Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone and I'd like to welcome you to this RE lesson today on the use of animals for food, and this is part of a unit on religion and life.

In today's lesson, you're going to explain Christian views on using animals for food, including biblical and ethical perspectives.

Some keywords that we'll be using today are humane, stewardship and vegetarianism.

So humane means showing compassion, kindness and care for others, particularly in the treatment of animals or people.

Stewardship is a duty given by God to humankind to look after the created world and all life within it.

A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, but may consume other animal products like dairy or eggs.

There will be two parts to your lesson today.

We'll be looking at attitudes towards using animals for food and we'll be looking at Christian teachings on using animals for food.

So let's get started on attitudes towards using animals for food.

There are many ways in which humans use animals.

For food, for medical research, for clothing, for work, for entertainment and as companions.

Perhaps you can think of some more.

Andeep and Laura are discussing some ethical questions about the status and value of animals.

Andeep asks, "Do you think animals have rights?" Laura replies, "I think so, and this is why I'm not sure about whether we should use them for entertainment.

Keeping them in zoos can be cruel.

What do you think about the value of animals?" Andeep says, "I think animals are valuable, but I value humans more.

This is why I think we can use animals in ways that benefit humans, for example, by testing medicines on them." So what do you think might have influenced Laura and Andeep's views on these particular uses of animals? If you are able to turn and talk to someone nearby, please do or you can pause and talk to me and then come back when you're ready.

Someone's view on whether humans can use animals would depend on how they balance the idea of the intrinsic worth of animals and the extrinsic worth or value.

So the extrinsic value of animals is important to someone if they think that animals have value because of what they can do for us.

So these people who value them extrinsically are much more likely to eat meat and to accept uses of animals, such as animal experimentation.

However, if the intrinsic value of animals is more important, someone's much less likely to eat meat and maybe won't accept animal experimentation.

So that means that they're valuing animals in themselves and not just because of how they benefit people.

In reality, for many people, the intrinsic and extrinsic value are equally important.

So they might, for example, eat meat, because they do value animals for the benefit they give to humans, but they might also support the intrinsic worth of animals.

So the meat will come from an ethical source.

They might only support humane and what they consider to be very necessary animal experimentation.

So let's check your understanding.

Give one use of animals.

So take a moment to jot down a suggestion.

Pause the video if you need to and come back when you're ready to check.

So you could have said food, research, as in medical research, clothing, work, entertainment or companionship amongst many possible options.

Well done if you picked out one of those.

In 2016, there was a survey which asked Americans about their eating habits.

Let's have a look at some of the data.

So 9% of US adults counted themselves as strictly vegetarian or vegan, and this then was categorised by age group.

We had 12% in the 18 to 29 bracket, 12% in the 30 to 49, 5% in 50 to 64 and 5% in 65 plus.

Have a look at the data.

What is it telling us about the consumption of meat in America? Pause and have a discussion with someone nearby or you can talk to me and come back when you are ready.

So you will have noticed that most Americans eat meat and perhaps that the younger you are, the more likely you are to be vegetarian or vegan.

So why might this be? Well, it could be that the younger you are, you might have a greater awareness of animal welfare as a current issue, environmental concerns and health benefits, and this could well be due to things like the pressure of social media or your peers.

In 2020, a survey asked Indians about their eating habits and this was organised on the basis of whether they're vegetarian or vegan and whether they had restrictions on eating meat.

So overall, 39% of Indians are vegetarian or vegan and 81% have restrictions on eating meat.

And there were differences between religions.

So with Hindus, we had 44% vegetarian or vegan, with Muslims, 8%, Christians 10%, Sikhs, 59%, Buddhist 25% and Jains, 92%.

And you can see in the right-hand column the varying levels of restrictions on eating meat.

So I'd like you to take a look at that data.

What is it telling us? What's it showing about the difference between the numbers of vegetarians in America and in India? Pause the video, have a discussion with someone nearby if you can and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So you probably said that people living in India are more likely to be vegetarian.

But why is this? What could account for the difference? So take a moment to have a discussion again if you can.

Pause the video and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So it's quite possible looking at the difference in religious approaches here that people living in India are perhaps influenced by cultural or religious differences.

So let's check your understanding using some of that data.

So in the US, we have 9% vegetarian or vegan and in India, 39%.

What does this data suggest? Is it A, that religious and cultural beliefs in India may encourage more people to be vegetarian or vegan? Is it B, people in the US are more likely to avoid eating meat compared to people in India? Or is it C, that there is no difference in food choices between the US and India? Pause if you need to, take a moment to jot down your answer and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put A.

So it seems to be that probably religious and cultural beliefs are what are making the difference in India.

If you wanted to find out someone's attitude towards using animals for food, you could ask them some questions like these.

So first you might ask them, "Do you eat meat?" So if they say yes, we are going to move on to question three.

And if they say no, we're gonna move to question two.

So let's imagine first of all that they say no.

You could then ask them, "Do you consume other animal-based products?" If at this point they said yes, you would be able to describe them probably as vegetarian, and if they said no, as a vegan.

Now, remember that question one.

You said, "Do you eat meat?" Perhaps they said yes, so we'll move to question three.

So you could then ask them, "Do you avoid some meat for religious, cultural or ethical reasons?" Now, if they say yes to this, they have religious, cultural or ethical meat consumption.

In other words, they might limit the meat that they eat for various reasons.

And if they say no, you could describe them as an omnivore, which means that they will eat both meat and vegetable-based products.

So when this survey was done on Jun, he answered no to the question, "Do you eat meat?" And he's now answering the question, "Do you consume other animal-based products?" Jun says, "I don't eat meat, but I do consume some animal-based products, like milk and eggs.

I'm vegetarian, because I don't believe animals should have to die for us to eat, but I still eat things like dairy and eggs, because they don't involve killing animals." So let's have a look at Jun's argument.

He gives an argument against eating meat.

He says, "I don't believe animals should have to die first us to eat." But it also puts in an argument that shows how it's okay or acceptable to eat other animal products and that's because they don't involve killing animals.

So let's look at a different approach to this question.

Sophia answered no to question one, "Do you eat meat?" And she's now answering the question, "Do you consume other animal based products?" She says, "I'm vegan, which means I avoid things like milk, cheese, eggs and honey, because I believe it's wrong to use animals for food or products.

I think animals deserve to live without being exploited and I also believe eating plant-based is better for the environment and for my health." So let's have a look at Sophia's argument.

First of all, she gives an argument against eating any animal products.

She says, "Animals deserve to live without being exploited." And then she gives a second argument, which is that plant-based is actually better for the environment and for health.

So let's look at what Laura has to say on this.

She answered yes to the question, "Do you eat meat?" And she's now answering the question, "Do you avoid some meat for religious, cultural or ethical reasons?" Laura says, "I only eat meat if it's from sustainable sources and if the animals have been treated well.

Meat is a natural and healthy part of a balanced diet and it provides important nutrients.

However, I also believe it's important to respect animals and the environment." So let's have a look at her point of view.

First of all, she gives an argument for eating meat.

It's a natural and healthy part of a balanced diet, but she does give an argument for limiting which meat is eaten and that is that she should respect animals and environment.

So she makes sure that each meat is from ethical, sustainable sources.

Let's have a look at how Rafi answered these questions.

He responded yes to the question, "Do you eat meat?" And he's now answering the question, "Do you avoid some meat for religious, cultural or ethical reasons?" Rafi says, "I'm an Orthodox Jew, so I only eat kosher meat.

This means I avoid pork and shellfish and the animals must be slaughtered in a specific way.

I eat meat, because it's allowed in my faith and tradition.

I also don't mix meat and dairy in the same meal, which is another rule of keeping kosher." So let's have a look at what Rafi has got to say.

So he gives an argument for limiting which meat is eaten and that is based on his faith, which is Orthodox Judaism.

And he also gives an argument for eating meat and again, for him it's based on his faith that in his tradition it is allowed.

So let's check your understanding.

Sophia says, "For breakfast, I ate a bowl of porridge made with almond milk." Which is Sophia most likely to be? Sophia is most likely to be A, a vegetarian, B, a pescetarian, C, a vegan or D in omnivore? Take your time to choose what you think is the correct answer, pause the video and come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put C, a vegan.

She wasn't using any kind of animal product at all.

So she's perhaps most likely to be a vegan.

So for your task number one, part A, I'd like you to consider the statement, "No one should use animals for food." Look at the arguments in the table below and note whether each one supports the statement, so it's an argument for or opposes it, it's an argument against.

Eating animals is unnecessary for health.

Humans have always eaten meat.

Farming animals causes environmental harm.

Animals feel pain and suffering.

Animal-based foods are more affordable.

Meat provides important nutrients.

So take your time, decide whether it's for or against and when you have finished, come back and check your answers.

Pause the video.

So let's have a look at what you could have said.

Eating animals is unnecessary for health is an argument for.

So it's saying you don't need to eat meat.

Humans have always eaten meat is an argument against.

Farming animals causes environmental harm is an argument for, suggesting that we can protect environment by eating less meat.

Animals feel pain and suffering is also an argument for.

Animal-based foods are more affordable is an argument against and meat provides important nutrients is also an argument against.

Well done if you manage to sort those arguments into the correct columns.

So for part two of our task, the arguments to support the statement, "No one should use animals for food," have been developed into a paragraph as an example.

Many people believe that no one should use animals for food, because it's unnecessary for health.

A well-balanced plant-based diet can provide all the nutrients we need without harming animals.

Farming animals also causes significant environmental damage including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.

Moreover, it is not humane to use animals for food as they feel pain and suffer.

Given these health, environmental and ethical reasons, it's argued that we don't need to rely on animals for our diets.

So for your task, I'd like you to develop the arguments for a different view into a paragraph.

Pause the video, take as long as you need and then come back when you're ready to see what you might have written.

You could have said, "Some argue that eating animals is justifiable, because humans have always eaten meat and it's part of our cultural and historical tradition.

For many people, meat is also a more affordable source of nutrition, especially in areas where plant-based options are less accessible or more expensive.

Additionally, meat provides important nutrients, like protein and vitamins that can be harder to obtain from a plant-based diet without careful planning.

These factors suggest that eating animals may still be a practical and necessary choice for some." So well done if you manage to include any of those arguments in your paragraph.

So let's move on to the second part of our lesson, Christian teachings on using animals for food.

Christians try to answer questions such as, "Should we use animals for food?" by consulting sources of authority such as the Bible, church teachings and they might also use their conscience and reason which they see as God-given gifts and consider non-religious arguments as well whilst they work out what to do.

It's worth remembering that Christians may interpret the sources differently or they may emphasise one more than another.

So let's look at Bible teachings as a source of wisdom and authority.

In Genesis 1:29, God spoke to Adam and Eve, the first humans.

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole Earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.

They will be yours for food." So this might suggest that God's original plan was that people should only eat plants.

And then we find later in Genesis, in chapter nine verse three, that God spoke to Noah after the flood and at this point he said, "Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you, just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." And this shows a change in how humans relate to animals.

Meat is now allowed for survival, reflecting God's care for humanity.

Proverbs 12 verse 10 says, "The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Now, the righteous of those who live by moral principles and they're the ones who treat animals humanely, according to this verse.

In contrast, even the kindest actions of the wicked are cruel.

So in other words, the way that we treat animals actually reflects our moral character, according to this quotation.

Let's check your understanding.

Is this true or false? The Bible says that Noah and his descendants can eat meat.

Have a think about your answer, pause the video.

Also think about why you have come to that decision.

Come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put true.

Let's have a think about why.

Well, in Genesis nine verse three, God tells Noah and his descendants that they can eat meat, saying, "Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.

Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." So this marks the permission for people to eat meat after the flood and they can now expand their diet beyond just a plant-based diet.

Most Christian denominations accept the use of animals for food.

So we have here Catholic, Orthodox, Methodists and Anglicans who would all accept eating animals as part of God's provision, but they would stress humane treatment through the idea of stewardship.

So as an example, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly.

So this translates into the view that we could eat meat, but that we should do so with care and consideration.

And so most Christians are using animals for food.

Moving to the left of our spectrum, we have Quakers.

Now, they believe in the testimony of compassion and this encourages kindness and respect for all living beings and it aligns also with their commitment to nonviolence.

So for many Quakers, they choose a vegetarian or plant-based diet to reduce harm to animals and to live more sustainably.

So it's not a rule for Quakers, but you do find that many Quakers are vegetarian.

And moving more over towards the left to not using animals for food, we have the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Now, this church does teach that eating animals is permissible, but it actually encourages a vegetarian or plant-based diet, and there are a number of reasons for this, health, ethical and environmental.

So they often think about the teaching in Genesis 1:29 when God told Adam and Eve that they could use the plants for food and they believe that God intended a plant-based diet originally.

And because they're very interested in health, they would also recognise health benefits and the environmental impact of meat production.

So although you don't have to be vegetarian if you're Seventh Day Adventist, it's perhaps much more likely that you would be.

Fiona and Fergus are both Anglicans and they're discussing their views on the use of animals as food.

Fiona says, "I believe that eating animals is acceptable as part of what God has provided for us, but we should be mindful of how we treat them, ensuring that they are raised and slaughtered humanely." Fergus says, "Although my church teaches it is permissible to eat meat, I'm a vegetarian, because I believe it aligns with stewardship by showing respect for animals.

For me, it's not just about following what my faith teaches.

It's important to think about arguments related to the ethical and environmental impact of eating meat." So whilst Fergus and Fiona are both Christians, both Anglicans, they're interpreting teachings in a slightly different way, putting more emphasis on different arguments.

Richard is a Seventh Day Adventist and he is explaining his view on the use of animals as food.

He says, "I avoid meat, because following the teachings of my church, I believe it's healthier and aligns with stewardship, caring for both the Earth and animals.

It's also a way to honour God's creation by following a plant-based diet." So which denomination encourages a more plant-based diet? Let's check your understanding.

Is it A, Seventh Day Adventism? Is it B, Roman Catholicism? Is it C, Methodist or D, Anglicanism? Take a moment, choose what you think is the correct answer, pause if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you put A.

The answer is Seventh Day Adventism.

So for task B, Sophia has been asked to answer the question, "Explain two different religious beliefs about the use of animals as food." She has made some mistakes and I would like you to rewrite her answer with corrections.

Sofia has used the point develop structure to write her answer.

So she begins, "Some Christians believe eating animals is permissible as Genesis 1:29 teaches God told Adam and Eve he had provided them for food.

They emphasise stewardship, believing we can exercise the power to cause suffering to animals in order to benefit humans." She goes on, "Most Christians, such as Seventh Day Adventists, are likely to be :vegetarian or vegan, because their church tells them they must follow a plant-based diet.

This is based on health reasons and from Genesis 9:3 where God told Noah he could not eat meat." So look carefully at her answer.

Use the same structure as her, but make the necessary corrections.

So rewrite her answer with corrections.

Take your time, pause the video and come back when you're ready to see what you might have written.

You could have said, "Most Christians believe eating animals is permissible, as in Genesis 9:3 God told Noah He had provided them for food.

However, they emphasised stewardship and humane treatment, believing it's wrong to cause unnecessary suffering to animals.

Some Christians, such as Seventh Day Adventists, are more likely to be vegetarian or vegan, because their church encourages a plant-based diet.

This is based on health reasons and on Genesis 1:29 where God told Adam and Eve He had provided plants as food.

This suggests that God originally intended humans to eat plants." So well done if you rewrote her answer to explain that most Christians actually do eat meat, but that we do have others who may not, and if you managed to get those Bible verses the right way round as well.

In today's lesson on the use of animals for food, we have learned that animals are used for food, research, clothing, work and companionship.

And that views on their use depend on whether they are seen as having intrinsic or extrinsic value, that many Christians allow eating animals, Genesis 9:3, but stress stewardship and humane treatment, that some Christians promote plant-based diets, citing Genesis 1:29 as God's original intention.

Most Christians, Catholic and Protestant accept eating animals with ethical treatment.

Seventh State Adventists encourage vegetarianism.

Christians may use their conscience, reason and biblical teachings to guide their views on using animals.

Thank you for your hard work on working through this lesson with me today.