Animals

Animals have historically played an important and enduring role in the world's religious traditions, from shamanism, through classical cultural expressions, up to the current debates on animal rights.

One of the earliest expressions of religiosity can be found in shamanic traditions. In many tribal cultures, a specific animal may become sacred to an individual or group. Known as totems, these animals will not be eaten and are said to generate [Page 40]the power of protection. The shaman, a traditional healer, often draws inspiration from animals, imitating special skills and powers associated with the coyote or the wolf or the bear. Shamanic rituals in some cases may involve the donning of animal skins and performing dances in imitation of animals. These practices can still be observed among the tribal peoples of Siberia and the Americas.

The Hebrew scriptures include extensive descriptions of how animals should be treated. The Book of Genesis states that God created fish and fowl on the fourth day and mammals on the fifth day, followed by humans on the sixth. Though God gave humans dominion over animals, animals must be treated with care and kindness. Noah preserved numerous species of animals during the Great Flood; the protection of humans and animals constituted God's first promise or covenant. The law books of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers include many passages that deal with the treatment of animals, specifying that an animal threshing grain must not be muzzled, that only unblemished animals may be used as ritual offerings, and that animals must not be treated cruelly. These laws form the basis for kosher observances and remain important within contemporary Judaism.

For Christians, animals provide vivid imagery in the story of the birth of Jesus, in his parables, and also in the Book of Revelation. Jesus was laid in a manger surrounded by animals. He was compared with the sacrificial lamb and heralded as the great shepherd. The lion, ox, griffin, and eagle protect the throne of God in the last book of the Christian Bible. Many Christian religious orders, including the Camaldolese, the Cistercian Trappists, and the Carthusians, practice vegetarianism, as do some Protestant denominations, such as the Seventh-Day Adventists.

In Islam, animals stand in a special relationship with God. Many passages of the Qur'an extol the ability of animals to worship God. One of the favorite images to describe the glory of God can be found in praise of the honeybee, which creates great beauty and sweetness through its labors. Like the Jews, Muslims follow a strict code that governs the slaughter of animals, designed to minimize suffering and guarantee cleanliness. For the Sufi mystics, animals provide examples of how best to love God.