Animal Testing- Perspective in Major World Religions

in #animals6 years ago


Animal testing is the use of non-human animals for experimentation, evaluation and monitoring in controlled laboratory circumstances for research purposes. Such research usually conducted in schools, universities, farms, pharmaceutical companies, commercial establishments, medical laboratories and industrial labs is provided as a service to researchers who develop human and animal behavioral action-interaction reports based on biology, genetics, toxicology and cosmetic testing.

Animal testing has been subject to numerous variances and has also long been a controversial issue in various societies, cultures, religions and philosophies. This is because of the skepticism and criticisms it faces due to difference in the belief system, ethical issues, moral concerns and virtuous dissimilarities. All these dissimilarities primarily signify religious differences which root all the differences in opinions, attitudes and beliefs regarding animal testing.

Islamic take on animal testing

In Islam, ethical issues raised by performing experimental testing on animals has been a long debate however, still there are a number of viewpoints that exist. Islam views animal testing as extremely painful and lethal which is no regard acceptable. It is in no terms justifiable under any circumstances. Furthermore, there is even more intense emphasis on the acts that particularly pose and unavoidable threat to the animal life or in other words, continuation of normal life after testing. Since all such acts cause undue pain, it is stated clearly by Islamic philosophers, leaders and scholars that no urgency of human needs validates or rationalizes any sort of calculated or uncalculated violence to these souls.

It has been affirmed by many Islamic scriptures, revelations as well as sayings of the Prophet that Islam clearly prohibits against animal cutting in particular when it results in agony, torture, distress and pain. Thus, this confirms that any interference with body of a live animal that results in disfigurement is clearly contrary to Islamic percepts.

Animal testing in Buddhism

On the other hand, in Buddhism, although practice of animal testing and experimentation is acknowledged, despite the teaching of peace, kindness, compassion and sympathy taught by Buddha. However, this religion justifies animal testing on logical grounds. It works on the doctrine of Karma which signifies that humans are reborn as animals which is itself a somber setback. Thus this bad karma makes animals inferior to human beings and this is why can be used to test and experiment cosmetics for human beings. However, they should not be harmed in term of life threat just because they have fewer rights than humans. The experiment should only be for a good purpose and also that they should be treated very kindly.

Animal testing in Christianity

In principles and teaching of Christianity, human experimentation and testing on animals is a domain of modern science that evokes immensely violent reaction and extreme contempt. It functions on three basic principles of Refining, Replacing and Reducing which also indicate a degree of animal suffering but to minimalistic level. It does not encourage animal testing but supports human benefit over animals similarly as Buddhism does. However, there is no concrete evidence in Christianity as there is in Islam that signifies how or to what level, experimentation is allowed thus many Christian researches can experiment on various animals including mice, rats, pigs, monkeys etc.
Nevertheless, animal testing is still viewed as an undesirable act in most regions of the world. It takes its basis from suffering agony and pain and can never be encouraged regardless of the religion.

Sort:  

we should avoid animal testing due to the abuse on the animals

I believe animals have human like consciousness. They might eat us, as we might eat them if we are hungry. But an animal would never experiment on a human.

I am Christian and vegan. Sadly, the two do not conjoin as much as I would like for them to. However, I believe that is due to the corruptive, sinful nature of man and not based on Biblical principles. The Old Testament tells us about animal sacrifice, but without a deep lesson in Christianity, the coming of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice of Himself ended the need for animal sacrifice. Their is no need for the exploitation of animals and scripture in Christianity does not promote mistreatment of animals or the earth, but there are those that do not see it as I do.

Hey, great article @sameer777. I too recently wrote an article an animal testing, and the philosophy that enabled it. Check it out on my blog, if you're interested.

This is absolutely beautiful from you boss @sameer777, better more to come boss..

Thats interesting....I would never have thought to look into other religions and their stance on animal handling and testing.

If for nothing more than interest sake I found that interesting.

Cheers

To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.

Brought to you by @tts. If you find it useful please consider upvote this reply.

Please bring some value, by recording using a human voice! Yes... this is a friendly challenge for your services @tts. I will be ready to upvote, if sucessfully done. :)

Interesting ideas @sameer777. Overall, the use of animal experimentation, though controversial, has brought tremendous benefits for humanity! It is very likely that the survival of the human species, will be totally dependent on our ability to rethink the way we are going to produce the huge demand namely for protein... for human consumption, in 2050... with the worldwide increase of population!... egoistic? human centered? too pragmatic?... Indeed! But a fact! Thanks for the insights!

From a neuroscience perspective... Pain & fear is the same in every creature. A knife in a throat feels the same for a human as for an animal. The anxiety/stress before dying is exactly the same for every specie.

So in my opinion we have to treat animals the same way we treat every other human being....

If the soul is the ability to love, be faithful and grateful, then animals have it more than many people do.

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.35
TRX 0.12
JST 0.040
BTC 70597.89
ETH 3559.60
USDT 1.00
SBD 4.77