Peter Singer-Animal Liberation

(BlackTrush) #1

Moreover,Godisexplicitlysaidtohavegivenmandominion
overeverylivingthing.Itistruethat,intheGardenofEden,
thisdominionmaynothaveinvolvedkillingotheranimalsfor
food.Genesis1:29suggeststhatatfirsthumanbeingslived
offtheherbsandfruitsofthetrees,andEdenhasoftenbeen
picturedasasceneofperfectpeace,inwhichkillingofany
kind wouldhavebeenoutofplace. Manruled,but inthis
earthly paradise his was a benevolent despotism.


Afterthefallofman(forwhichtheBibleholdsawomanand
an animal responsible), killing animals clearly was
permissible. Godhimself clothedAdam andEvein animal
skinsbeforedrivingthemoutoftheGardenofEden.Their
sonAbelwasakeeperofsheep andmadeofferingsof his
flockto theLord. Then came theflood, when therest of
creation was nearly wiped out to punish man for his
wickedness.WhenthewaterssubsidedNoahthankedGodby
makingburnt offerings“ofeveryclean beast,and ofevery
cleanfowl.”Inreturn,GodblessedNoahandgavethefinal
seal to man’s dominion:


AndGodblessedNoahandhissons,andsaiduntothem,Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.


Andthefearofyouandthedreadofyoushallbeuponevery
beastoftheearth,anduponeveryfowloftheair,uponall
thatmovethupontheearth,anduponallthefishesofthesea;
into your hands are they delivered.


Everymovingthingthatlivethshallbemeatforyou;evenas
the green herb have I given you all things.^2

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