Christianity in the USA was once so strong that there was no room for other religions. However, within the last generation, various and sundry Eastern religions have invaded our nation and our children are now being inundated with their teachings. Some call it the “New Age” and others just use it to ridicule and contradict Christianity. We can no longer be ignorant of what these religions teach.

Hinduism and Buddhism both teach that animals are equal to humans and humans are no better than animals.

This becomes a veritable worship of animals. Some aspects of this is evident in the so-called “Animal Rights Movement” and also in some aspects of environmental issues. As Christians, we do not abuse animals, neither do we worship them, but rather take responsibility for them and the proper care of the environment.

In Hinduism Yoga emphasizes vegetarian diets. which may be good for our health if adequate nutrition can be supplied in other ways. However, to go vegan on the basis of the worship of animals is idolatry.  Vegetarian diets may be good for our health, but they are not more moral than diets which include meats, that is, as specified in the Bible, in moderation.

Yoga also stresses meditation. Meditation on the Holy Scriptures and prayer are good and necessary for Christian life and spiritual health. However, meditation otherwise can be merely a waste of time, or at worst worship of idols.

“In Buddhist doctrine*

“Animals have always been regarded in Buddhist thought as sentient** beings. Furthermore, animals possess Buddha*** nature (according to the Mahāyāna school) and therefore potential for enlightenment. Moreover, the doctrine of rebirth held that any human could be reborn as animal, and any animal could be reborn as a human. An animal might be a reborn dead relative, and anybody who looked far enough back through their series of lives might come to believe every animal to be a distant relative. The Buddha expounded that sentient** beings currently living in the animal realm have been our mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, children, friends in past rebirths. One could not, therefore, make a hard distinction between moral rules applicable to animals and those applicable to humans; ultimately humans and animals were part of a single family. They are all interconnected.”

*[From websitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_Buddhism]

**Webster’s Dictionary: “sentient: Capable of sensation and consciousness; experiencing sensation and feeling… the mind.”

***”Buddha nature” in this context  means “god-nature.”

Making Animals Equal to Mankind is Idolatry

This doctrine, along with Hinduism and other religions, is also idolatry in that it worships the creation rather than the Creator, Romans 1:20-23. Making animals on the same level as humans is denying that God created Man in His image and gave him dominion over all Flesh, Genesis 1:28. Making animals and humans as interchangeable through reincarnation is blasphemy against the image of God, which is unique to Mankind.

Man’s dominion was to be that of a shepherd, not a tyrant, as taking Father God, the Great Shepherd, for an example. Mankind does not own this world, but rather is given stewardship over it. Therefore, Mankind is accountable and responsible. But under these false religions, Mankind feels he can act like an animal and not be accountable to God for it.

“It is appointed unto Man once to die, and after this, the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27. We will have to give account of our stewardship. There is no such thing as re-incarnation into some kind of animal form.