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I am so grateful to Jan --head of the American Chapter of Catholic Concern for Animals (CCA) suggesting that I read Every Creature a Word of God by Annika Spalde & Pelle Strindlund. (Vegetarian Advocates Press, Cleveland, Ohio) So, I sent my check for $18 (PO Box 201791, 44120) and waited eagerly for its coming.
The beautiful paper back finally came and on the cover was a beautiful face - a cow. I thought why doesn't everyone see the beauty in this face as we do? I rarely read a book from cover to cover in a short time, but I did this one. I e-mailed Jan how much I appreciated this work which moved me deeply. She was glad to hear it and asked if I was willing to write a review for CCA. I have never written a review but I told her I would give it a shot providing she asks someone in the CCA in the UK to read and review it as well. They do such great reviews.
Here is my first ever review. It is a good experience. I never appreciated the efforts of those who wrote reviews before. For me It was a challenge to synthesize the import of a book.
Book Review: EVERY CREATURE A WORD OF GOD by Annika Spalde & Pelle Strindlund
I found a beautiful central theme throughout the book which is Ps. 145 -
God is kind and compassionate to all His creatures. Biblical accounts generally permeate the pages starting with the shared experiences of both humans and animals in Genesis in the Garden of Eden. Another repeated thematic reminder is given when the authors repeat what Christ said to His followers --that whoever wishes to be the greatest should aspire to be the least. A remark that is not lost on us who care about how we treat our animal brothers and sisters.
Questions which may have puzzled us re the animal condition are dealth with here with wonderful new insights. Was Jesus vegetarian? What's wrong with eating fish? Did Jesus partake of the Paschal Lamb? I like their thoughts re this last question. They observed since Jesus was the Pascal lamb, there was no need for another lamb to be present at the Last Supper.
Both young authors are eminently qualified to comment on religious subjects as Annika is an ordained deacon in the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and Pelle holds an MA in Religious Studies. Annika works with the Swedish Christian Vegetarian movement and Pelle is involved with The Rescue Service, a Swedish animal rights organization working with non-
violent civil disobedience. Both have been imprisoned for short times in this regard.
They have done a superb job in researching commonly held religious views which have often not been helpful to the animals. Their quotes from and stories of people of all religious persuasions and backgrounds are choice. We recognize many of them and it is like meeting old friends with whom we have so much in common. The accounts endeared me anew to all those who speak for the animals --the saints, clerics, the Quakers, and esteemed
writers among them. They, Annika, and Pelle confirm our feeling that "Every Creature is a Word of God."
