Why does religion matter when it comes to animal rights?
America isand always has beenthe most religious country outside the Muslim world. The influence of religionespecially Christianityradiates throughout our society and shapes both our public and private morality to an extent that is unimaginable in Europe. No major social justice movement has ever succeeded in the United States without the support of at least a large segment of the Christian community, and none will in the foreseeable future. Many of the leaders of the animal rights movement have a personal animus against religion, and I understand the reasons for this. But in allowing it to influence their advocacy, they are condemning animal rights to permanent exile on the margins of the public dialogue. If people feel they have to choose between their religion and animal rights, the vast majority will choose their religion. And the failure of the animal rights leadership to appreciate this is a major strategic failure. The huge exception here is PETA. In reaching out to the Christian
