According to the major organized religions, God is very stingy with His love. In Islam, God only loves those who constantly pray to him and do certain works. In Judaism, God loves Jews best. In Christianity, God loves Christians best. In Buddhism - well, technically there isn't a god in Buddhism and you shouldn't desire love, anyway. But almost all religions highlight a speciesist God - one that prefers humans over all other life forms.

When one group of people decides to lay all of the blame for their problems on another, what do they do - they classify the other group as non-human or animal. Since they are merely animals, they are ripe for slaughter. Although this says a lot about how people think of others, it also shows how the members of these religions think that God thinks humanity is hot stuff.

Humanity Sucks

Our species is so insecure and so inept at trying to create positive change in our own lives that we have needed to pretend that we have been blessed by some of Deity that has proclaimed that we have the right to destroy the planet as we see fit. Humans, as beloved by God, have the privilege to kill, maim or torture whatever non-humans they feel like.

Major religions teach that animals do not have souls, therefore they are somehow not worthy of respect, kindness and basic decency as people. However, people who work with hardened criminals note that cruelty to animals always preceded cruelty towards the supposedly "better" human beings.

Humans amuse themselves by torturing animals for sport and doing needless experiments on animals with the argument that it's for the general good of humanity. Animals are only considered property according to human laws. And all the time, animals do not treat humans or their environment in the same way that we treat them.

Where Is God?

If God is supposedly merciful, then there would not be cruelty in the world. Any cruelty done would be immediately identified and punished. But major religions teach that cruelty is to be expected and tolerated because it is a sign that God is punishing the evil doer. Animals have always been sacrificed to various Gods - whether having their throats slit for altars or corralled, beaten and starved on their way to a slaughterhouse.

Where is God for these animals? Nowhere. Any help that comes to these animals is through the hard work of people willing to risk their lives to help stop suffering. God does nothing. That's not a very loving act.

Humans would be much better off if they stopped trying to please God and got a pet. Then they'd see what real love is.

Learn more about this author, Rena Sherwood.
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