Animal Ethics

The relationship between non-human animals, the shared-world (Mitwelt), and human animals is characterized by mutual interdependence. However, since around the 19^th century, technical-industrial development has led to the extensive human exploitation of other animals and our shared-world. In the face of humanity’s destructive violence, Christian theology is called upon to reflect upon what kind of treatment of other animals and the shared-world is truly Christian. While this question most directly affects other animals and the shared-world, it also indirectly affects future human beings who will suffer severely from climate change and species extinction.