QUESTION: I despair when I read about trophy hunting. I’ve researched many Holy Books including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. All of them include that humans should not be cruel to animals. Even the religions that advocate animals for food say that, until the time they are used for food, they are to be treated humanely. Trophy hunting – hunting down innocent animals – is not humane. I can’t understand for the life of me the ego that just has to have a bear rug or the head of an animal in their den. To me, these individuals are breaking spiritual laws.

What do you think? ~ Animal Lover

Dear Animal Lover,

Thank you for your reaching out in compassion as it relates to those winged and four-plus footed siblings with which we share this planet. I too have a hard time understanding what it is in a person that creates a need to collect “trophies.” I have a number of people in my family who are hunters, and I am amazed at the love and care they show in what they do. They are the first who speak about the health and wellbeing of the animals and the protection of habitat. They also make incredible use of all parts of their harvest, and while doing so give thanks for the life of the animal.

I have also known one “trophy” hunter in my life. For years I had heard of a room that the husband of someone who my wife worked with had in his house. We would often visit their home for dinners and work get-togethers, but I never saw the room itself until we attended his retirement party and he just had to show off his trophies to the rest of us. And as you spoke about “ego” in your question, his was on full display. The unfortunate side was that he seemed to be compensating for a lack of true relationship in his life. And I think this may be one reason that some need to gather trophies.

I kind of relate this to the life of King Nebuchadnezzar and his need to have everyone bow to his statue (his trophy). If we are needful of spiritual and relational life and are not willing to reach out in love to God or others, we will replace it with something (often that we can control) to fill the gap. We build a statue or a Golden Calf or a temple, a financial portfolio – whatever it might be – to give us some sense of worth. I would call this idolatry. And in perusing that room, one secretively hidden in the basement, I began to understand this man a little more – he wanted to be a god. In control of his world, power shown over the animal kingdom and control over who is let in and who is kept out of his “secret” life.

Trophy hunting for me is a sin of idolatry, and the self becomes the idol and the trophies are the spoils of worship. This man seemed so sure of himself when he was in his own space but remove him from his “temple” and the façade began to crack. I wonder what he is doing now, in this time of COVID-19, when it seems no one is in control, but in reaching out in love to those around us by simple things like wearing a mask we reflect the love shown to us by God.

Pastor Scott Peterson

pastor@lcifoothills.org

Dear Animal Lover,

As soon as I read your letter, I immediately knew that I needed to respond to you. I also knew that I might not be the most objective minister to respond to a question about trophy hunters! I am a longtime vegan/vegetarian, and animal rights activist. Ever since I was a child, I could never understand cruelty to animals, or to people for that matter. I simply could not wrap my mind, or heart, around the idea that it was a “thrill” to hunt down a defenseless animal, not use it for food, and then proudly hang the dead body parts on a wall (I know I’m preaching to the choir here).

At the very end of your letter, you question whether or not the trophy hunters are breaking “spiritual laws.” When I read that, I knew that I could speak to you about that question without any bias whatsoever. In my studies of world religions, I was taught that there are spiritual laws that do apply to all of us because we are actually spiritual beings. These are not the same laws as the Ten Commandments, which you may have heard about. Within all major religions there exists a common thread. This is called The Golden Rule. Quoting the Christian Bible, it simply states, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” However, living by the Golden Rule does not mean that I can force anyone to change or share my beliefs. The founder of the Science of Mind and Spirit, Dr. Ernest Holmes, taught that everything is made of one source energy which is in, around and through all things. He also taught that all people have free will, and can choose to use their life energy in whatever way they desire … for good or otherwise. Our lives are governed by spiritual laws of love and intelligence, which apply to all of life, in the same way that we are governed by physical laws, such as gravity, and electromagnetism.

These days I see so many examples of people choosing violence over peace, and hatred over love. But I also see heroes working on the front lines in hospitals, risking their lives to care for victims of COVID-19, and I see children peacefully marching for an end to racism, and volunteers working in animal sanctuaries and shelters. Rather than condemn others for their choices, and stand by and watch, I choose to take action for a cause that is in alignment with good. This will shift the balance for good on the whole planet.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Look into your heart and find something that you can do to help heal, inspire and make a difference in your life, and in the lives of all animals that are being treated inhumanely. Namaste.

Rev. Karen Mitchell

karen@karenmitchellmusic.com

QUESTION: Both my husband and I were raised attending the same church where we were married. We continued attending and brought two beautiful children into our lives. The children were in church nursery as babies and now, at ages 3 and 5, they had attended Sunday school until churches were closed over three months ago. We were fortunate to have our services online, but there has been nothing for children. We’ve found it very difficult to explain to our children the reason they can’t go to Sunday school right now. We went on the Internet and purchased a children’s Bible and Christian activities for them. We told them for now Mommy and Daddy will be their Sunday school teachers. Still they keep asking when they can go back to “their” Sunday school.

We’ve run out of answers for them. Can you help? ~ Bewildered Parents

Dear Bewildered Parents,

With the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we now find ourselves faced with circumstances that we don’t know how to deal with, mainly because we’ve never experienced them before. We are literally learning by trial and error as to what works best for our new stay at home lifestyles. I can appreciate the tender age of your children and how they would want to go to Sunday school. I also appreciate the difficulty of daily parenting along with playing the role of Sunday school teachers. Unfortunately, for the time being, the “new normal” requires that many of us take on new roles and new responsibilities in our families and our jobs.

As a practical matter, I would suggest you speak with the pastor of your church and ask for suggestions. The youth director of your church might have some really wonderful suggestions as to ways to continue with the children’s ongoing religious education through books they can recommend or games to play that have a spiritual basis. Many students are taking Zoom classes provided by their school teachers. Ask if the youth director is open to offering religious Zoom classes for the children. There are also a variety of religious educational videos on YouTube geared toward children of all ages that will provide valuable spiritual lessons.

I also recommend praying for spiritual inspiration. We are each adapting to meet the demands of our evolving environment and the challenges that none of us have experienced before. This pandemic has required that we adapt in new ways that we didn’t know we had the capabilities of handling and, if we let it, it will inspire us to come up with new and inventive ways to thrive. The founder of Religious Science said, “Nature will not let us stay in one place too long. She will let us stay just long enough to gather the experience necessary to the unfolding and advancement of the soul. Nature demands change in order that we may advance.” You and your husband are faced with a wonderful new opportunity to bond with your children on a spiritual level, one that you might not have had the chance to without these circumstances. Look for the gift that this situation brings to you and it will guide you as to the best course of action to take.

Rev. Mary Morgan

mormari@aol.com

Dear Bewildered Parents:

Wow! Who would have thought coming into this new decade we would experience what we have faced in the past few months! As a church that has been forced to move all ministry online, I can say it has really been challenging and even more so for the families who have lost the opportunity to receive help in the spiritual development of their children. But having our worlds disrupted has a positive side not just a negative side. It can force us to come to the realization of what is personally most important for our children and for ourselves as well. As a pastor and Christian educator, I commend you for faithfully engaging your kids in Sunday school all these years.

You’ve stumbled on an important realization early on in your parenting journey: The spiritual development of your children is your responsibility as parents. We are all thankful to God that we can receive support from the faith community. But since the creation of the family, fathers and mothers have served as the teachers of God’s big story. In Deuteronomy 6:5-7 we find the Great Commandment that was reemphasized by Jesus Himself when He was on earth: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

I know it’s disappointing that many local churches are not able to engage children during this pandemic. And certainly parents need help to do so. But let me suggest a simple search on YouTube using the words: “preschool Bible lessons” in your search. I can also personally recommend the SoCal Kids channel on YouTube. A good read on this subject and the spiritual development of your children is “Spiritual Parenting, an Awakening for Today’s Families” by Michelle Anthony.

One more important thing I want to share with you. No question your kids need church, but never forget that your church needs the kids. I suggest that you and your children reach out to their Sunday school teachers and let them know how missed and loved they are. This time of quarantine won’t last forever, and we sure want those volunteer servants returning!

Blessings to you as you continue to minister to the spiritual needs of your children! And, hopefully, we’ll be back together in the house of God soon!

Pastor Randy Foster

randy.clc@att.net