When one introduces the topic of the ethics of meat eating, a
debate about religion will often follow. Scriptural texts will
be invoked either for or against the practice. In short order,
the diets of the Buddha, Muhammad, or Jesus will be considered.
Recently, the invocation of beloved environmental writers such
as Aldo Leopold has joined references to the traditional sacred
texts of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
Leopold — famous for proposing the concept of "thinking like a
mountain" — introduced the eco-centric view of a "land ethic."
The first-ever panel on Animals and Religion at the American
Academy of Religion was held in 1994, consisting of Andrew
Linzey, Catherine Keller, Paul Waldau, Jay McDaniels, and
myself. While the points made by the panelists were theological,
the discussions that followed ranged from the purpose of
"canine" teeth in humans to the defense that eating meat is
enjoyable. An audience member suggested to the panel that "It's
a dog-eat-dog world." Christian