A social issue is a matter of public concern over which there is considerable disagreement and debate within society as a whole. Quite often when social issues are debated whether that debate takes place within church walls or outside the hot button issues are covered. Issues such as Christians and military service, what the bible has to say about gay marriage, or family violence. These are all very much important issues in our world today, but what about social issues where the lives being affected have absolutely no voice or power to make their case. That social issue is animal abuse and neglect. What does the Bible teach about this issue and what can we learn? The goal is to seek to answer those questions in exploring the New Testament while not neglecting the Old Testament to develop a theological framework and practical application for animal rights as they pertain to abuse and neglect.
The issue of animal abuse is an issue with a silent voice both in the sense that the victims have no voice and that does not seem a loud enough by the way human voice in support. Eyes are rolled or the channel is quickly changed a commercial comes on with the emaciated dog or cat missing a limb. The issue of animal abuse is more serious than believed to be and it happens for many reasons. The reasons why people abuse animals are:
1. To control an animal
2. To retaliate against an animal
3. To retaliate against another person
4. To satisfy a prejudice against a species or breed
5. To express anger through an animal
6. To enhance one's own aggressiveness
7. To shock people for amusement
8. To displace hostility from a person to an animal
9. To perform non-specific sadism
A case in September of this year involved two Sout...
... middle of paper ...
...log (2009): 134-146.
Metzger, Bruce M., David Hubbard Allan., and Glenn Barker W. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1982.
Nolland, John. Word Biblical Commentary: Luke. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1989.
Reeve, Teresa. “Intro to Social Issues in the New Testament.” NTST 633: Social Issues in the New Testament. Class lecture, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, September 3, 2013.
Stefanovic, Ranko. “The Sermon on the Mount.” NTST 617: Theology of Matthew. Class lecture, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, October 8, 2013.
Turner, David L. Matthew: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008.
Wennberg, Robert N. God, Humans, and Animals: An Invitation to Enlarge Our Moral Universe. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2003.
White, Ellen G. Signs of the Times. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Pub. Association, 1880.
Carson, D. A. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition Bible. Eds. Dom Bernand Orchard, Rev. R. V. Fuller. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1966. Print.
The Bible: The Old Testament. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed. Sarah Lawall et al. Vol 1. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 1999. 47-97.
...yne A. The HarperCollins Study Bible New Revised Standard Edition . New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. 1645-1722. Print.
New International Version. [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. 3 Mar 2011. Accessed 22 April 2014.
Carson, D. A., and Douglas J. Moo. 2005. An introduction to the new testament. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan.
Silva, Moisés. Philippians. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005.
New Testament. Vol. 2. Edited by Gerhard Kittel. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1964.
New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997. Osborne, Grant R. Revelation. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.
“There can be many reason for animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed, or under control of others. Some who are cruel to animals copy acts what they have seen or that have been done to them, others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge against--or threaten-- someone who cares about that animal”. (“Animal… Statistics”) Concerns towards abusing animals have gone up in the past. Although there are not many cases on animal abuse, many have occurred. Abusers are charged with Criminal Animal Abuse and then sentenced to life in prison. Some animals that are physically abused are sometimes rescued by Animal Control, and are taken it to an animal shelter. However, many shelters have not had the space to keep the animals so the workers would have to put them down (Carol Roach). Researchers have shown that the main animals getting abused are dogs, chickens, horses, and livestock (“Animal...
Bromiley, Geoffrey William, Fredrich, Gerhard, Kittel, Gerhard. “Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.” Struttgart, Germany. W. Kohlhammer Verlag. 1995. Print.
3. Metzger, Bruce M. and Murphy, Roland E. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, NY, 1989.
Wenham, G.J., Moyter, J.A., Carson, D.A. and France, R.T., eds. New Bible Commentary. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1998.
Every 60 seconds an animal is abused. Dogs, cats, horses, and many other types of animals are being neglected and tortured everyday, yet resulting in few and minor consequences for the perpetrators. Animal abuse is prevalent in the United States and has been an ongoing issue since the 1970's, and prior to. Society as a whole has chosen to avoid the facts and arguments about animal cruelty, because to some it is seen as acceptable and typical. It becomes much more frowned upon when people actually see the results of the cruelty, especially in the media.
Carson, D, & Moo, D. (2005) An introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.