Mensch – Tier – Gott

The growing academic interest in animals and in their abilities and interactions with humans, along with insights from behavioural biology and philosophical reflections on animals, have led to a reassessment of the relationship between humans and animals—and this has had consequences for theology, which must investigate the philosophical and theological reasons why it largely ‘forgets about’ animals. Scripture and the spirituality of creation have the potential to shape our relationship to animals, and theologians must unlock this potential. We must walk a tightrope here: our task is to overcome the differentialism between humans and animals, but without blurring the specific characteristics of each. This book presents an interdisciplinary approach to a form of Christian animal ethics that is not seen as one isolated ethical field in philosophy or theology, but looks for answers in the debates about the relationship between human beings and animals. These questions concern the whole of society.

With contributions by
Andreas Aigner, Heike Baranzke, Martina Besler, Julia Blanc, Katharina Ebner, Matthias Eggel, Julia Enxing, Matthias Gauly, Herwig Grimm, Anita Idel, Kurt Kotrschal, Peter Kunzmann, Martin M. Lintner, Susana Monsó, Ute Neumann-Gorsolke, Jakob Ohm, Christina Potschka, Kurt Remele, Michael Rosenberger, Markus Vogt and Markus Wild.