Animal Testing- Perspective in Major World Religions

Animal testing is the use of non-human animals for experimentation, evaluation and monitoring in controlled laboratory circumstances for research purposes. Such research usually conducted in schools, universities, farms, pharmaceutical companies, commercial establishments, medical laboratories and industrial labs is provided as a service to researchers who develop human and animal behavioral action-interaction reports based on biology, genetics, toxicology and cosmetic testing.

Animal testing has been subject to numerous variances and has also long been a controversial issue in various societies, cultures, religions and philosophies. This is because of the skepticism and criticisms it faces due to difference in the belief system, ethical issues, moral concerns and virtuous dissimilarities. All these dissimilarities primarily signify religious differences which root all the differences in opinions, attitudes and beliefs regarding animal testing.

Islamic take on animal testing

In Islam, ethical issues raised by performing experimental testing on animals has been a long debate however, still there are a number of viewpoints that exist. Islam views animal testing as extremely painful and lethal which is no regard acceptable. It is in no terms justifiable under any circumstances. Furthermore, there is even more intense emphasis on the acts that particularly pose and unavoidable threat to the animal life or in other words, continuation of normal life after testing. Since all such acts cause undue pain, it is stated clearly by Islamic philosophers, leaders and scholars that no urgency of human needs validates or rationalizes any sort of calculated or uncalculated violence to these souls.

It has been affirmed by many Islamic scriptures, revelations as well as sayings of the Prophet that Islam clearly prohibits against animal cutting in particular when it results in agony, torture, distress and pain. Thus, this confirms that any interference with body of a live animal that results in disfigurement is clearly contrary to Islamic percepts.

Animal testing in Buddhism

On the other hand, in Buddhism, although practice of animal testing and experimentation is acknowledged, despite the teaching of peace, kindness, compassion and sympathy taught by Buddha. However, this religion justifies animal testing on logical grounds. It works on the doctrine of Karma which signifies that humans are reborn as animals which is itself a somber setback. Thus this bad karma makes animals inferior to human beings and this is why can be used to test and experiment cosmetics for human beings. However, they should not be harmed in term of life threat just because they have fewer rights than humans. The experiment should only be for a good purpose and also that they should be treated very kindly.

Animal testing in Christianity

In principles and teaching of Christianity, human experimentation and testing on animals is a domain of modern science that evokes immensely violent reaction and extreme contempt. It functions on three basic principles of Refining, Replacing and Reducing which also indicate a degree of animal suffering but to minimalistic level. It does not encourage animal testing but supports human benefit over animals similarly as Buddhism does. However, there is no concrete evidence in Christianity as there is in Islam that signifies how or to what level, experimentation is allowed thus many Christian researches can experiment on various animals including mice, rats, pigs, monkeys etc.
Nevertheless, animal testing is still viewed as an undesirable act in most regions of the world. It takes its basis from suffering agony and pain and can never be encouraged regardless of the religion.