Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal?
It’s an unsettling question, but one that launched a six-year journey across the globe. From Kip Andersen (the acclaimed filmmaker behind Seaspiracy, Cowspiracy, and What the Health), a groundbreaking documentary challenges believers who consume meat, eggs, dairy, and fish to ask themselves: What would Jesus do?
Teaming up with gospel songwriter and musician Kameron Waters, Andersen traveled the world, studied sacred texts, and spoke with prominent religious leaders from five major faith traditions. What Would Jesus Do? presents evidence that many revered religious leaders throughout history rejected harming and killing animals.
But if compassion for animals has such deep roots in religious teachings, how did the exploitation of animals become so widely accepted among people of faith?
“The Biggest Cover-Up in 2,000 Years”
Throughout history, religious teachings have emphasized mercy, kindness, and respect for all of God’s creations. Yet many of us have never stopped to consider how those values relate to the billions of animals who suffer in today’s food systems.
What Would Jesus Do? examines how religious teachings have been overshadowed by centuries of tradition, cultural norms, and powerful industries that profit from the exploitation of our fellow animals.
The result is not a condemnation of believers but an invitation to deeper reflection.
A Message That Echoes Jesus’ Teachings
Jesus consistently encouraged his followers to lead with love and compassion. That message should extend to all living, feeling animals.
Our fellow animals experience fear, joy, pain, and affection. Mother cows form deep bonds with their calves, yet the dairy industry tears them apart shortly after birth. Chickens establish complex social relationships, but farms crowd them into filthy sheds where they can barely move or spread their wings. Fish feel pain, recognize one another, and navigate complex social lives, yet the fishing industry hauls them from their ocean homes by the billions every year.
What Would Jesus Do? asks viewers to consider these individuals through the lens of religious teachings.
For many Christians, this raises important questions:
- Does causing suffering align with Christ’s message?
- How can we better honor God’s creation?
- What does mercy look like in our everyday choices?
What Would Jesus Do? encourages viewers to wrestle with these questions and consider how extending kindness to all animals can be an expression of faith.
Watch What Would Jesus Do? For FREE Online
Animals are not ours to abuse or exploit. They are unique individuals created by God, each with their own interests, experiences, and desire to live free from suffering.
Experience this powerful documentary for FREE today. Then, share it with friends, family members, church groups, and anyone interested in exploring the connection between faith and empathy for animals.
