Animal charities

[Sharp]

I like to support a charity which protects animals and advocates for their welfare.

A christian I know recently told me that we shouldn't support animal charities and should instead only give money to charities which help people. This person argued against the existence of animal-based charities altogether, saying that any effort and money that goes into charity should be for the purpose of assisting humans.

Do you guys agree with this?

I don't agree, for 2 reasons:

1. God gave us the world. I think God would want us to look after the animals.

2. I think every human being, regardless of their situation, can do something out of their own initiative and effort to improve their situation, even if it is only a mild improvement, even if it involves walking 10 days without food carrying three family members to get to another town. Animals in captivity don't have the same luxury.

Sometimes I feel more sympathy towards animals than humans, because animals that are being mistreated have no way to escape and did not at all contribute to their misery, whereas I think humans often have themselves to blame for their situation, or can be more proactive in solving their own problems.

What do you guys think? Should Christians donate to animal charities?

 

[Red_Tory]

"even if it involves walking 10 days without food carrying three family members to get to another town."

This often results in something called "death".

But God called humans to be the "stewards of the earth" and masters over animal life, no? As for "improving your lot", we face the grim reality that throughout most of the world you can try to move over to the next village, but it will still suck.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

I don't agree that it is easy for humans to improove their situations, if it was that easy, people wouldn't be living on the streets, doing hard drugs starving, killing etc...

However, as we were given the responsibility of the earth, I do believe this includes protecting the animals on it, too many humans take animals for granted and believe they can do anything to them, including starving them, chaining them up and never looking after them r beating them senseless. So animal welfare organizations are needed.... I see nothing wrong in supporting them. Even if you DID support someone helping humans many would disagree strongly about which one to support....

 

[Puddles]

Maybe this is more of a loophole, but when I think about it, it's not necessarily going straight to support animals ... it's that there are people who are trying to do something under difficult circumstances, and it is them asking for assistance.

So I think with that logic, it's ok, as in theory you're helping a person in need.

Secondly, God gave us dominion over animals, but they're are some people who quite frankly cannot be trusted. You're just undoing some of the damage done.

 

[FoxNewsGirl]

That's rather lame, I personally love animals, and would not mind helping them at all.

 

[Matthew]

I don't see anything wrong with animal charities, I am a firm believer in the idea that how we treat what's around us is a reflection of who we truly are, and when I see animals mistreated I feel the shame of it to be part of a people that would revel in the suffering of creatures that are defenceless.....so I am not sure what it says about the humanity of a person that would willingly allow that to continue.

I wouldn't go so far as to say christians should donate to animal charities, but I don't think there is a remotely credible reason not too.

 

[NodMyHeadLikeYeah]

someone should really donate some clippers to this thing ^

 

[lil-rush]

Sometimes I feel more sympathy towards animals than humans, because animals that are being mistreated have no way to escape and did not at all contribute to their misery, whereas I think humans often have themselves to blame for their situation, or can be more proactive in solving their own problems.

uhm... wow. So many people in misery did nothing to deserve it. Just because they can in theory potentially better themselves (unlike animals) does not mean they believe they can better themselves.

Yes, there are people who need to stop being lazy and just make a better life for themselves, but you cannot group everyone together like that.

What do you guys think? Should Christians donate to animal charities?

I don't think there is anything wrong with supporting animal charities, but I think that if someone is going to support an animal charity, that someone should definitely make sure he is giving to the widows and orphans(or soup kitchens, shelters, something of the sort) as well since the Bible actually tells us to take care of the widows and orphans, but says nothing about giving to animal charities.

 

[karuna]

A christian I know recently told me that we shouldn't support animal charities and should instead only give money to charities which help people. This person argued against the existence of animal-based charities altogether, saying that any effort and money that goes into charity should be for the purpose of assisting humans.

It's incorrect to say that you shouldn't support animal charities. At the very least, you are doing no harm. It would have been better to argue that there is an opportunity cost in supporting animal charities, that resources are better used in supporting human causes.

Frankly, the fact that your friend is using such black and white thinking makes me think (s)he's probably more concerned with being right than helping you get your money to the best causes. Any charitable person should be more concerned with rejoicing in another's desire to help out than being so strict about its expression.

1. God gave us the world. I think God would want us to look after the animals.

At the very least, unnecessary abuse of animals wounds our own dignity. While we don't have to act as servants to animals, humanity as a whole really treats them poorly. We have a while to go before we've reached a comfortable neutral. While some might not agree we should look after them, we should probably be able to agree that we want to avoid unnecessary harm.

Sometimes I feel more sympathy towards animals than humans, because animals that are being mistreated have no way to escape and did not at all contribute to their misery, whereas I think humans often have themselves to blame for their situation, or can be more proactive in solving their own problems.

Charity shouldn't be concerned with blame, in my opinion. After all, who is really in a worse situation? The person who accidentally fell into hardship or the person who indulged a tendency to get him there? If at the end of the day our goal is to do the most good, it may be better to help a person from intentionally walking into the same pits.

In other words, are we assigning blame or trying to do the most good? The two are often mutually exclusive.

What do you guys think? Should Christians donate to animal charities?

Christians should nurture whatever virtuous impulses they find within themselves and act wisely on them. Should Christians donate to animal charities? No, but this is because Christians are free from this sort of should.

 

[Sharp]

uhm... wow. So many people in misery did nothing to deserve it. Just because they can in theory potentially better themselves (unlike animals) does not mean they believe they can better themselves.

Yes, there are people who need to stop being lazy and just make a better life for themselves, but you cannot group everyone together like that.



I don't think there is anything wrong with supporting animal charities, but I think that if someone is going to support an animal charity, that someone should definitely make sure he is giving to the widows and orphans(or soup kitchens, shelters, something of the sort) as well since the Bible actually tells us to take care of the widows and orphans, but says nothing about giving to animal charities.

Yeah thats a good answer.

I just don't feel sorry for people as much as I do for animals.

The thing that annoys me more than most things in the world is when people who live in poverty decide to reproduce. And yes, without contraceptives its hard to 'decide', but then I think they need to take a step back and not have sexual intercourse. People may say that's mean - they have nothing, let them have their children, let their race continue. Personally, I think it's selfish. If I lived not knowing where my next meal would come from the last thing I would think of doing is bringing another person into the world to face the exact same situation. I'm not judging them and I know God foreknew every person. I just feel people are often being irresponsible, whereas animals are not.

I also think the concept behind our charity systems are flawed. We spend billions feeding the Africans and central americans. It is inefficient, and our money perpetuates their suffering as they come to rely on foreign aid. What the wealthy nations need to be doing is colonising these countries. I know it didn't work in the past, but that's because it was brutal and done for selfish reasons. I think alot of these countries have demonstrated to the world that they clearly can't look after themselves. But we can, so I think we should occupy their countries and look after them, instead of throwing money and food at them. Integrate them into our way of life. Our countries would become wealthier via territorial expansion and natural resources and theirs would benefit from being part of our countries which have found the winning formula. Its a win-win situation.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

colonising wont help

what would help is

removing rich leaders who use money but don't let the country have any benefits (because they want the money themselves)
removing groups who exploit others
giving them EQUIPMENT they need, not money (that the rich ones take anyway) ...and... the charities take most of the money themselves, in "costs"
the LET THEM HELP THEMSELVES

 

[Planetshaker]

God made such beautiful creatures for us on this earth we should take care of them!

 

[Sharp]

colonising wont help

what would help is

removing rich leaders who use money but don't let the country have any benefits (because they want the money themselves)
removing groups who exploit others
giving them EQUIPMENT they need, not money (that the rich ones take anyway) ...and... the charities take most of the money themselves, in "costs"
the LET THEM HELP THEMSELVES

But rich leaders, when they are deposed, will be replaced by other leaders who will become rich by exploiting their people. This cycle needs to be broken. And I think in some poor countries generations of people have lived and died not knowing how to help themselves. I don't think they can.

 

[wwjd_kilden]

And what stops the colonizers from doing the same thing?

 

[1still_waters]

I think we have to be careful of falling in to the spirit of this age that gets more emotional over an animal suffering than babies being killed through abortion every day. The spirit of this age elevates the worth of animals over the worth of humans which are created in God's image. Anything that lifts animals over something created in God's image, in fact creates an idol. So be careful of that.

That being said, there are verses about caring for animals....

Proverbs 12:10
10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Exodus 23
11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Exodus 23
5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.

So you have to contrast the spirit of this age's care for animals vs the Spirit of God within you and the desire to care for animals.

The spirit of this age does it maybe to compensate for the areas of their life they are failing God in. They exalt animals over humans who are created in God's image.

The caring of animals under the Spirit of God does it out of the overflow of a righteous, caring, loving heart that is acting based on fruits implanted spiritually by the Spirit of God.

 

[Sharp]

Best answer yet Still_waters, thanks for that.



As much as people annoy me and as much as I like animals, I've gotta do what God says in looking after widows and orphans.

I'm just not sure yet whether to give to animal charities at all, because in doing so I suppose I would be taking potential money away from people charities. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......

 

[erika83]

Sharp, I can so relate to what you were saying. I’ve been accused of having more compassion over animals than people sometimes, which I don’t think it’s true but it’s so hard to know people’s motives while animals are so sincere that if you see one in misery you can be sure it isn’t acting. I cannot say the same about people, we have so many gypsy beggars here that fake some problems (limb problems, being deaf) just to get some money which they spend on alcohol. Or worse when kids beg you are moved to give them but they are often just exploited by adults, they make money for their daily alcohol and cigarettes. So you don’t even know sometimes who to give to or what and when.

Back to the animals, unfortunately we have lots of street dogs and cats in Romania and I’m feeding some daily, I don’t think this means I find them more important than humans, it’s just I don’t see hungry people in front of my home but I come across hungry animals all the time J and I have a soft heart for them.

I totally agree with stillwaters that we are not to exalt animals over humans but helping them is certainly not a sin, and they are often happy for a piece of bread too (here at least).

 

[nobadee]

I like to support a charity which protects animals and advocates for their welfare.

A christian I know recently told me that we shouldn't support animal charities and should instead only give money to charities which help people. This person argued against the existence of animal-based charities altogether, saying that any effort and money that goes into charity should be for the purpose of assisting humans.

Do you guys agree with this?

I don't agree, for 2 reasons:

1. God gave us the world. I think God would want us to look after the animals.

2. I think every human being, regardless of their situation, can do something out of their own initiative and effort to improve their situation, even if it is only a mild improvement, even if it involves walking 10 days without food carrying three family members to get to another town. Animals in captivity don't have the same luxury.

Sometimes I feel more sympathy towards animals than humans, because animals that are being mistreated have no way to escape and did not at all contribute to their misery, whereas I think humans often have themselves to blame for their situation, or can be more proactive in solving their own problems.

What do you guys think? Should Christians donate to animal charities?

99% of all lifeforms have become extinct, since the beginning of the first living cell. Human beings are foolish and arrogant if they believe they can stop a critter from dying off.

Some people have this delusion that we should be playing God with the world. All the spare change and battery powered cars in the world aren't going to stop nature's fury. My suggestion is take all the pictures you can; because, if they aren't going to adapt to the ever changing world, they are going to be toast.

p.s. Its comedy when people believe we should worry more about making peace with the squirrels, rather than solving our differences with the rest of humanity. They certainly have their priorities in order...not.

 

[Matthew]

99% of all lifeforms have become extinct, since the beginning of the first living cell. Human beings are foolish and arrogant if they believe they can stop a critter from dying off.

Some people have this delusion that we should be playing God with the world. All the spare change and battery powered cars in the world aren't going to stop nature's fury. My suggestion is take all the pictures you can; because, if they aren't going to adapt to the ever changing world, they are going to be toast.

Many animal charities aren't going to their work with the belief they can prevent extinction, but maybe it's more about preventing an early and unnecessary demise due in part to human activity.

There is no 'delusion' involved as many people involved with, and supportive of animal charities are doing so primarily with the aim of preventing abuse, which is far too common among pet owners and animal farmers etc...

As far as animals adapting to the ever changing world, well sometimes the world changes a lttle too fast for those living on it, humans included and when that happens there's nothing wrong with showing a little compassion and trying to help and save them, it's not quite the same as trying to defy nature.

Plus there is a certain thing called the circle of life and human life does in some ways depend on the activity and interaction of animals and insects, so to take care of them is to take care of ourselves.

 

[nobadee]

Many animal charities aren't going to their work with the belief they can prevent extinction, but maybe it's more about preventing an early and unnecessary demise due in part to human activity.

There is no 'delusion' involved as many people involved with, and supportive of animal charities are doing so primarily with the aim of preventing abuse, which is far too common among pet owners and animal farmers etc...

As far as animals adapting to the ever changing world, well sometimes the world changes a lttle too fast for those living on it, humans included and when that happens there's nothing wrong with showing a little compassion and trying to help and save them, it's not quite the same as trying to defy nature.

Plus there is a certain thing called the circle of life and human life does in some ways depend on the activity and interaction of animals and insects, so to take care of them is to take care of ourselves.

Oh trust me, nature is going to take care of people. ha ha It has a way of cleaning up messes on it's own.

btw, I didn't mean to sound so blunt; I just feel people should focus on getting people to start acting right before we start trying to tame all the chipmunks out there. Kind of hard to convince the world to stop beating their dogs when they have no problem committing genocide. Why not start at the source of the problem right?