Humane slaughtering is still killing

An interesting article caught my eye today on the BBC website....

Halal and Kosher slaughter 'must end'

In short, an independent advisory group is advocating the banning of killing animals by the halal and kosher methods, as prescribed in the Islamic and Jewish culture. They claim that the animals are in a lot of pain before they die and hence this method of slaughtering animals is inhumane.

Some key points from the article...

One worshipper at the Central London Mosque told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Everything about the Islamic way of life is under attack so it makes you wonder if this is actually about humanity to animals

This is already taking on a religious hue - which I believe is fully justified.

Peter Jinman, president of the British Veterinary Association said vets respected people's religious beliefs, but urged Muslims to be respectful of animals too.

I just find this too funny. "respectful of animals" indeed. If you are killing an animal, it is gonna die, whether u use a stun gun or slit its throat. How does "respect" come into this ?

"We're looking at what is acceptable in the moral and ethical society we live in," he told Today.

Is he saying that some religious beliefs are not "moral and ethical" ? Are "moral and ethical" beliefs a domain of one particular religion/way of thinking only ??

Please note that this is not a tirade against non vegetarians or any particular group. Even as a non islamic, non jewish person, these kind of "pseudo moralistic" issues make me sick. They serve no other purpose but to increase the tensions between various relgions/cultures which we are trying so hard to avoid. Clearly, these people have nothing much to do.

Thoughts ? Comments ??