More and more I have come to the belief that we are all connected. People of faith have been at the forefront of social change for centuries...but until animals (plants, etc.) are recognized as elemental parts of the whole, I wonder if they will ever be appropriately recognized as possessing souls?
I believe the tide is shifting. Three recent speeches delivered by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church included animals. The United Church of Religious Science just changed its guiding principles document to be more inclusive of all life. Animal Kinship Ministries are popping up everywhere and a west coastTheological Institute will be launching an Animal Chaplain program soon. Last year, a group of faith leaders created a document called A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion (
www.bestfriends.org/signproc)
People look to their faith leaders for sort of a 'spiritual permission' to feel that animals have souls and can be viewed spiritually. Hopefully, once this occurs, we will see more emphasis in this movement.
Till then, it's up to us!