- Anything Else -
Dont force the animals to practice your religion
Posted by: Jeff on December 06, 1999 at 11:18:03:
In Reply to: The importance of relationship with one's God posted by Nikhil Jaikumar on December 04, 1999 at 00:28:18:
: I'm sorry MDG but we must part company on this one. I defend the right of the Hopi to sacrifice animals, just as I defend the right of Muslims, Hindus, Santeria worshipers, and others. You cannot criticize the action itself without examining the motives behind it. If a bird is killed out of spite or sadism i agree that's bad. But if the Hopi need to do this to express love for their God, I cannot criticize them. Just like I would not criticize the Hindus of Calcutta who sacrifice goats. (Being a Hindu myself, I hoep you don't start slinging mud at the Hindus or for that matter at Catholics or Buddhsits or any other religion). To me human rights are simply more important tahn animal rights, simply because we are human, and this the only meaningful 'group' with natural boundaries that we are a part of. One of tehse basic human rights is teh right to commune with one's God. I cvannot support an infringement of this right, except where it violates another HUMAN right. I'm sorry if you disagree, but I simply place human rights ona different level than animal rights, ebcause of our identity as human beings. : I always hesitate to make psychological statements, but i think you may find it easy to criticize this custom because you yourself are not religious. It is your right to be nonreligiou and/or to think taht some religious custosmn are crazy. But please udnerstand that what is easy for you may not be easy for otehrs, and what is important for them may not be to you. If you were a deeply religious Haitian Vodoun worshiper, for example, how would you feel if someone told you you coudl not worship your God? Woudl this not make life no longer worth livcing? For a religious person, life without God is meaningless. How can you steal teh meaning from their life? This would be both unfair, cruel as well as high-handed. : Let me give you an example that you amy find convincing. I presume that since you live in the West, you accept, as I do, the Western ideal of monogamous love. Now, a strong Marxist argument ahs been made by a guy named Marcos on the C&A board arguing taht monogamy leads to privileging soem p[eople over others and is thus selfish and inimical to society's interests. I cannot pose a rational argument against it. But I abhor the argument emotionally, because it's trying to take away from me and you something we care deeply about. I believe this is analogous to what you are doing to the Hopi. And I must disagree w/ you. The rite to be nonreligious doesnt include hurting anything. If people want to believe in and practice any specific religion thats fine, but what a shame that they have to selfishly hurt and kill other species in order to practice that religion. Would it be ok if it was my personal belief that if I were to hang cats upside down for several days and then burn them to death that I would be guaranteed a place in heaven? No, it would be illegal and I would be punished and probably considered for mental health treatment. Yet it is ok to practice equally cruel sacrifices in the name of other religions. Whats the difference?
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