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God's Covenant with Animals: A Biblical Basis for the Humane

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For any Christian, God's Covenant with Animals will open passages of the Bible in new ways. Particularly striking (and somewhat disturbing) is the overview of animal sacrifice in the Old Testament and how the ripples of that terror reach us today. For anyone interested in the well being of animals, but not belonging to the Christian faith, this work will still give insight into Western thinking and philosophy on the role and treatment of animals. Ultimately, after reading God's Covenant with the Animals, no one will be able to deny that what affects any part of creation, affects the rest. The interconnectedness of life, all life, is sacred.

People who have obtained their opinions from the Bible have told me such things as, "Animals were put on the earth for humans to use," or "Animal don't have souls, and they don't go to heaven." It is refreshing to read Reverend J. R. Hyland's positive, well-researched book about God's love, respect and concern for animals and how they should be treated. Reverend Hyland sheds light on such atrocities as animal sacrifices and animal slaughter and how God did not want these sacrifices and meant for all animals, both nonhuman and human, to be vegetarians. He claims that carnivorous eating is in direct contradiction to the Bible. "God said unto them...have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, `Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.' (Gen. 1:28-29) "The restriction to a vegetarian diet as the only legitimate form of food was the standard to which all of earth's creatures had been held from the beginning of time. But during the millennia that had passed since then, human beings had become conditioned-and adapted-to a much lower form of life. Noah and his family, like the people among whom they lived, had become carnivorous." Reverend Hyland also shows how humans have altered the meaning of parts of the Bible. For example, he explains that "the Book of Genesis plainly states that animals, like humans, were created as nefesh chaya: living souls. (Gen. 1:21,30) Scholars have obscured this fact by translating the same words differently. When applied to Adam, nefesh chaya reads "living soul." (Gen. 2:7) But when the same term is used about animals it is translated as "living creature." (Gen. 2:19) He goes on to explain that even though there is no biblical basis for their belief many people use the excuse that animals do not have souls to condone "the most sadistic and cruel treatment of sentient beings." This is an informative book illustrating that nonhuman animals are not to be exploited, abused, and killed, but treated with respect, compassion, and kindness. Hopefully, our species will heed Reverend Ryland's wise and humane warnings-and soon!
-Reviewed by N. Glenn Perrett

It is such a relief to know that at least a few other human beings are tuned into to God's will for his creatures. All of his creatures, and not just the human ones. Strong biblical arguments against the human exploitation of animals.

If you're looking for a single book to answer all questions you may have on animal theology, this probably isn't it. Such a book does not exist (trust me, I've looked). However, if you're interested in a Christian perspective of animal ethics or animal mercy, J. R. Hyland gives the perfect starting point. My only other complaint is that the author uses different bible versions to back his claims, using different translations to make different arguments sound more convincing. Still, the information is valid and I recommend the book to any Christian.

This book is a thorough review of animal themes within the Bible, including the Old Testament prophets' critique of animal sacrifice. "The prophets taught that God's blessings would abound only in a world where human beings rejected violence and `no longer taught war,'" Hyland writes. "But the journey toward that peaceable kingdom demanded that the sacrifice of animals stop."

This book is one of the best explanations of scripture I have ever read. I am a Christian and yes, like the author of the library review see Pastor Hyland as struggling with Jesus sacrifical death. I still feel that her book maintains intense integrity and know that God only knows her heart. Gail Leavitt

This book has given me a renewed lease on life. I will pass this book on to my two sisters who are animals lovers also. Also anyone else who will listen to me about how great this book is. This book gives the reader the TRUE insight on what GOD intended for animals and humans. I live in a co-op in Manhattan. They have been doing construction for the last two years. This of course has brought out a lot of wild mice. I caught one. She was sick. I brought her to the vet. They said she had a tumor The specialist said this is prevelant in mice and rats, wild or domestic due to animal testing. It's now in their lineage. She died two months later. I brought her to a church across the street to have her blessed before I buried her at a friends upstate house. The priest refused to bless her saying he doesn't do that. It's only a mouse. He said he would say a prayer for me to help me with my loss. Going back to a section in the book that an animal is not as important as a human. The horrible thought process of some people and clergy in today's world. I refused his offer to bless me. It made me very angry at the Catholic Church. Was'nt a mouse one of God's creatures. I became very jaded. Over the months I caught a number of her babies. I kept them in a fishtank with food and water and a wheel and took care of them. Someone in the building found out about them. Management made me take them out. I wanted to set them free also. But not until the spring, it was too cold for them. They were never outside and might react in shock. The same friend who buried their mother brought them upstate and let them go in their barn with their horses so they would not be cold. I wanted them to run free as God intended them to be. With a running stream and food from the horses. I get so angry at the way these creatures and all animals are treated. J.R. Hyland has given me such comfort that these and all animals will one day be in the land of milk and honey with God, the way HE intended it to be. I also believe that all animals have a soul. I became a vegan not because of health reasons but for the animals. I found out about this book on the PETA website, which I'm a member. God bless J.R. Hyland

First of all the title of this book "God's Covenant with Animals" is bad. There is no place in the Bible where God made a covenant with animals in the same way as He did with the people (Abraham). There is a place where God made a covenant with Abraram. Read Genesis 15:9-17. Abraram actually cuts the animals in half. There is no protest from God! God is actually the only one to walk between the pieces!
Second, when you read this book and truly have knowledge of the Bible and how "responsibility" (dominion) is defined by the Lord it would be rather obvious that about every reference to Bible verses is taken out of context and the meaning is bend to make it some way some how work for the benefit of Animal Advocacy.
Third, Jesus indeed drove the merchants out of the temple. This is actually mentioned in 3 places in the Bible: Mark 11:15-, John 2:13-, Luke 19:45-. In the last reference however there is no mention, not a single word of animal being sold and being driven out! So, if this would have been the sole reason, why would Luke (who was a doctor and rather precise in his recordings) not have mentioned the animal part? If this driving out at all would have been for the animals, why does Luke not mention it?
The reality is that this books makes mistakes from the beginning to the end to prove a point under the cover of a "Biblical Basis" . This book is truly like a "wolf in sheep clothes" and very dangerous for many Christians that are still learning.

However, the reality is that Christians do have a responsibility towards preserving and maintaining the whole creation. Gen 1:27-31. Abuse of anything has nothing to do with "responsibility" and everything with "irresponsibility".
Last, Prov 12:10: "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel." Proverbs happens to be one of the few book where a single text can be taken apart and actually can stand by itself.

The goal of the writer is clear. The means to the goal are disputable. May God have mercy on the writer.