Animal Rights Theology. Traditional vs Modern Paradigm

Christian teaching claims that animals, who are not humans, can’t be moral agents and have no rights. From this point of view “the idea to recognize that animals are equal to man, or that they have rights which should be respected by people, it is not acceptable by a Christianity”. Preachers conclude that constant debate on animal rights is an attempt to disguise the sad truth that human rights are not appreciated. The author of this contribution, as a strong believer in spiritual dignity of every living creature, advocates animals rights and concepts of unity of human and animals suffering in light of animal theology. The article presents two opposite views on animals in philosophy and culture- traditional and modern animal theology. Nowadays animal corporeality should not be understood in utilitarian way. Some theologians postulate changing the definition of animal soul, moreover, they claim that animals live in continuous relationship with God (Hagencord, Linzey).