[Avodah] anti-meat rhetoric "according to Judaism"

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Micha Berger wrote:

> Rather, I'm saying that tzaar is pain, not self-aware suffering.
> I am then explaining why I believe so little utility to man can
> halachically justify large amounts of pain to animals. The reason
> I'm suggesting is that it's because TBC is "only" about avoiding
> causing pain.

If I'm understanding you correctly, doing such an action (which has only a small amount of usefulness for us) can be justified because it "only" causes pain to the animal. But such a low threshold of utility could not be justified if it causes suffering to a self-aware being.

This is beginning to make sense, and I applaud your efforts to explain how such a low threshold can be acceptable.

I'm not sure I agree, because even if the animal does not experience "suffering", it still might be a great deal of "pain". From that perspective, this might be a mere exercise in semantics, not unlike http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman  Still, the effort *is* worthwhile. Thanks.

Akiva Miller

____________________________________________________________
SHOCKING: Samsung 46" 3D LED TV for $84.95
SPECIAL REPORT: High ticket items are being auctioned for an incredible 90% off!
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4c5aa756b02156244c8st01vuc