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