Since the day it was posted, the most popular article on this blog has been How to Slaughter a Pig. The day it becomes How the Earth Became Vegan (or this one!) will be the happiest day of my life.

The question

A reader recently commented on How to Slaughter a Pig writing it’s okay to kill/utilize/hurt/eat animals because they “don’t have souls” (here and here).

I thought I’d reply with a post rather than in the comments. Cos it’s a big statement.

[Headache alert: if you’re only interested in religious aspects of this question – skip right to the end!]

No matter how much I disagree, this view is mighty popular. Entire cultures are built on the idea that animals are for humans to use however they see fit.

The question lies at the heart of the human identity crisis. Different ideas about animals separate entire cultures and even build walls between families. There’s no simple answer that will satisfy many people.

Well, here’s a shot at one:

The simple answer

If we get all reasonable about it, there would be two logically valid views and only one of them really makes sense to me. Both of them don’t differentiate between humans and animals. At least subconsciously most people go with one or the other:

1. Living creatures (humans and animals) have no souls because reality is completely physical/non-divine;
2. Living creatures (humans and animals) have souls because reality is not only physical but metaphysical/divine.

If we believe that humans have souls then why wouldn’t animals? Two common possibilities are “religious” supposed “reasons”, or “reasons” made up to make our lifestyle look OK.

Do humans even have souls?

Most of us say yes. Life becomes pretty drab without a spiritual side. Just the idea what we’re doing has meaning beyond our physical life helps us make decisions that create a better world.

A lot of nasty shit goes down when nations adopt materialistic ideologies and reject anything spiritual (cough *Mao* cough). Belief in a soul has been a saving grace for humanity.

But we haven’t been saved totally yet because this belief is plagued with doubt. We believe but we know there’s no objective proof and so we worry we’re just irrationally responding to an emotional need.

Our technologically advanced society is based on materialistic concepts as well as spiritual – and it operates as such. It’s clear that in practice we can’t follow our better conscience all the time. Most of us compromise… we hold to our private belief while our actions and decisions aren’t always based on them. Against our better nature we follow material need and the “ways of the world,” to survive.

But when our actions go against our inner beliefs the beliefs slowly erode and degrade. The path we follow in life determines our innermost ideas as much as ideas determine our life. There is a constant choice. When life follows belief it’s called integrity. When belief follows life it’s called “what the f@#k?”

Do animals have a soul?

Belief that the animals have a soul is rare because the most of us act against such a belief every day.

Have you ever had a pet? Do you think this pet had a soul? Have you eaten any animals today? Do you think this animal had a soul?

Is it possible that we make up beliefs to validate our lifestyle? What does this say about the integrity of these beliefs?

Have we compromised too much?

Humans and animals

There is no ultimate criterion that separates animals and humans. Most humans are more intelligent than most animals but many animals are more intelligent than many humans. Humans see themselves as more moral and spiritual but many animals are more loving and caring than many humans. Humans have developed complex societies but animals too demonstrate a wide range of social behaviors. Just as there are simpler and more complex animals, humans appears to be a complex form of animal life. The boundaries we suppose exist between them and us are very blurry and there are many grey areas.

If humans have souls it’s logical that animals do too. If animals have no soul then why would humans?

The safe side

To keep our lives and the world from falling apart we like to believe humans have souls – although we can’t objectively prove it. Likewise we should assume animals have souls.

Call it the benefit of the doubt. Be on the safe side.

The easy road – My religion says this… my daddy says that…

Most religions and all of the major ones have explicitly or implicitly said animals have souls. But people twist their religions to suit themselves – to take the easy road.

Isn’t it shameful for a religious adherent to ignore some or all of the teachings of their own “faith?” People operating on the assumption that their religion teaches “animals have no soul” should immediately re-read their religious texts. Call it a matter of personal integrity.

Links:

Here are just a few relevant passages from the world scriptures: Vegetarianism in Religion. If you watch this video there are many many more.

This page discusses the issue from a Catholic perspective and looks to the original Hebrew in Genesis for answers.

Here a vet tells why he believes animals do have souls.

Animal heroes of 2007! Remarkable and selfless animals helping strangers and caregivers alike.

Lives of Animals: A CIWF (Compassion in World Farming) blog.

If you don’t mind having your mind exploded, definitely read World Peace Diet by Will Tuttle. Very enlightening stuff. You can buy it, or download the PDF from his site.

Lastly, if you’ve got bandwidth check out this youtube on Vegetarianism in Religions:

So did I answer this question properly?