ABSTRACT
Historical practice of religion has been foundational to societal development of morals, ethics, customs, and law. Many customs, attitudes, and policies directly relate to or are suspected to relate to religious undertones and influence. Free exercise of religion is guaranteed under the US Constitution. The constitutional right to practice religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment. Animals have coexisted with humans since before the inception of criminal law. Over time religious laws that regulated the treatment of animals were imbedded into criminal laws. Many Jews throughout the world obey Jewish law, which regulates slaughter of and cruelty toward animals. Nearly every religion transmits stories, rules, standards, explanations, or ideas about how humans should or should not interact with animals. Religion has been one of the most powerful influences on the development of contemporary society, morals, and law. To some extent animals continue to be subject to the influence of traditional religious authority.
