“Animal-rights activists are using religious messages to recruit a segment of the millennial generation that has little doctrinal anchor, in order to advance their vegetarian agenda,” said Wes Jamison, an ordained Baptist minister and associate professor of communications at Palm Beach Atlantic University, addressing participants at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 8th Annual Stakeholders Summit, held this week in Alexandria, Va.
Jamison explained that two major factors are driving animal-rights groups’ attempts to engage people of faith. The first is that people motivated by religion tend to give generously, which is an important factor to the $400 million-a-year animal-rights industry. The second reason is that people motivated by religious zeal tend to have sustained intensity over time. This is a critical feature lacking from the current animal-rights movement, since many vegans and vegetarians tend to eventually return to an omnivorous diet.
Grumpy From Birth But Vegan Since 1976
Welcome to Grumpy Vegan
- Kim Stallwood is an independent scholar and author on animal rights. His forthcoming book, Animal Dharma, explores what it means to care deeply about animals. Starting in 1976, he has held leadership positions with some of the world’s foremost organisations in the UK and US, including CIWF, BUAV, PETA, The Animals’ Agenda, Animals and Society Institute and Minding Animals International. A vegetarian since 1974 when as a student he worked in a chicken slaughterhouse. A vegan since 1976. His evil twin is the Grumpy Vegan.
