基督教一般被認為是個並不利於動物倫理思想發展的傳統。本文首先指出此看法之形成部分源自於現有研究取向上的侷限。本文參酌史學界對傳統思想史之檢討，指出研究者唯有彌補過去對非正統觀點、思想之社會脈絡以及不同社群之主體性等觀照之不足，才能更充分掌握對基督教與動物倫理間之歷史關聯。 本文接著進入研究主體：十九世紀英國動物保護運動與基督教傳統。本文首先分析基督教福音主義對運動所產生之影響，接著分析運動在其動員工作中如何有意識地積極挪用基督教傳統當中之思想與社會資源，以促其目標之實現。在運動之重新詮釋下，神學概念如創造論、人類對萬物之統管權柄，以及耶穌之憐憫與犧牲精神等核心基督教想法，皆被有意識地轉化為對運動有利之思想基礎與論述；此外，神職人員之社會與道德影響力亦為運動所積極爭取，以促各項動員工作。文末結論道，十九世紀動保運動在立法、慈善事業、人道價值之建立等各層面，皆有重大進展，而基督教傳統在運動成員的積極動員下，乃發揮了關鍵之促成力量。 做為一歷史研究，本文一方面期能增加我們對十九世紀動保運動之理解，尤其是其與基督教傳統之密切關聯，另一方面亦期能對當代有關宗教與動物倫理之討論有所啟發。文末指出，當思想回歸脈絡、各群體尋回主體性後，我們所失去的或許是各宗教對動物倫理之必然影響的信念，所獲得的，卻是對於未來可能的更大想像空間。

Christianity has often been regarded as a negative tradition in relation to animal ethics. This article points out that the prevalence of this viewpoint can be attributed to limitations inherent in the approaches taken in current scholarship. Through a critique of the traditional history of ideas, this article points out that only when due attention has been be paid to thinking outside the boundaries of orthodoxy, to the social context of ideas, and to the historical agency of different social groups, can we reach a fuller understanding of the complex relations between Christianity and animal ethics in history. 

The main section of this article then begins with a discussion of the impact of evangelicalism on the animal protection movement in nineteenth-century Britain. Then it examines the movement’s conscious appropriation of various ideational and practical social resources in the Christian tradition in aid of its objectives. This article shows that through the conscious re-interpretation of theological concepts such as Creationism, the dominion of humans over other animals, and the spirit of mercy and sacrifice, Christian ideas were turned into powerful ideological instruments laying the foundation and providing the discourses for the movement. Similarly, the social and moral support of the highly influential clergy was also actively sought by participants in the movement in aid of their various mobilizing tasks. The final section of the article sums up the major accomplishments of the movement during the nineteenth century in the spheres of legislation, philanthropy, and social values, and argues for the pivotal role of Christianity in its development as consciously appropriated by the movement. 

This article aims to contribute to our understanding of the nineteenth-century animal protection movement in Britain, especially its intimate relationship with the Christian tradition. It also aspires to contribute to the contemporary discussion of the relationship between religion and animal ethics. It shows that when ideas are placed in context, and historical actors regain their agencies, our assumed certainties regarding the impact of any religion on animal ethics may also be shattered. Yet for what we lose in certainty, we gain in new possibilities.

動物倫理; 動物保護; 基督教; 十九世紀英國; 反殘酷運動; 反動物實驗運動

animal ethics; animal protection; Christianity; nineteenth century Britain; anti-cruelty movement; anti-vivisection movement