Religious Traditions & Animals: A Symbiotic Relationship - Essay Sample

Introduction

Animals play essential roles as subjects or symbols in the majority of the religious traditions that exist in the universe. Additionally, animals are key stakeholders in most of the religious expressions, visual arts, ethical systems as well as scriptures. In modern times, the use of animals as messengers, initiators of religion as well as structural linkages can be identified in the majority of the traditional spiritual films that have been released such as The Whale Riders, Baraka and Speciesism. From the films, it is clear that animals can be a useful tool in demonstrating the spiritual message that the producer intends for the audience.

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Animals as Spiritual Messengers

Animals have been identified as supremely spiritual beings in their own right. According to Jaoudi (2018), the Hebrew scripture states that "just ask the animals, they will teach you, and the birds will tell you." However, humans have overlooked this notion and often thought of themselves as superior to all the animals in all aspects possible. I have noticed that we can learn more about the world around and within us as well as the universal nature of the universe only through accepting and making the connection that animals are part of us, as well as part of the more significant fabric that makes up our lives. Accepting this connection will further help us to open up to our true nature of humanity, which includes compassion, love, and caring for the nature that surrounds us. Additionally, this connection contributes to internal evolution, which, is considered as a mindful development moving into external reality like sunlight and helps one to embrace earth more openly. For instance, in the film The Whale Riders, Kahu agrees to follow the whales into the sea as the whale rider in the hopes of saving her people as well as the herd (Caro, 2002). Her act of sacrifice shows that she accepted the role of the animals as spiritual messengers as their death would have signified the end of her people.

In all the films, the animals are willing to play their roles without questioning or resistance. They are quick to receive and follow instructions that may sometimes not be in their best interests. For example, in The Whale Riders, the bull whale with the ancient Maori tattoo was willing to put itself on the shore and wait for its death in order to deliver the spiritual warning to Koro and the Maori people. The connection between the people and the supernatural whale is so deep that they try their best to send it back to the waters. The people recognize that if the whale lives, they will also live; however, if it dies, they will also die (Caro, 2002).

Initiators of Religion

A connection between people and animals will open us up to the notion that animals also take part in their own religious lives that are separate from human religiosity. It is these animals that need to be taken care of as part of the broader range of religious phenomena. Animals have always appeared in religions such that human-animal interactions can result in religious activities such as sacrificing domestic animals. These interactions are almost similar to how human-human interactions affect religion. For example, in the film, Baraka, the producer uses animals such as ants to show the connection that is present between the ants and their queen (Fricke, 1992). Also, the film Speciesism demonstrates that animals are capable of feeling emotions and are more intelligent than we assume (Devries, 2013). A similar relationship can be attained between human beings if only they accept the connection that is present between them and animals and learn from the animals.

According to Gross (2017), all early scholarly definitions of religion have sought to define religion in a context that does not include animal behavior as religious. However, scholars accept that there are proto-religious elements of animal behavior that evolved into what became the uniquely human domain of religion. Some researchers believe that some animals demonstrate behaviors that fit within the current understanding of religion. Jaoudi (2018) further noted that we are built to thrive biologically, mindfully, and emotionally through learning, which also helps us from being overwhelmed in regards to what has to be changed. Therefore, we have the ability to embody religion in a manner that creates an opportunity for animals to have their religion as well as their ability to initiate religion on human beings.

Structural Linkages

The religious human-animal relationship is affected by our conception of animals in such a way that it is marred with self-imagination as well as the construction of gender and race. For instance, in the film The Whale Riders, women were often overlooked as potential spiritual leaders since they were female. This case is witnessed when Koro does not acknowledge Kahu to be a suitable leader because she was a girl (Caro, 2002). Therefore, the triad of human, animal, and divine is very central as it ranks animals in their place and places women and children as part of but inferior to men.

Modernization has contributed to the division that exists between human beings and animals through the notion that animals are inferior as the majority of the traditional religions do not have a low estimation of animal life due to racial implications. Gross (2017) also notes that the religions of the traditional people make sense of the greater cosmos without affecting the human-animal connection. However, the result of this coexistence is the alienation as they are said to be in contrast to the western assumptions, which state that the world must be divided into humans and animals. In contrast, these people are also seen to achieve religious closeness to animals as they have a more reliable connection. Therefore, just as Jaoudi (2018) noted, it is within the center that we are able to see clearly, and we are freed to be living beings that coexist with the smallest of the small and the largest of the large. This notion is demonstrated in the film Baraka as they wordlessly show the connection between people and ants (Fricke, 1992).

In contrast, some religions have shown that there is a deep connection between human beings and animals. Some of this connection can be demonstrated when dealing with difficult situations such as the loss of an animal companion. The depth of human response to these situations provides an insight into the place animals holds among human beings. Even though human beings generally underestimate animals and their spirituality due to factors such as civilization and education, some aspects have also indicated that human beings are capable of building a connection with their animal companions. This notion can be identified within the movie The Whale Riders, where the people were willing to use all their resources to help push the whales back into the water (Caro, 2002).

Conclusion

Human-animal relationships are sensitive in regards to religion. Animals can be used as messengers to warn people of the wrongs they have committed or even to introduce religion to people who did not have one previously. Animals have appeared continuously in the traditional religions as either messenger, spirits, or even manifestation of more exceptional beings. The movies; The Whale Riders, Baraka and Speciesism attempt to introduce the possibility of achieving a higher as well as accepting connection between human beings and animals that will help us to learn more about the world around and within us as well as the universal nature of creation. Moreover, animals can also be instrumental in establishing structure in regards to gender and race since animals are ranked in their place, and human beings are categorized as per their gender in a different rank.

It is essential to pursue an in-depth discussion concerning the religious human-animal connection. Civilization and education have made the world adapt westernized assumptions that human beings are superior while animals are inferior. This notion has contributed to the massive mistreatment of animals that is neither ethical nor moral. On the other hand, it is important to note that modernization has contributed to a stronger human-animal relationship between people and their animal companions such as dogs and cats. This connection is mostly displayed in the ability of humans to mourn the death of their animal companions. This connection helps to reduce the insensitivity of human beings towards animals while at the same time contributes to the internal evolution of the person such that they are free to embrace the earth and nature as it is.

References

Caro, N. (Director). (2002). Whale Rider [DVD]. South Pacific Pictures.

Devries, M. (Director). (2013). Speciesism: The Movie [DVD].

Fricke, R. (Director). (1992). Baraka [DVD]. Magidson Films.

Gross, A. S. (2017, February). Religion and animals. Oxford Handbooks Online. https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935420.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199935420-e-10

Jaoudi, M. (2018). Spirit & Nature.