Editing Violence (section)

== Animal violence and spiritual roots of violence ==

Violence is not limited to interactions between human beings. Humans also perpetrate violence against animals through various practices such as [[factory farming]], [[animal testing]], [[poaching]], and the use of animals in [[entertainment]]. While some argue that these acts serve utilitarian or cultural purposes, others consider them systemic forms of institutionalized violence that reflect a broader disregard for non-human life.<ref>{{cite book |last=Regan |first=Tom |title=[[The Case for Animal Rights]] |publisher=University of California Press |year=1983 |isbn=978-0520243866}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Singer |first=Peter |title=Animal Liberation |year=1975 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=9780061711305}}</ref> [[Animal rights]] movements, including organizations such as [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] (PETA), and philosophies such as [[veganism]] and [[ahimsa]] (nonviolence), assert that violence toward animals is morally unjustifiable and desensitizes society to broader forms of harm and exploitation.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Joy |first=Melanie |title=Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism |journal=Social Justice |volume=39 |issue=1 |year=2013 |pages=58–73}}</ref>

Some spiritual and philosophical traditions link the roots of violence—whether toward humans or animals—to a fundamental ignorance of the sacredness and interconnectedness of life. In these worldviews, violence stems from the illusion of separation between the self and others, leading to a failure to recognize the inherent value of all living beings. For example, in certain Eastern traditions such as [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], the concept of ''[[avidya (Hinduism)|avidya]]'' (spiritual ignorance) is seen as the basis for harmful actions.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada |first=A.C. |title=Bhagavad-gītā As It Is |year=1983 |publisher=The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust |isbn=9780892132850 |page=336}}</ref> Similarly, many indigenous and religious belief systems promote reverence for all life forms and view violence as a consequence of disconnection from spiritual principles such as compassion, humility, and respect for nature.<ref>{{cite book |last=Deloria |first=Vine Jr. |title=God Is Red: A Native View of Religion |year=2003 |publisher=Fulcrum Publishing |isbn=9781555914981}}</ref>

Proponents of this perspective argue that cultivating spiritual awareness and empathy can diminish violent tendencies by fostering a deeper understanding of the unity of life. Educational, meditative, and ethical practices aimed at recognizing the divine or intrinsic worth in all beings are seen not only as pathways to inner peace, but as foundational to creating a less violent world.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Schmidt |first=Leah |title=Compassion as a Path to Nonviolence |journal=Journal of Peace Education |volume=7 |issue=2 |year=2010 |pages=141–158 |doi=10.1080/17400201003715990}}</ref>
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