David vs. Goliath: The Battle for Animal Rights and Vegan Christianity. By Dr. Chapman Chen
- Chapman Chen
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Throughout history, the biblical story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) has symbolised the triumph of the seemingly weak against the mighty. Today, this ancient struggle continues in two critical battles: animal rights/vegan activism against the meat industry, and vegan Christians against mainstream Pauline churches.
The meat industry, like Goliath, stands as a colossal force—wealthy, influential, and deeply entrenched in society. With vast financial power, government support, aggressive lobbying, and cultural tradition on its side, it seeks to silence the Davids of our time—animal rights activists and vegan advocates. Armed with truth, ethics, and growing scientific support, these activists challenge the industry’s cruelty and environmental destruction.
They are often persecuted both legally and in other ways. For example, UC Berkeley student and Happy Hen Animal Sanctuary founder Zoe Rosenberg is currently facing up to five and a half years in prison for rescuing four criminally abused chickens from Perdue’s Petaluma Poultry slaughterhouse. In 2024, Australian activist Tash Peterson was barred from leaving Western Australia after protesting against animal abuse at a Perth restaurant in 2023. Also, Tash has been physically assaulted in public multiple times and is regularly insulted and bullied on social media.
Yet, like David’s humble slingshot, the weapons of vegan activists—awareness, education, and moral conviction—are steadily chipping away at the monster. The rise of vegan alternatives, growing public concern over animal rights, and shifting consumer choices suggest that the giant is not invincible.
In a parallel struggle, vegan Christians find themselves in battle against the mainstream Pauline church, which has long justified animal flesh consumption despite Jesus’ message of compassion. Paul’s writings, prioritising obedience to authority over radical mercy, have shaped a Christian theology that often ignores the suffering of God’s innocent creatures. Vegan Christians, like David standing before the towering institution, call for a return to the true spirit of love, mercy, and justice for all creation. They remind the world that Jesus the Vegan Christ died for liberating animals from the Temple (Mark 11:15-18; Akers 2000: 113-134; Waters & Anderson 2024), and that early Christian sects, such as the Ebionites, rejected animal sacrifice and practised vegan diets in alignment with divine compassion.
In both battles, the odds seem insurmountable. Yet history tells us that giants can fall. The growing awareness of animal suffering and the alignment of ethical living with spiritual integrity are slinging stones at the forehead of these oppressive systems. Just as David’s faith and courage led to an unlikely victory, the persistence of vegan activists and Christian reformers may yet bring about a transformation—one where kindness, justice, and respect for all life prevail.
The question remains: Will we stand with David, or bow to Goliath?
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