A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics

A Communion of Subjects is the first comparative and interdisciplinary study of the conceptualization of animals in world religions. Scholars from a wide range of disciplines consider how major religious traditions have incorporated animals into their belief systems, myths, rituals, and art. Their findings offer insights into humans’ relationships with animals and a deeper understanding of the social and ecological web in which they all live. Contributors explore issues such as animal consciousness, suffering, sacrifice, and stewardship in innovative methodological ways. They also address contemporary challenges relating to law, biotechnology, social justice, and the environment. They reveal how humans either intentionally or inadvertently marginalize “others,” whether human or otherwise, reflecting on the ways in which they assign value to living beings.