With their own inherent value quite apart from whatever good might come from our use of them, animals ought to be treated as the kinds of creatures they are. Image: A gorilla at The Bronx Zoo in New York City, May 23, 2014 (Flickr/Tammy Lo)
Over the past decade in Christian theological circles, there s been an explosion of concern for nonhuman animals. Not many people keep up with theological trends, so no shame if you ve missed this one.
But the fact is, while much of theology is by its very nature rather abstract, this one is relatable: Large majorities of us have animal companions, for instance. We all eat, and many of us think, talk and even obsess over what we eat more than we do over, say, God. And how we treat animals has a lot to do with what we put in our bodies and not just to eat.
In this Oct. 2, 2018 file photo, Bronx Zoo elephant Happy strolls inside the zoo s Asia Habitat in New York. An appellate court on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, upheld a lower court’s ruling dismissing a petition from an animal right’s group for Happy the elephant in the Bronx Zoo to get human-like rights and be moved to a sanctuary. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
(RNS) Over the past decade in Christian theological circles, there’s been an explosion of concern for nonhuman animals. Not many people keep up with theological trends, so no shame if you’ve missed this one.
But the fact is, while much of theology is by its very nature rather abstract, this one is relatable: Large majorities of us have animal companions, for instance. We all eat, and many of us think, talk and even obsess over what we eat more than we do over, say, God. And how we treat animals has a lot to do with what we put in our bodies and not just to eat.
Culture panic? Why people freak out over ‘canceling’ of Pepé Le Pew, Dr. Seuss books, old Disney movies.
Updated Mar 16, 2021;
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“This nonsense needs to stop. Do you know how many kids are being hurt because of this.”
“They take our HISTORY! They take (every) damn thing that is offensive!”
“You so called dumb-ss people are killing the American family entertainment life.”
“You fascists will not win.”
These complaints and more arrived after a conservative-leaning Facebook page resurfaced a story NJ Advance Media posted in January about Disney Plus limiting access to certain old movies on young children’s accounts. The films, including “Dumbo,” “Peter Pan” and “The Aristocats,” are still available on other accounts with a disclaimer saying they contain harmful and stereotypical depictions, like the crows in “Dumbo” and the native characters in “Peter Pan.”
Woody Allen is already canceled HBO s new docuseries is seeking overdue justice msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.