The Mary T. and
Frank L. Hoffman
Family Foundation
and
All-Creatures.Org
Letters and Responses
Letter from Michael Concerning Christianity and Animal Rights – 5 Sep 2003
Hi,
I am not a Christian; I am agnostic and that is how I would prefer to stay (so please don't e-mail me back anything converting) but I do agree with everything you have said on you website. I would just like to know one thing. What is your opinion of what God put humans here for?
I personally believe that if you look at our race (yes this must sound very nileistic) as a whole, the world would be better off without us. I am not attacking you in any way I am just interested in your outlook.
Oh and by the way, most of the Christians that I have met, have been completely heartless about animal rights matters. I told three 18 year old Christian girls in my English class about fear response tests happening to rabbits at a local university, and they said, so...God put animals here for us to eat and learn from.
Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaase don't reply with a statement along the lines of "well we are the superior species" or "we do own this world, God put it in our hands" because it will just push my slightly positive opinion of some Christians further away, and I don't like feeling distant from potentially good people. (Sorry if this sounds massively arrogant)
Ok thanks
Michael
bye
Reply by Frank L. Hoffman
Dear Michael:
Thank you very much for your letter and comments.
Some of the most compassionate people we have met have been unbelievers like you, and to us that speaks of the miserable representation that the Church has made in the world.
Your comment about the three girls reminded me of a statement Gandhi made: "If it wasn't for the Christians, I may have become one."
In our ministry, we have been trying to counter the hard edge of Christianity that is so prevalent in the world. What you experienced is totally counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ and of the Hebrew Text writers, particularly the prophets.
According to the Bible, humans were to be the caretakers of the earth and its inhabitants. We were do have dominion over the earth as kind, loving, peaceful, and compassionate rulers. Instead, we have dominated and destroyed much of the gift we were given. So, in this light, the world might have been better off without us. On the other hand, we have the power and ability to restore things to the way that God intended.
We hope this answers your questions.
We look forward to hearing from you again.
In the Love of the Lord,
Frank
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