Patristic views on the relationship between man and animals
Patristic views on the relationship between man and animals

Author(s): Vantsos Miltiadis
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: animals; animal ethics; Christian Ethics; Church Fathers; patristic teaching; creation; divine providence;
Summary/Abstract: Man's attitude towards animals was considered by the Church Fathers to be an important part of his spiritual life and his mission in the world, and for this reason the relevant patristic references are extensive and certainly cannot be presented in detail in the context of this study. It will therefore be limited to two key patristic positions which we believe are essential for a Christian understanding of the relationship between human beings and animals. According to the first, animals and the world in general are created for man, who is made their master by God. According to the second, man's dominion over animals is not unconditional and unlimited, since man is neither their creator nor their owner, but subject to God's commands and judgement. In this context, the following views are presented: a) Celsus's criticism of the Christian doctrine of man's dominion over animals, b) Origen's response to it, c) St John Chrysostom's view that man's physical weakness in the face of the many animals is an expression of God's philanthropy, and d) St Gregory of Nyssa's view that what appears to be man's natural weakness becomes the occasion for a dominion based not on force and imposition but on cooperation.

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