Church Uses Caged Lion to Symbolize Satan

A church in Florida has garnered a lot of attention for using a caged lion on stage as a symbol for Satan.

The church, Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City, Fla., is featuring a series of sermons called “Wild”. The pastor of the church, Troy Gramling, arranged for the display of a lion in a cage as a prop for his sermon focusing around verses from the book of 1 Peter. The verses in question use the image of a “roaring lion” as a simile for the devil.

Despite the best efforts of groups like The Christian Vegetarian Association, the faith as a whole has never been particularly receptive to animal rights ideologies. Dedicated theologians and scholars would debate about the meaning of verses in the book of Genesis that explicitly name plants and trees as the food for humans. Others would argue the same book gives humanity “dominion” over the animals which could be interpreted as permission to eat them.

These kinds of debates are fruitless and serve only that small segment of any religious group that reads their respective scriptures in any depth. I would argue the real reason Christianity is not receptive to veganism is a simple matter of demographics. It’s not a matter of conflicting ideologies, it’s simply that for the majority of Americans, Christianity is seen as the “default” religion, and eating meat is seen as the “default” diet.

Christianity is by far the most populous religious group in the US, and in addition, the majority of people in the US eat meat. To think there wouldn’t be a large overlap seems silly.

Pastor Gramling utilizes the lion to inspire fear, and reiterates as many times as he can that the lion wants nothing more than to kill you. As if humanity didn’t have enough ill-will toward wild animals, Gramling wants to draw a mental connection between a majestic and beautiful animal and the cause of all evil in the world.

Gramling, speaking from a theatrical stage covered with a tree canopy, plants, and what appear to be taxidermied animals, tries to characterize the lion as blood-thirsty and malevolent. The simile of lion for satan depends on us fearing the lion. But the lion has much more to fear from humans who possess guns (a gun is also featured in Gramling’s sermon), and the ability to eliminate their habitat, than humanity has to fear from a lion.

Behind all the theological narrative, the metaphor, and the fear-mongering, the same fact remains that is always present when we display animals: we are using a sentient being as entertainment. The lion paced the cage nervously the whole time the pastor was speaking. It doesn’t take a zoologist to spot frustration and confusion in an enormous animal trapped in a tiny cage.

Animals like lions belong in the wild. They do not belong in cages. Lions certainly do not belong on stage in a church being used as a prop to inspire fear and hatred of animals. They shouldn’t be supervised by a man who sees an accidental attack by a lion as a possible source of greater profit.

Animals do not exist for our entertainment any more than they exist for our consumption. Boycott any institution that believes in exploiting animals for their flesh, their fur or their entertainment value.

Watch the sermon:

Photo: Furryscaly

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Henisa A.

11:42AM PDT on Oct 16, 2011

has this been stopped??

send a green star

Daniela M.

8:05AM PDT on Mar 31, 2011

Idiots!...

Jeremy P.

4:44PM PDT on Mar 22, 2011

What type of idiot does this to any animal? Would this moron like to be put in a cage and called Satan? I see no resemblence between a lion and satan! Lions are not creul animals, in my mind that pastor is the one who is creul. Shouldn't the pastor be showing respect for all of God's creatures? You would think that a pastor of all people should feel this way.

Past Member .

3:51PM PST on Mar 7, 2011

this religious fanatic f%$k, why doesnt he use a snake as a symbol for Satan, evethough the snake was just a vehicle, NOT satan,s o thatd be just as uselss. if this moron were to read the bible, at the rapture, THE GREAT LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, who do you think that is? not satan you dumb f%$k. I HATE idiots like these. ugh/! If Jesus compares himself to a Lion, no wonder they are KING.

Salome W.

2:17PM PST on Mar 6, 2011

I hope these poor abused lions are rescued soon, and their "owners" are prosecuted for cruelty to animals

Jerold & Cheri P.

12:00PM PST on Mar 6, 2011

Heaven help us from religious nuts like this. Hope there is a special place in hell (if there is such a place) for people like this.

Maria P.

7:50AM PST on Mar 6, 2011

Christianity is about love not hatred. The book of Genesis is part of the Old Testament, where for example we have the maxim of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Jesus, the "leader/creator" of Christianity, is the One who taught love to all beings, even to your enemy (see the New Testament). He also said that He came to "complete| " the scriptures. I really do not see why American priests stress the Old Testament so much and forget all about the New Testament, the Books of Christ.

John E.

2:56AM PST on Mar 5, 2011

Pastor Gramling would be far better occupied by going to Afghanistan and attempting to convert some of the local people to christianity ... after finding a suitable sanctuary for the lion.

Luke H ...
I think you are winding us up !!
Aren't you ??

Dorothy F.

9:06PM PST on Mar 4, 2011

This is sick and stupid!!! He is not doing anything with this similie. Whether he is a good Pator or not at this point is not in question; he is however a stupid fool to capitalize on an animal for this purpose. What next, selling a little snake oil as well. Tell me, maybe his " speaking in tongues" is that with a forked one. Hmmm...get a grip. I know righteous and decent beings in all faiths and very, decent Christian people that are finding this to be absolutely an insult to one of God's creatures.

Raeshawn P.

3:35PM PST on Mar 4, 2011

What a bunch of bull! The only thing I see that's deceving, stealing dreams and distroying futures and destinies is YOU! Jeez, you know what, no animal is 'the devil' because the only thing standing agains humaninity...is humanity. We are our own worst enemy, SO STOP TRYING TO PIN IN ON SOME CAGED, SCARED LION!