Should the Religous Slaughter of Animals be Banned?

[Nitrus]

The debate about animal slaughter is controversial. Animal welfare activists campaign for only the most ‘humane’ methods of slaughter to be used when killing animals for meat. Some states – such as Switzerland and Sweden – already restrict the practice of religious slaughter. The UK’s Farm Animal Welfare Council recently proposed that religious methods of slaughter, such as the Jewish shechita and the Islamic dhabh, be banned because they caused severe and unnecessary suffering to the animal before death. Defenders of the practice of religious slaughter dispute both the factual claim – that such slaughter causes excessive suffering – and the right of a country to legislate against their religious practices.

What do you think?

-N

[Alonzo]

There are a few laws that should remain in place regardless of religious beliefs. Anything that causes harm to sentient life, which is not involved in the religion, should not be given religious exceptions.

If we were talking about private issues between only members of that religion then exceptions should be made.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

If that's the case you'd have to outlaw kosher and halal diets entirely as the slaughter of their meat products is not humane by the standards you've set forth.

[Alonzo]

If that's the case you'd have to outlaw kosher and halal diets entirely as the slaughter of their meat products is not humane by the standards you've set forth.


Considering the fact he mentioned the required slaughter methods for halal and kosher meat, I think that's obvious.

I think serious work needs to be done in normal farms, so I'm not going to accept worse conditions if I have any say in the matter. These animals are not members of the religion, and should not suffer due to such laws.

These methods were humane, relative to other methods, in the past. They may very well avoid some of the suffering found in modern factory farming, but that's due to issues with the farm itself. When laws are followed, and methods are used properly, modern methods are more humane.

[Athena]

I am repulsed by religious beliefs that dictate animal suffering! Something is seriously wrong with a God wanting such a thing.

[Old Corps Gunny]

Athena states she is repulsed by religious beliefs that dictate animal suffering. I recall reading one of her posts where she made several posts regarding karma. Perhaps she is a Buddhist, whereupon the taking of any life would be abhorrent. The religious dietary laws should not be subject to the whims of animal welfare activists.

[Labrocca]

Bring on the meat! You are killing the animal...there isn't ANYTHING humane about that. Kill it and eat it I say. How it dies doesn't really matter to me. What's next...don't squash bugs or you will be fined.

[Nathan Brazil]

There's more to it than that.

Should animals be slaughtered so that the entrails can be "read"? That's sheerest nonsense, of course.

So the jews have a magical method of killing meat animals so they don't become corrupt? What's wrong with the steel rod through the brain? Frankly, the Deuteronomic dietary laws are based on the empirical experiences of some very ignorant tribal leaders. They're out of date and pure nonsense.

Want to stop the ignoranced based cruel slaughter of animals? Work to eliminate the ignorance.

But trying to curtail what many see as their religious freedom will only lead to obstinancy, war, and death.

Personally, I happily thank Mary Tyler Moore for helping to lower the price of lobster by making stupid people feel sorry for the things every time I drop one living squirming sea roach into the boiling water.

[Alonzo]

We should not be subjecting animals to unneccessary cruelty on the whims of religious groups. No laws should be in place to allow increased suffering to those who do not make a conscious decision to allow themselves to suffer. Killing the animal is an unfortunate reality, all attempts should be made to do it in a manner that minimizes suffering.

We would be horrified if a 2 month old human was sacrificed, but an animal that is far superior in intelligence, awareness etc. should not be fair game. There's a distinction from accepting some animals will suffer, to allowing that suffering to increase just to please some religious group.