Stephen R. Kaufman and Nathan Braun. Cleveland,
OH: Vegetarian Advocates Press, 2002. 104 pp., $14.00. ISBN:
0-9716676-0-8.
[1] The subject of the ethical treatment of animals has received
renewed interest in the past thirty years or so, particularly within
the fields of cognitive ethology, philosophy, and theology. Of
special concern is the pain and suffering to which animals are routinely
subjected in a number of institutional settings, with the food industry
especially culpable in the slaughter of billions of animals in the
United States alone. As a result of the rise in the number
of agribusinesses, or factory farms, knowledge of some of the atrocities
routinely committed in the raising of animals for food has been
an incentive for many to champion the call to vegetarianism as a
more humane, healthy, and spiritual way of life. These two
authors join their voices to a myriad of others who are finding
the practice of vegetarianism one which can be supported on religious
grounds as well.
[2] The text is divided into two sections: the first is devoted
to a Christian assessment of vegetarianism, and the second contains
a number of appendices dealing with more pragmatic issues. The basic
argument is that vegetarianism, while not a requirement for Christian
discipleship, is certainly a laudatory ideal towards which all should
strive; and an expression of love and respect for God, other humans,
and especially animals. Kaufman and Braun briefly describe the reality
of factory farming (with accompanying pictures), and discuss the
negative impact of these practices on animal well-being, human health,
the world’s hungry, and the environment. They offer several
key Christian principles which support Christian vegetarianism,
including compassion, mercy, love, the avoidance of overindulgence,
and the search for the realm of God. They emphasize God’s
concern for all victims, including animals; they examine those passages
of the Bible often used to demonstrate God’s ultimate purposes
for animals, namely the Genesis creation accounts and the book of
Isaiah (particularly chapter 9); and they discuss the importance
of vegetarian living in our contemporary society. The appendices
describe interaction with others (in order to influence them to
adopt vegetarianism), vegetarian nutrition, and vegetarian resources
(including helpful books, magazines, organizations and Web sites).
[3] This book seems especially suited for a lay evangelical
(conservative) Christian audience, and would probably work well
in a Sunday school class that wanted to examine the issue of vegetarianism. It
could also be a short, simple, and helpful introduction for anyone
new to the concept of vegetarianism. The book would not be
particularly helpful to academic scholars who are already familiar
with some of the points they make, in large part because their arguments
are not detailed enough for a more scholarly audience. Obviously,
in a book this short, there is insufficient space to develop arguments
more fully.
[4] As a mostly practicing vegetarian, I am very sympathetic to
the thesis of their work. The chapter describing the problems with
modern industrialized farm-raising practices was one of the strongest
parts. For those not familiar
with the concept, it is eye-opening to see the problems associated
with raising animals for food. As for the appendices, the
one on vegetarian nutrition was especially helpful; it could serve
as a useful guide for anyone considering becoming a vegetarian—or
even for those already practicing—since one of the most difficult
tasks for prospective vegetarians is in making adjustments in their
traditional meat-based diet. Also, the appendix containing
resources for those interested in vegetarianism provides a number
of helpful suggestions for where to find additional information
to support this lifestyle change. Overall, while the book is a bit
short on theology, it is long on pragmatic helps for those interested
in a conversion to vegetarianism. This book has the potential
to contribute in some small measure to the wider decisions and actions
that need to be taken with regard to treating more humanely the
rest of the animals on the planet.
Donna Yarri
Alvernia College
Reading, Pennsylvania
donna.yarri@alvernia.edu
