Most intelligent, well-adjusted people - the kind that read this column - don’t spend time arguing with fools. So, for most of us, the ranting of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) holds little interest. Yet there are others in our world that turn into simpering morons when they read some trumped up story about animal cruelty published by PETA.

In the past, PETA has focused their demagoguery on the livestock industry, the fur industry, the circus, rodeo, and animal testing laboratories. Now the richest group of animal rights wackos has decided to take on God.

“Christianity has been a real problem for the animal movement,” said Peter Singer, an animal liberation author, who told a PETA meeting in 2002 “the church is our foe.”

A recent report released by the Center for Consumer Freedom documents the systematic attacks PETA has been making on religion. Titled Holy Cow, the report shows how PETA has targeted Christians, Jews, and Muslims for harassment and ridicule. They started with the laughable statement that Jesus was a vegetarian.

They have since moved on to picketing churches and even suing one congregation. They have taken legal action against the kosher slaughter method and have urged Muslims to not eat meat, a direct violation of the Qur’an. The only religious group not in PETA gun sights is the Hindus. Prohibitions against killing most animals put them in good stead with the animal rightists.

I am quite confident God can take care of himself and that at the end of the world he will have a big surprise waiting for the PETA radicals (Mathew 25:32-33). Until then, however, the rest of us will have to put up with this garbage.

In a recent editorial at meatingplace.com, Dan Murphy insightfully dissected the main elements of all animal rights arguments. According to Murphy, all animal rights arguments have three elements: an unsavory history spiked with legitimate abuse, an “outrage” factor based on modern-day sensibilities, and an argument that such activities are just not needed.

“Take away any one of these factors and an issue’s impact as a lever for social change is greatly reduced,” said Murphy.

Outrage is the favorite card of animal activists. They scream in righteous indignation and assume their position is the moral high ground. In the same breath, these people vivisect the spiritual beliefs of one group while setting their standards as the only true measure or morality.

Murphy stresses that our response should stress the value and utility of the animal industry not just our “right” to engage in it. Most people (outside of the animal rights movement) will respond when the reason for and utility of a practice is explained. Food production, medical research, and even entertainment all have a value recognized by most reasonable people.

As for a theological argument, there is none. The six-volume, 7,000-page Anchor Bible Dictionary does not even have a listing for vegetarian. There is simply no indication that Jesus was a vegetarian. Even the Dalai Lama eats meat.

My suggestion is to heed the advice given in Proverbs 26:4 and don’t argue with the bunny huggers. Yet, take the advice of Dan Murphy when talking with your neighbors, friends and church members. You may also want to look up the Holy Cow report at www.consumerfreedom.com

Amen.