Animal Ministries doing great work - Vegetarian groups
Listed Alphabetically, not by faith.
For a list of recommended books on Ethical Vegetarianism, click here.
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Reflections on Animals Rights by a Franciscan Episcopal Priest. A treasure trove of multi-faith scriptural support for vegetarians, along with a history of the church and many vegetarian resources painstakinly collected into one great website. Rev. Rebecca tells her own story of spiritual growth and compassion, as well. This is a wonderful site, of interest to people of any faith.
A web site sponsored by: The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation. A treasure-trove of links, vegetarian recipes, articles, readings, opinions, humor, and everything else you can think of for spiritual animal lovers. You could get lost here! www.all-creatures.org/
James Thompson’s quest for Christian truth based on a biblical foundation, has led him to minister in several major denominations of the UK. Pastor James wants to see a Christianity becoming as herbivorous as the original Paradise. Pastor James wants to see worship as inclusive today as in a future Paradise where representatives of the animal kingdom are figuratively portrayed as leading the worship of the redeemed in Glory. Yes, a future Kingdom foretold where the lion eats straw like the ox and a little child – the One with a palm branch in his hand! – becomes the focal point. For then it will be that the earth shall be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. http://www.all-creatures.org/ap/index.html
What is the role of animals in the main religions ? Find out here. This site also lists reasons for becoming a vegetarian, anti-vivesection resources, and much more. Animal Rights Concern www.animalsuffering.com/religion.html
And God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so." ~God, Genesis 1:29-30. Form more, go to www.thenazareneway.com/index_vegetarian.htm
This organization is dedicated to promoting spiritual evolution towards a more peaceful, compassionate, and just world. This site's authors encourage visitors to join us on a quest as old as humankind. We seek a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives, which promises to liberate us from the hardships of human existence and give us inner peace, perhaps even joy. We agree with Leo Tolstoy, who recognized that the path to personal liberation involves dedicating one's life to simplicity, goodness, and truth. To stay on (or at least near) this path requires wisdom, and this pursuit of life-enhancing knowledge, we believe, is a spiritual quest. Following the teachings of nearly all great spiritual leaders, we are convinced that we can only find inner peace when we are at peace with the rest of creation, and therefore we entitle this site "biospirituality." http://www.vegsource.com/biospirituality/main.html
To promote biblically based Christian compassion and stewardship toward God’s animal creation through Bible studies, lectures, articles and animal rights advocacy. To promote life-changing relationships with Jesus Christ based on the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). Enhancing the Christian’s walk through encouragement of compassion and stewardship toward God’s animal creation using Bible studies, lectures, articles and animal rights advocacy. Supporting activities of, and working alongside, organizations with a heart for animals so those involved will know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
C.A.R.E. is a Christian ministry designed to liberate animals from suffering by recognizing and promoting their rights amongst believers in Christ. C.A.R.E.'s mission is to inform other Christians of the following two teachings of God.
(1) Humans and animals are equal and mankind has no advantage over the beasts. (Eccles. 3:19)
(2) All professing Christians are to be vegetarians. In accordance with this teaching, Saint Paul says: "I will never eat meat any more, for I will not be the cause of my brothers' downfall." "The right thing to do is to keep from eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that will make other believers fall." (1st Cor. 8:13 & Romans 14:21 NEB & TEV) www.all-creatures.org/care.html
For a number of religious animal ministries, inhumane factory farming methods are seen as a tragedy for animals used as food. The Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) advocates nutritious plant-based diets in the global Christian community. Through publications, websites, and related public information campaigns, we educate people about the distinct health, environmental, and animal-related advantages of plant-based eating. www.christianveg.org
A sanctuary for people who believe that God's unlimited love and compassion needs to be extended beyond ourselves to the animals and to the environment. Just as Jesus Christ died to free us from the sin and death of this world, so are we, in Christ, to work to free the rest of God's creation from the corruption we and our fellow human beings have brought upon this earth. Please write to us with your thoughts and concerns. flh@all-creatures.org
Official website for Author Keith Akers. A web site for people interested in simple living, nonviolence, vegetarianism, and spiritual concerns. If your group wants to hear Keith Akers speak, send an email to: keith @ compassionatespirit.com. www.compassionatespirit.com/index.htm
The Fellowship of Life is a Christian-based vegetarian group founded in 1973. It arose from the aspirations of disenchanted churchgoers in the U.K. Our aim is to establish vegetarianism as a Christian way of life and unite believers of all religions, or none, in a lifestyle which neither hurts nor destroys needlessly any part of creation; human, animal or environmental. www.all-creatures.org
Our mission is to light the way to the kingdom of God by promoting compassion for all animals. All of creation is groaning in labor pains waiting for the revelation of the children of God - hoping to be set free from slavery to corruption (see Romans 8:19-22). Jesus came to set the captive free. He is holding all things together (see Col. 1:15-17) until He comes again in glory. Since God is compassionate to every creature (Psalm 145:9), GCM strives to spread His compassion to all He has made. There will be a time when all animals will live peaceably together and there will be no more suffering (Is. 65:25). This is God's will on Earth as it is in Heaven. Being His adopted children and made in His image, we follow His commission to be caretakers for all of His creation (see Gen. 1:26, 28).
GCM promotes a healthy lifestyle, remembering that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:19). Most diseases are a result of poor diet and living outside of God's will morally and physically. www.all-creatures.org/gcm/mission.html
Humane Religion is a bi-monthly publication printed under the auspices of Viatoris Ministries. We are committed to providing scriptural support, and encouragement, to those who have been called to be part of the spiritual evolution that is manifesting itself among those who understand that love and compassion must be the hallmark of our relationship with all God's creatures. VIATORIS MINISTRIES is a Christian publication and resource ministry. Contact us by: Mail: P.O. Box 25354, Sarasota, FL 34277. Phone: 941-924-8887. Fax: 941-925-9636. Click Here to E-Mail Us
The purpose of The Jewish Vegetarian and Ecological Society (JVS) is to promote the practice of vegetarianism within the Judaic tradition, and explore the relationship between Judaism, dietary laws, and vegetarianism. Why? Because the original food for people is ordered in Genesis 1:29, "Behold I give you every herb-bearing seed and the fruit of every seed-bearing tree for you it shall be for food." Permission to kill and eat animals was only granted as a result of man's evil and was accompanied with a curse (Genesis 9:5). Because 95% of all flesh foods are from factory farms and produced under conditions which contravene the Torah. Because nowhere in the Tenach is there a promise of fleshfoods of any kind as a reward for keeping the commandments. The promise is always the gift of produce of the vines, the gardens and the fields. Because cruelty is indivisible, the Covenant of Peace was applicable to people and all creatures: to participate in the war against creation is incompatible with Judaism. We work for the prophetic era, "When they shall no longer hurt nor destroy." www.ivu.org/jvs/
There is a growing Jewish vegetarian movement since Jewish teachings relate to decisions we make everyday as we sit down to eat. As Rabbi Isaac ha-Levi Herzog said, "Jews will move increasingly to vegetarianism out of their own deepening knowledge of what their tradition commands... A whole galaxy of central rabbinic and spiritual leaders...has been affirming vegetarianism as the ultimate meaning of Jewish moral teaching." JewishVeg.com offers a wonderful on-line course on Jewish Vegetarianism. www.JewishVeg.com
Dr. Richard Schwartz is author of Judaism and Vegetarianism (Lantern Books, 2001) and lives in Staten Island, N.Y. He maintains an online collection of writings on Judaism, vegetarianism and animals rights and has written that the Hebrew term nefesh chaya, which means "living soul," was applied in Genesis to animals as well as people. Contact 718-761-5876, rschw12345@aol.com.
Dr. Will and Madeleine Tuttle have traveled to more than 600 churches, concert halls and lecture halls, sharing their love for animals and the environment through Will's music, Madeleine's art, their seminars, and now Will's best-selling book. Their performances and seminars are not simply entertainment, but a conduit for spiritual enlightenment and global awareness. For more on this remarkable couple and their even more remarkable work, check out their website at: www.willtuttle.com/will.htm.
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition ('FPMT') transmits the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through Tibetan Buddhist teachings, meditation, community service, retreat centers, and projects that support the Inspiration and Guide of the FPMT His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The FPMT is based on the Gelugpa tradition of Lama Tsong Khapa of Tibet as taught by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
India - In 1986, it was proposed that November 25, Sadhu Vaswani's Birthday, be celebrated as an International Meatless Day. The campaign has met with considerable success in that, lakhs of individuals send their pledges to the Mission to go meatless on this day. Four state governments in India - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh - have issued instructions for the closure of slaughter-houses as well as butchers' shops on 25th November every year, in their respective states. In order to create an awareness in the minds of citizens about the Meatless Day campaign, peace marches are held in Pune and other cities in November, every year. Thousands of students from city schools and colleges march through the streets propagating the idea of Meatless Day and reverence for all life, as the first step to World Peace. Meatless Newsletters are also issued between August and November every year to propagate vegetarianism and the Meatless Day. www.meatlessday.com/ Visit our parent website at http://www.sadhuvaswani.org to learn more about the Sadhu Vaswani Mission & It's Teachings.
Shabkar.org is a non-sectarian website dedicated to vegetarianism as a way of life for Buddhists of all schools. The site takes its name from Shabkar Tsodruk Rangdrol (1781-1851), the great Tibetan yogi who espoused the ideals of vegetarianism. The current period is extremely important for the development of Buddhism. It is only since recent times that Buddhism has come to the West and thanks to modern ways of communcation and travelling, Buddhist teachings are spreading faster then ever. Unfortunately, as Gautama Buddha predicted, Buddhist teachings have declined and as part of this many Buddhists eat meat as a habit while having access to vegetarian food. We are all struggling on the Path. Some of us are good meditators, others have wisdom, others have a good heart, or are vegetarians. Some, like Shabkar did, embody all these qualities. Let them be our beacon. www.Shabkar.Org
SERV is an interfaith effort to gain a more humane, just, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable world. We believe that applying spiritual values to scientific knowledge encourages plant-based diets, with major benefits for humans, animals, and the environment. We wish to respectfully make religious communities aware that the realities of animal-based diets and agriculture are inconsistent with basic religious teachings, such as those to treat animals with compassion, preserve our health, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, reduce hunger, and pursue peace and nonviolence. www.serv-online.org/
INDIA - Tibetan Volunteers for Animals (TVA) has converted over 14,000 Tibetans to vegetarianism. The new vegetarians sign a pledge never to eat meat again. Dalai Lama gave funds to TVA to print 35,000 copies of vegetarian books for free distribution. The group campaigns for vegetarianism in Tibetan settlements throughout India, Ladakh, Nepal and Sikkim. They are opening vegetarian restaurants in Tibetan communities. See Semchen.org.
A safe haven for food production animals that have escaped from slaughterhouses. The Veganpeace Animal Sanctuary is a safe haven for food production animals that have escaped from slaughterhouses. Goats, turkeys, pigs and cows - live in peace in the barn and the 3 acres behind The Peace Abbey. An integral part of the educational programs of the Peace Abbey, Greater Boston Vegetarian Society, and the Strawberry Fields Alternative High School, it is also part of a larger movement that includes organizations such as Farm Sanctuary and the newly established Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, MA. The Veganpeace Animal Sanctuary was also once home to our most famous friend, Emily the Cow. Emily passed away at age ten from cancer and was buried on the Peace Abbey grounds. www.peaceabbey.org/sanctuary/veganpeace.htm
Veggie Jews is dedicated to providing a support group for Jewish vegetarians and vegans and spreading vegetarian/vegan and animal rights consciousness into the Jewish community. The group exists both online as a Yahoo group through which members can easily communicate with the group and as a community group with periodic local events. Veggie Jews is not a singles or religious group, but single and religious people are always welcome at events as are our non-Jewish friends who are vegetarians, vegans or interested in the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Many of our events are organized by volunteers and membership is free. The group was established in San Francisco but chapters will be set up in other cities as soon as possible.
"The Worldwide Prayer Circle for Animals website hosts a simple prayer that people all over the world pray on a daily basis (at noon if possible). It is 'Compassion encircles the earth for all beings everywhere.' Please go to the website at www.circleofcompassion.org and mark your spot on the world map to join this powerful circle of prayer. While there, you will find many articles written by the website founders, more prayers for animals, flyers that can be used for many occasions but especially to help churches adopt cruelty free practices, a gift shop, and links to many other related websites."
