Reverentia vitae. A reverence for life. This book will consist of biblical passages, prayers and author commentary on the ethos of a reverence for life. "For Our Friends the Animals" will explore the applicability of a reverence for life applied to mankind's treatment of animals in the 21st century. Many of the cited prayers and foundational ethos must be credited to Albert Schweitzer, although this book will also draw upon other sources for examples and guidance.
To provide a useful form and order, this booklet will provide training and background on the applicability and credibility of a reverence for life. We will locate this philosophy of universal love for all creatures within a holy, spiritual context. Once that context has been received and comprehended, at the conclusion of part one we will provide a pledge for all readers to sign and follow. This pledge will set forth the promise of each signatory to behave in particular ways regarding animals and life. The instruction, commentary, and signed pledge will serve as a document of completion affording the reader the opportunity to move on and participate in the second part. While this first section is intended to be mainly foundational in nature. The second part; while still predicated on passages, prayers, and commentary; will be more practical in outlook, outline several issues confronting us regarding animal rights and treatment, and provide ideas and proposed solutions to those problems.
This book is not aimed at any one religion. The goal is to reach and inspire all who may possess even a spark of compassion for animals in their hearts. While the spirit of Jesus will serve as a guide in this journey, ultimately each of us must find and tap into the vein of compassion that exists within us all. It is all who agree to follow and embark on this spiritual journey, regardless of denomination, to whom we reach out.
The commentary will touch on the varied and many forms of harm and degradation inflicted upon animals. We will address why such harm is at odds with spirituality, and we will argue and demonstrate that a reverence for life, admittedly imperfect, constitutes the last hope for human thought and action on this fragile planet. In the end, every reader will be persuaded of the usefulness and efficacy of a reverence for life and continue on the journey to themselves becoming a zealous proselyte and proselytizer for a reverence for life.
This book draws heavily upon the beliefs and writings of Dr. Schweitzer. As I interpret it, the good doctor's credo was comprised of two parts. The first part of our adjuration is to point out the need to respect life, all life, as a gift from God. Second, as the cited writings make clear, simple respect is the very minimum standard of behavior and involvement expected of humans. Stopping at respect without further development does not reach the level of solidarity with life that Dr. Schweitzer and others espouse. To live is to suffer, and all creatures suffer. While respect is the first step on our journey, care and compassion for God's creations is indicated if we humans are to progress. Just as we seek (and sometimes offer) care and compassion to and from other humans in times of difficulty, we are called to offer that same care and compassion to all animals, all life, as much as is humanly possible. Very few would argue that this is a perfect world, and often it does seem that nature is indeed "red in tooth and claw." All the more reason that compassion should be our watch.