Posted by Bob Janova at 1:36pm Jun 29 '11Broadly speaking the issues are:
- what rights do we give to animals? and
- is religion more important than other rights?
The Netherlands have been pretty clear on the second point: no. They want a secular, liberal Western state and religion can fit in around the laws, not the other way around. (I rather agree with that stance but that is for another thread.)
Most countries are vastly split on the first point, but generally have a concept of 'animal cruelty' that is generally illegal. If cutting an animal's throat and letting it die counts as animal cruelty in normal situations, it should do so in a religious environment too.
As an aside, I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that the rabbi you quoted went straight for the Godwin off the bat. Jews really need to learn how to debate without going straight to 'ANTI-SEMITIC!'.
- what rights do we give to animals? and
- is religion more important than other rights?
The Netherlands have been pretty clear on the second point: no. They want a secular, liberal Western state and religion can fit in around the laws, not the other way around. (I rather agree with that stance but that is for another thread.)
Most countries are vastly split on the first point, but generally have a concept of 'animal cruelty' that is generally illegal. If cutting an animal's throat and letting it die counts as animal cruelty in normal situations, it should do so in a religious environment too.
As an aside, I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that the rabbi you quoted went straight for the Godwin off the bat. Jews really need to learn how to debate without going straight to 'ANTI-SEMITIC!
This is a tough one - Bob Janova