Cattle Slaughter: A moral or religious issue?

The proposed prohibition of cattle slaughter has created a forceful and noisy public response, mostly in favour and to a lesser extent against. Unfortunately, most of both parties have viewed or related it to the religious context. The decision of banning, or slaughtering the cattle, should be based on moral issues, more than religious issues.

We are aware that certain animals (e.g. wild animals, rare birds, etc.) are protected by law (e.g. Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance etc.). Some are protected as endangered species. These laws are not based on religious grounds.

Recently, a few leopards were killed, through the setting up of snares. On and off we hear the most venerated animal – the elephants — are killed by shooting. In such situations, there was a significant public outcry against such killings. The government of Sri Lanka too in general, takes stern action against such offenders. These decisions are not based on any religious doctrine, but on the concept of animal cruelty, etc.

More recently, there was growing public opinion against the selling of police sniffer dogs to private owners. Once again the public opinion was not on a religious basis, but due to a moral issue. Thinking behind the opinion is, these dogs have served the nation well in their prime age, hence the police conceptually have a moral obligation to care for them when they are old.

A similar principle is involved with regard to the banning of cattle slaughter. It is important to identify the place of cattle in our society.

Ours is mainly an agricultural society where the cattle play a very important and useful role. Apart from benefits in the field of agriculture, they are a very valuable resource in many ways in our society. Having taken all these benefits, the slaughtering of cattle is beyond all boundaries of morality. Therefore the question is: is it morally or ethically right to slaughter a faithful and powerless friend of farmers?

Sadly, most people have mixed up these issues, and have perceived the problem only by the religious viewpoint. It is true that hundreds of chickens, goats and pigs are slaughtered every day for human consumption. It is equally correct to note that the banning of cattle slaughter will not bring about a complete righteous society, when so many non-righteous activities are taking place on a daily basis. However, such a prohibition will at least remove one highly immoral activity.

Let me quote a great man who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries who was not a Buddhist, and emphasized the morality of treating animals well.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

It is a good moral step in the right direction.

Prof ANANDA
JAYASINGHE

University of Peradeniya

ajaya83pera@gmail.com