Norm Phelps

Norm Phelps is Spiritual Outreach Director for The Fund for Animals, an organization that works for animal rights. In the following viewpoint, Phelps claims that animal rights activists should persuade those in the religious community to support animal rights. He believes activists can succeed in doing so because the core ethical teachings of the world’s major religions agree with the tenets of the animal rights movement. Although the doctrines of most religions appear to deny equal standing to animals, Phelps argues that those doctrines are often misrepresented or violate core religious teachings.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What four reasons does Phelps give for engaging religious communities on the side of animal rights"
2. According to the author, what is “the alpha and omega” of animal rights...