Editor: I appreciate the respectful way that Stephen Ross replied to the submission, “There is no humane way of taking of life” (the Times, May 24).
Now this goes into another realm altogether.
There are many spiritual groups, such as Hindus, Buddhists and others, who believe animals are creatures that have a soul and need our protection.
Some religions show references of the same thought including some from the Bible. Philosophers clear back to the early days of Greece, as well as saints, social leaders, such as Gandhi, St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis will state animals have souls.
If you know a dog, cat or horse owner, they for sure will swear their animals have souls or at least have emotions and feelings.
Scientists have many studies showing certain birds, elephants, chimpanzees, giraffes and other creatures mourn their dead, feel suffering and exhibit many “human” qualities towards each other.
The question is not whether animals have souls, but do humans have compassion?
Are we evolved to where any killing of an animal or human being is equally disturbing? Do we have hearts as well as souls to look into the eyes of animals on factory farms and sometimes small farms, to see the suffering they go through and want to stop it?
These are the questions for us to ponder about ourselves and our humanity.
“All beings tremble before violence.
“All fear death. All love life. See yourself in others.
“Then who can you harm? What harm can you do?” — Buddha
Anne Kinney,
Langley
