form of deity exists.

Some evidence suggests that many vegans are atheists. In one 2017 survey of 11,000 vegans and vegetarians, 47% said they “do not actively practice a religion”. The remaining 53% of respondents in the same survey indicated that they do have religious beliefs.

Can veganism and religion co-exist?

Given that so many humans across the entire population define themselves as part of a religion, it’s important to understand how their beliefs may shape how they interact with other animal species and, indeed, the planet.

The relationship between traditional religions and our animal kin is both profound and intricate. Each major religion has its own set of teachings and historical practices regarding the treatment of other animals, often grounded in principles of compassion and stewardship.

As modern ethical considerations around animal freedom grow, understanding these religious perspectives becomes increasingly important.

Today’s blog is part one of three. In this first article, we will explore the teachings and practices of the Abrahamic religions – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – regarding our fellow animals.

In part two, we’ll explore the teachings of other popular religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

In part three, we’ll examine the role organisations associated with traditional religions are playing in the animal freedom movement.

Christianity

Christianity is by far the world’s largest religion, followed by 30.74% of the global population (more than 2.3 billion adherents).

Christianity’s approach to our animal kin can be found in various biblical texts. As with many key socio-political issues (e.g. war, ethnic cleansing, slavery, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights), there is no single biblical view. Whether you support or oppose ethical veganism, you can find more than one quote to back you up!

Further, different versions and translations of biblical texts have slightly different emphasises on defining the human relationship to other animals. This reflects the fact that the Bible has been written, translated, and interpreted over many centuries, evolving alongside Christian communities.

Genesis outlines the concept of stewardship, which suggests that humans have a responsibility to care for all of God’s creation, including animals.

In the King James Version of the Bible, Genesis 1:26-30 tells Christians that:

[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
[28] And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
[29] And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
[30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
[31] And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The word “dominion” has often been quoted as a sign that God intended humans to have full use and control of other animals. Other translations of the Bible use the word “reign,” while others see it as a message of guardianship.

In The Message Version of the Bible translated from the original Greek and Hebrew Scriptures by scholar, pastor, author, and poet Eugene Peterson between 1993 and 2002, and described as the Bible in contemporary language, Genesis 1:28-30 has a slightly different translation:

28 God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”

29 Then God said, “I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food.

30 To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.” And there it was.

This interpretation suggests that God intended all living beings to live as vegans.

Some Christians believe that, as Genesis tells us, God made humans and other land-based animals on the sixth day of the Creation, and He cared for them all equally. Genesis 2:18-19 reinforces this idea, suggesting that our animal kin were created as companions for Adam, not food:

¹⁸ The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

¹⁹ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.

An article by Ryan Patrick Mclaughlin PhD – A Meatless Dominion: Genesis 1 and the Ideal of Vegetarianism – explores this idea in more detail.

It is important to note, however, that by Genesis 9:2-5 in describing God’s Covenant with Noah, the human relationship with other animals makes a significant shift:

2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.

3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

This agreement with Noah is one of several quotes in the Bible that people use to justify killing certain species of animal for their flesh.

Other books of the Old and New Testaments impact Christianity’s relationship with other animals.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-19 reminds believers that they, as humans, are the same as their animal kin:

As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹ Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath^[c]; humans have no advantage over animals.

Various passages from the New Testament remind people to treat other animals with kindness and compassion, and that animals are capable of deep love:

“The righteous know the needs of their animals” (Proverbs 12:10)

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)

Historical and contemporary Christian practices towards our fellow animals

Traditionally, Christianity has not emphasised vegetarianism or veganism, but there have been movements within the faith that promote the ethical treatment of all animals.

Many Christian philosophers, for example, have urged people to look to Jesus for their example and to treat our animal kin with compassion and a sense of stewardship.

St. Francis of Assisi (c.1181-1226) is well-known for his love and care for animals. He called all animals his “brothers” and “sisters” and is said to have preached to the birds. He celebrated nature and all life on Earth as God’s beautiful creation.

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a prominent Christian (Evangelical Anglican) who fought to abolish the slave trade and champion social reform. He was a founder of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (later the RSPCA) because he believed that humans have a duty to be kind stewards to our animal kin.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church has a high proportion of members who follow vegetarian or vegan diets.

One of its founding members, 19^th century writer Ellen White, wrote, “[The animals] manifest sympathy and tenderness toward their companions in suffering. Many animals show an affection for those who have charge of them, far superior to the affection shown by some of the human race. They form attachments for man which are not broken without great suffering to them. What man with a human heart, who has ever cared for domestic animals, could look into their eyes, so full of confidence and affection, and willingly give them over to the butcher’s knife? How could he devour their flesh as a sweet morsel?”

Many people within the church remember these words and choose not to eat their fellow animals.

In 2015, Pope Francis tweeted that “It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly”. He also warned that global warming negatively affects all living beings.

Today, organisations like the Christian Vegetarian Association advocate for plant-based diets and highlight the ethical and environmental implications of animal agriculture, urging Christians to consider more compassionate dietary choices.

Islam

Islam is the world’s second-largest religion, with 1.9 billion adherents (24.9% of the population).

Islamic teachings on animals are found in the Qur’an and Hadith (sayings, actions, and teaching attributed to the Prophet Muhammad), which emphasise kindness and proper treatment of animals.

The Qur’an emphasises that the Earth is for all living beings:

“And the earth, He has assigned it to all living creatures.” (Qur’an 55:10)

It also tells Muslims (followers of Islam) that all species of animals live in communities and are just like humans:

“There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.” (Qur’an 6:38)

The Prophet Muhammad is known for his compassion towards animals, and numerous Hadiths illustrate this.

“Whoever is merciful even to a sparrow, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment.”

“A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being.”

Within the Hadith, there are stories of the Prophet advising against overburdening animals and ensuring they are well cared for or of telling his followers to return young birds taken from their nests to their grieving mothers.

An article on the EcoMENA website highlights that Earth is mentioned 61 times in the Qur’an and that, according to Islam, the use of natural resources is a “sacred trust” given to humans to act as beneficiaries and not disposers.

Islam prohibits killing for fun, and activities such as hunting for sport are not allowed.

Halal Laws

According to Muslim dietary law, there are two types of food and drink: Halal (meaning “permissible”) and Haram (meaning “not permissible”).

The flesh or other products derived from pigs, blood, or flesh from birds of prey and reptiles are all defined as haram, which means they cannot be consumed by anyone who is Muslim.

Halal dietary laws include guidelines for the “humane” slaughter of animals (known as “zabiha”). The halal method, like kosher slaughter, aims to minimise the animal’s suffering through a swift and efficient process where the throat is cut with a razor-sharp knife. Animals must be killed one at a time and not in the position to witness the slaughter of other animals or see the blade of the knife. This method of slaughter also involves a prayer being recited, which reflects the perceived spiritual aspect of the act.

Any animals not killed by ritual slaughter are viewed as “carrion meat”, which is haram.

In the UK, The British Halal Food Authority does permit some methods of stunning before slaughter.

Historical and contemporary practices towards our animal kin within Islam

While traditional halal slaughter practices were designed to be humane, modern practices can vary. There are ongoing debates within the Muslim community about the ethics of modern animal agriculture and slaughter methods.

Organisations like Animals in Islam work to promote animal welfare within the Islamic community, encouraging humane treatment and considering veganism as a way to align with Islamic principles of compassion.

On The Shooting Star website, a guest blogger called Nina Ahmedow wrote about what it’s like to be a vegan Muslim. She explains that some people within the Muslim community have concerns that choosing not to eat animal flesh may be haram. This could be because veganism is associated more closely with religions such as Hinduism or because Allah said it is acceptable to consume other animals for food.

However, Ahmedow highlights that Islam and veganism may go hand in hand. One Hadith tells Muslims that:

“Messenger of Allah, I was going to slaughter a sheep, and then I felt sorry for it [or “sorry for the sheep I was going to slaughter”]. Muhammad said twice, “Since you showed mercy to the sheep, Allah will show mercy to you.”

Religious texts such as the Qur’an reflect how people lived at the time they were written.

As in each of the Abrahamic faiths, people ate animal flesh infrequently when compared to modern times. As many Muslims lived in rural or nomadic communities, they would probably slaughter animals that they themselves had cared for, as long as the killing was performed in a halal manner.

Today, the farmed animals that humans kill for their flesh and secretions live and die in their millions in circumstances that are widely associated with cruelty, ecological change, loss of habitat, water shortage, species extinction, and more.

A growing number of Muslims believe that this is at odds with how the Qur’an tells followers that our animal kin should be treated. Organisations such as The Vegan Muslim Initiative are leading this conversation.

Judaism

Judaism is the third and oldest of the three Abrahamic religions. The world’s core Jewish population is estimated to be around 15.7 million (0.2% of the global population).

Judaism shares many similarities with Christianity and Islam in terms of defining how humans and other animals should coexist. Again, the religion’s approach to animals is deeply rooted in its sacred texts.

The Torah and Talmud contain numerous references that emphasise the humane treatment of animals.

Like Christians, Jewish people look to Genesis to understand the relationship between humans and our fellow animals (and, as we’ve seen, Islam incorporates key themes and events from Genesis, too). Again, Genesis 1:29 is significant:

“Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree that has seed-yielding fruit — to you it shall be for food.” 

Here, God creates a paradise on Earth and all the beings that live in that paradise, including humans, follow a 100% plant-based diet. This diet continues even when Adam and Eve are thrown out of paradise.

The story of Noah’s Ark in Genesis marks a turning point when God tells Noah:

“Every creature that lives shall be yours to eat; as with the green grasses, I give you all these.” (Genesis 9:3)

At the same time, God warns against unnecessary cruelty by saying:

“You must not, however, eat flesh with its life-blood in it.” (Genesis 9:4)

Many people feel that these two passages best describe Judaism’s relationship to our animal kin, permitting them to be killed for food but prohibiting unnecessary cruelty. Within the Talmud, this principle has a name – Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim – and underlies many Jewish laws and practices.

The Torah also recognises that our fellow animals can suffer. Deuteronomy 22:4 says:

If you see your fellow Israelite’s ass or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.

While Deuteronomy 22:6-7 warns that:

“If, along the road, you chance upon a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs and the mother sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young.

Let the mother go, and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life.”

Some translations of this passage interpret it as meaning that the young should not be taken from their mother while she is present because she should not be forced to suffer the loss of her offspring.

Throughout history, there have been Jewish people who have found killing our animal kin for food problematic. Fifteenth-century Rabbi Joseph Albo warned:

“In the killing of animals, there is cruelty, rage, and the accustoming of oneself to the bad habit of shedding innocent blood.”

Kosher Laws (Kashrut)

Kosher dietary laws (Kashrut) are a crucial aspect of Judaism that relates to animal welfare. There are seven Kashrut laws or principles, six of which directly define which species of animals can be eaten and/or how permitted animals should be slaughtered.

The kosher method of slaughter, known as shechita, is designed to minimise the animal’s suffering by ensuring a quick and painless death, which must be delivered with a single knife stroke.

In early Jewish communities, all animals had to be slaughtered by a specially trained individual known as a shochet, who was certified and overseen by a rabbinical authority. This ensured that the Kashrut laws were honoured.

Today, the business of killing is largely committed on a monstrous scale within factory farms and abattoirs.

As Jewish people believe that animals should not have any injuries before they are killed, stunning is not permitted with the shechita method.

Some Jewish legal scholars believe that Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim prohibits practices that involve overfeeding animals to create so-called “delicacies” like veal or foie gras because these practices cause unnecessary suffering.

Historical and contemporary practices towards our animal kin in Judaism

Traditionally, kosher slaughter practices have been intended to be humane. However, modern interpretations and practices vary, with some criticisms regarding the methods used in industrial settings.

The second largest Jewish population in the world is in the US, where 99% of all animal products – including those certified as kosher – originate in factory farms. This means the animals have suffered in life and when put to death.

Contemporary Jewish movements, such as Jewish Veg, advocate for vegetarianism and veganism, arguing that these diets align better with Jewish values of compassion and care for all living beings.

They emphasise that Kashrut is designed to limit the consumption of our fellow animals and that following a plant-based lifestyle ensures that one can keep kosher.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve barely scratched the surface of how the three Abrahamic religions define the human relationship with our fellow animals. From the source texts to many centuries of social and political influence, the issues are complex and sensitive.

This topic powerfully reminds us that these religions share a vast amount of common ground. This is exemplified in the message that humans have a responsibility to act with compassion towards other living beings and that we are morally required to prevent their suffering.

Modern animal agriculture fails this responsibility by every possible standard. Whether or not an animal is stunned, how quickly they die, or how they are murdered is beside the point when their suffering is legion.

Look out for part two of this blog series, when we’ll explore how some of the other key religions view our animal kin.