MovieChat Forums > Death on a Factory Farm (2009) Discussion > The lawyers, the farmers. everyone invol...

The lawyers, the farmers. everyone involved was religious

posted 15 years ago by matahar
7 replies | jump to latest

How do they reconcile their sadistic treatment of livestock with their religious beliefs? It appeared that everyone in that community goes to church every Sunday--that arrogant, obnoxious, self-righteous lawyer who spoke about his seven children; the judge who overlooked the evidence; the organic farmer who supports animal cruelty so that he can"enjoy his pork sandwich for lunch"...When they go to church, does the minister, or the preacher quote these passages from the Bible?

Job 12:7
Ask the animals and they will teach you.

Psalm 50:10; 148:7-14
For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. Praise the lord from the earth you great sea creatures…wild animals and cattle, small creatures and flying birds…let them praise the name of the Lord for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. Praise the Lord!

Hosea 2:18
In that day I will make a covenant for them, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground….

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20
As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal…All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return…

"There's a lot of money in flowers."
Teddy Huffstodt

[–] russellsolomon 15 years ago

I Judeo-Christian belief systems, didn't it say in Genesis that Adam was placed in charge of the animals? Basically God said Adam was master of the animals. He could basically do with them as he pleased. Now I'm no theologist nor do I have a Bible handy (since I'm a Godless liberal). I did attend church regularly as a child and somewhere along the way I picked that up in regards to animals.

It has always bothered me though.

What makes an animal worthy of being treated humanely? Would you squish a roach? Would you kill lice infesting your childrens hair? Do you only save the cute ones (i.e. Mammals that are furry and most like us)?

This dilemma has bothered me since I was a child.

[–] matahar 15 years ago

I was actually fortunate enough to actually be raised as a godless atheist, back in the Dark Ages, when it had to be done secretly, so I got those quotes off the net.

I know that there are many contradictions in the Bible, but I think those quotes stand alone.

Yes, I think you should kill lice infesting your children's hair, crabs invading your...y'know and rats breeding in your urban apartment.

As for livestock, bred to become food, there are humane ways to raise them and to kill them. Dr. Temple Grandin, the autistic scholar, who eats meat herself, has devised many methods of non-traumatic ways of killing cattle and other livestock, and she consults with farmers and agri-business. I first read a profile of her in "The New Yorker", and since then, I have read all her self-penned books.

Big theological questions? I don't have any answers, except to wonder if a snake would be considered an animal (technically, it's an elongate legless carnivorous reptile, and I don't know how to define the talking variety).

But I do what I saw in that documentary--pure sadism mixed with misogyny. One senses strongly that if those animals had been male, they would have been regarded less contemptuously.

"There's a lot of money in flowers."
Teddy Huffstodt

[–] DakotaTrepanning 15 years ago

The bible is an absolute joke, most christians operate in an à la carte fashion where they pick and choose what they want to abide by, consequently it is interpreted many ways. The way that you present the quotes is valid to some, as certain christian organizations do interpret the excerpts to indicate that christians should be vegans. Here is a website to evince this;
http://www.all-creatures.org

[–] matahar 15 years ago

Interesting. Like I said, I'm the last person equipped to argue theology.

My point was that it was obvious that all those people were self-righteous, sanctimonious churchgoers (especially the lawyer w the seven children). I'm sure every Sunday they listen to sermons, sing hymns, study their Bibles...and then go out and torment and abuse animals as if it is their God-given right, when in fact, it is anything but.

"There's a lot of money in flowers."
Teddy Huffstodt

[–] richardmacdon 14 years ago

You're very sure about the actions of a large number of people solely based on the fact that they're religious.

"A prejudice is a preconceived belief, opinion, or judgment toward a group of people or a single person because of race, social class, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, political beliefs , religion, line of work or other personal characteristics. It also means a priori beliefs (without knowledge of the facts) and includes "any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence."[1] Although positive and negative prejudice both exist, when used negatively, "prejudice" implies fear and antipathy toward such a group or person"

"it was obvious..." "I'm sure..."

These are pretty loaded terms.

The lawyer was defending his client, he'll use any argument that may be persuasive and fitting to argue the case for his client. It doesn't means that he agrees with their actions, it could be just as well that a lawyer finds his clients actions appalling. He'll still defend his client as much as he can, believing that persons have the right to a fair trial.

[–] Caveman_otr 14 years ago

Genesis 1:26

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

[–] Stirchley 11 years ago

This documentary appalled me (I am a vegetarian), but where did the OP read into the documentary that everyone depicted was a churchgoer? I don't remember one instance of anyone mentioning religion.