Hunting: Good or Evil?

[visionary]

You're already saved, aren't you? If so, why would you still need the message of salvation?

While the pulpit should not be a political pungee pit (alliteration!), I do think social issues certainly have their place in the church. In particular, I think it is most valuable to engage in discussion on the matter of social issues, instead of forming a sermon on the subject.

I agree with.. "instead of forming a sermon on the subject"..

A person can get so caught up in the social issues, that they forget that "first love".

 

[Ave Maria]

There is nothing immoral about hunting. It is a morally neutral subject.

 

[Ave Maria]

If you ask me, there is nothing wrong with hunting. If there was, then how do you think the people before the time of farming and herding were able to get their protein?

 

[Tissue]

Alright, let me ask a similar question: Is it ok to kill animals solely for the sake of personal pleasure?

 

[jiminpa]

Oh, and I'm a bit confused by the first bit of your post - how does that work, exactly?

It's really not that difficult. The white tailed deer has only one major predator, and if that predator is removed from that role the deer population will quickly explode to unsustainable levels, and either die out quickly or become weak and sick from lack of food. As herbivores akin to goats an overpopulation of deer will do severe harm to the environment as well by feeding on all of the new growth in the forest. The only major predator to the white tailed deer is man. Minor predators, wolves, coyotes, and large cats would not have a significant impact on herd population to keep it in check. As it is now some deer herds are being negatively impacted in suburban communities which ban hunting on a local level.

 

[TimRout]

Are you sure you want to deal with social issues on the pulpit? If I was to visit your congregation and listen to a social political issue dealt with, would I feel fed living waters. Would I feel drawn to Christ as my savior? Let us not let social political issues of the day draw us away from the message of salvation is my moto.

I preach Bible, not social politics. My goal, therefore, is to teach my people sound doctrine and help them to make godly judgments about any and every topic that touches them. Many animal activists argue that God's creatures are our "cousins" and therefore deserving of human rights. I'm sure you can see why this presents a significant problem for the Bible-minded Christian who takes it on God's authority that humans are uniquely created in God's image, and that all other mammals are altogether inferior to man.

 

[BRISH]

Hmmm, like many things, it could be sinful on an individual basis, or it could be just fine.

If it gets in between the persons relationship with Christ, or with other people, yep, its sinful. I'm sure you've run into folks over the years where thats the case. Its rare, but it does happen. Ie, hunting should not become a god or idol. Nor should folks go to excessive means (Numbers 11:31-33) I would also go so far, that if someone is obsessed with blood, (Gen 9:4) thats bad news...

There is an aspect of us being caretakers of God's creation (Gen 1:27-28). To shoot an animal, just to shoot it, and let it die and go to waste would be outside the scope of being a caretaker. (Lev 17:13)

IMO, perfect reply.

 

[Emmy]

Dear TimRout. When God made Man, He made us Good. When all was done God told us, to look after the Earth, to love each other, and to treat animals kindly. To hunt for food, if done kindly, is man`s God-given right, to hunt an animal and watching it torn to bits, sounds rather sick to me. I can understand people enjoying a hunt, but why does cruelty play a part in it? I say this humbly and with love, Tim. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[TimRout]

Dear TimRout. When God made Man, He made us Good. When all was done God told us, to look after the Earth, to love each other, and to treat animals kindly. To hunt for food, if done kindly, is man`s God-given right, to hunt an animal and watching it torn to bits, sounds rather sick to me. I can understand people enjoying a hunt, but why does cruelty play a part in it? I say this humbly and with love, Tim. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

I share your concern. As an ethical hunter, I am careful to dispatch an animal quickly so as to limit its suffering. Your question (highlighted) presupposes that those who enjoy hunting must necessarily engage in cruelty. I'm not sure what you meant by this statement. Can you clarify?

 

[Texas Lynn]

Actually, the Hebrew dietary restrictions, which prohibit the consumption of wild game, are the basis of civilization; without a cooperative economy based on mass agriculture, people's inclusion in it allows for some to exist outside of a cooperative society.

That said, no, hunting per se is not immoral. But hunting merely for sport and letting the meat rot is wasteful and therefore sinful in that regard. However, few real hunters do that, outside "canned hunts"...those package tours where one is promised a kill of some exotic beast which is not given a fighting chance. It is most often a form of conspicuous consumption undertaken by the newly wealthy. Yet most real hunters eschew these. Ted Nugent, for example, the rock star and gun and hunting advocate, recommends use of all meat products from wild game kills. Violation of hunting laws, except perhaps for the starving, would be ethically dicey. Protection of endangered species is a moral good. Nugent, for example, notes herds of deer must necessarily be thinned as a form of ecological management, and what better way to do it than have it done by those who will actually use the meat? As such it is a thrifty and moral activity. I've known people who have been in church who engage in "headlighting"-illlegal nightime hunting. I'd say it's a sort of vice similar to smoking.

 

[Memento Mori]

I don't know if there's anything immoral about hunting, but it seems unnecessary to me.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Actually, the Hebrew dietary restrictions, which prohibit the consumption of wild game

What verse is that and if this is true, then why does the Bible state that Nimrod was "a mighty hunter before the Lord"?

 

[JohnDeereFan]

We are heading back to the garden of eden.. so when the new heavens and new earth comes, we will be back to eating the garden of eden diet... Some in the journey back have got as far as Mount Sinai diet.. while others have anything and everything is now food.. if you can stomach it. Hunting for that food is a necessity issue.

Are you a Jehovah's Witness?

 

[Texas Lynn]

What verse is that and if this is true, then why does the Bible state that Nimrod was "a mighty hunter before the Lord"?

,

Nimrod was not a good guy. That's merely a superlative to begin his tale. I may have misspoke; it may not be specifically prohibited, but deer, antelope, wild boar, etc. with split hooves were prohibited for consumption because of the split hooves in Leviticus. Presumbly wild fowl would not be prohibited, I think. I do not know what verse but there is no much weird stuff in Leviticus reading the whole thing is interesting as an anthropology lesson. It is always ironic how some cite selected Levitical passages out of context to advocate their prejudices. Leviticus was primarily priestly writing following the Babylonian exile and the goal was to increase the separate Jewish identity after being immersed in the Babylonian, Assyrian, and Persian cultures for a century.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

deer, antelope, wild boar, etc. with split hooves were prohibited for consumption because of the split hooves in Leviticus.

Boar, obviously, because they're pigs.

Deer, what do you do with Deut 12:22 and 15:22?

Third, even if what you're saying were true, those dietary laws were for the nation of Israel, not for us.

It is always ironic how some cite selected Levitical passages out of context to advocate their prejudices.

And it's always sad that some ignore certain Levitical passages in order to excuse their sin.

 

[Texas Lynn]

Boar, obviously, because they're pigs.

Deer, what do you do with Deut 12:22 and 15:22?

Split hooves.

Third, even if what you're saying were true, those dietary laws were for the nation of Israel, not for us.

Agreed.

And it's always sad that some ignore certain Levitical passages in order to excuse their sin.

I do not believe that occurs as you appear to think it does. The assertion people do thus cavalierly is unfortunate.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Split hooves.

That's not an answer. What do you do with Deut 12:22 and 15:22.

I do not believe that occurs as you appear to think it does. The assertion people do thus cavalierly is unfortunate.

And the fact that people on the left do so regularly is more unfortunate.

 

[Texas Lynn]

That's not an answer. What do you do with Deut 12:22 and 15:22.

I don't do anything with it; I'm not a fundamentalist.

And the fact that people on the left do so regularly is more unfortunate.

I challenge you to prove such occurs at all.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I don't do anything with it; I'm not a fundamentalist.

OK. So, I presented you with scripture that shows that it was permissible to eat deer. You can believe those verses or not.

I challenge you to prove such occurs at all.

You also challenged me to provide scripture to show that it was permissible to eat deer and then, when I did, you ignored it, so I think I'm doing taking your challenges.

 

[Texas Lynn]

OK. So, I presented you with scripture that shows that it was permissible to eat deer. You can believe those verses or not.



You also challenged me to provide scripture to show that it was permissible to eat deer and then, when I did, you ignored it, so I think I'm doing taking your challenges.

I don't think I did. It's not that I ignored it; it's not applicable to me because I'm not a Biblical literacist. If you think it says so, that's fine. A rabbi told me otherwise.