Compassion in the West & East

As you go from West to East not only does the scenery and people change, but also people’s opinions and perspectives about animal change as well. Medieval thinkers said that “What really set people apart were their mental, and especially their spiritual, qualities.” (P.339) We should rethink our beliefs if what we are taught in is to support the brutal force humans’ use against defenseless animals. As the year progress the human race has continued to beat and kill animals into whatever it’s needed, food & entertainment. We’ve been so reckless in mistreating these poor creatures.



There many opposing position on the way animals should in fact be treated in,” The Western Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have created a dominantly human-focused morality...God above nature." (P.369) The importance of God is placed above the importance of anything else, including the treatment of animals. Some would argue that the bible is in favor of people using animals to whatever mean necessary, just read the passage in genesis.



In the East, “traditions of Confucianism and Taoism remain…in certain ways, some of the most life-affirming in the spectrum of world religions.” (P.370) Religion has been diverse and in accordance to what part of the world your living in, so as human shift from region to region our worlds view begin to change. But is our world changing for the better? According to Jainism, ahimsa (nonviolence) is the remedy for all miseries, sufferings, and cruelties of life…Vegetarianism.”(P.372) Those who follow Jainism are so strict in their beliefs that they even, “avoid the use of many varieties of vegetables as possible.” (P.372)

“Hindu scriptures tell us that the cow is a gift of the gods to the human race.” (P.375) It is considered the highest and most sacred gift bestowed upon humans. Their way of life tell them to protect cow and to hold them up to the highest respect possible.