Thinking Theologically about Animals

Several weeks ago in one of my classes, I got into quite a discussion with several of my students about whether animals have souls. I, of course, do not believe that they do, and this, until quite recently, would have been a quite unremarkable statement of orthodox Christian anthropology: people have souls; animals do not. But several students were outraged that their beloved dead pets might not see them in heaven. A new collection of essays may shed some light here, and features at least one chapter (no. 9) dealing with major Eastern Christian figures: Celia Deane-Drummond et al, eds., Animals as Religious Subjects: Transdisciplinary Perspectives (T&T Clark, 2013), 336pp.

About this book we are told:

This book examines one of the most pressing cultural concerns that surfaced in the last decade - the question of the place and significance of the animal. This collection of essays represents the outcome of various conversations regarding the animal studies and shows multidisciplinarity at its very best, namely, a rigorous approach within one discipline in conversation with others around a common theme. The contributors discuss the most relevant disciplines regarding this conversation, namely: philosophy, anthropology, religious studies, theology, history of religions, archaeology and cultural studies. The first section, Thinking about Animals, explores philosophical, anthropological and religious perspectives, raising general questions about the human perception of animals and its crucial cultural significance. The second section explores the intriguing topic of the way animals have been used historically as religious symbols and in religious rituals. The third section re-examines some Christian theological and biblical approaches to animals in the light of current concerns. The final section extends the implications of traditional views about other animals to more specific ethical theories and practices.

We are also given the table of contents: 

Introduction - Celia Deane-Drummond and David Clough
Part One: Animals as Subjects of Religious Thought
1. ‘Ask now the beasts and they shall teach thee’ - Stephen R. L. Clark
2. Walking with Dragons: An Anthropological Excursion on the Wild Side - Tim Ingold
3. The Study of Religion after the Animal - Aaron Gross
Part Two: Animals as Subjects of Religious Symbolism
4. Hedgehog Skin and Golden Calf: Animals as Symbols for Paganism in Medieval German Literature - Sabine Obermaier
5. The Daemonic Insect: Mantis religiosa - Adam Dodd
6. Benevolent Bulls and Baleful Buffalos: Male Bovines versus the ‘Holy Cow’ in Hinduism - Xenia Zeiler
7. From Sacrifices to Symbols: Animals in Late Antiquity and Early Christianity - Ingvild Salid Gilhus
Part Three: Animals as Subjects of Theological Inquiry
8. Butterflies Dwell Betwixt and Between: Non-Human Animals, Theology, and Dwelling in Place - Forrest Clingerman
9. ‘Marvel at the Intelligence of Unthinking Creatures!’: Contemplative Animals in Gregory of Nazianzus and Evagrius of Pontus - Eric Daryl Meyer
10. Putting Animals in Their Place: On the Theological Classification of Animals - David Clough
Part Four: Animals as Subjects of Religious Ethics
11. ‘Your Wives, Your Children, and Your Livestock’: Domesticated Beings as Religious Objects in the Book of Deuteronomy - Raymond F. Person, Jr.
12. Transgenic Animals and Ethics: Recognizing an Appropriate Dignity - Robert Song
13. Other Animals as Persons? – A Roman Catholic Inquiry - Charles Camosy
Bibliography
Index of Scriptural References
Index of Subjects
Index of Names