Norm Phelps

Norm Phelps
Born	Norman Nelson Phelps, III May 16, 1939 USA
Died	December 31, 2014(2014-12-31) (aged 75) Meritus Medical Center, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
Resting place	Maryland
Occupation	Author, animal advocate
Citizenship	United States
Alma mater	University of Maryland, College Park
Period	late 20th century; early 21st century
Genre	Religious philosophy
Subjects	vegetarianism, veganism, animal rights, spirituality
Literary movement	Animal rights; religion and animal rights; religion; animal advocacy
Spouse	Patti Rogers[1]
Children	2, son Nelson and daughter Kyra
Relatives	survived by 5 grandchildren, Quinn Phelps, TJ Bleichner, Haley Phelps, Danny Bleichner and Reagan Bleichner
Website
www.animalsandethics.org

Norm Phelps (born Norman Nelson Phelps, III; May 16, 1939 – December 31, 2014)

As an animal rights theorist, Phelps argues that the animal rights movement must: 1) Engage religious communities on the side of animal rights, 2) Join with progressive movements for social and economic justice and environmental protection to create a genuine universal rights movement, and 3) pursue a "two-track" strategy of advocating veganism and the abolition of all animal exploitation while simultaneously campaigning for more moderate reforms, such as Meatless Mondays and the abolition of battery cages for laying hens. Although he is generally opposed to militant direct action on the grounds that it is counterproductive, Phelps supported live rescues of animals from farms and laboratories. In 1994, he was arrested at a pigeon shoot in Pikeville, Pennsylvania for releasing 200 pigeons who were slated to become living targets. He spent two days in Berks County Prison and was subsequently convicted of malicious mischief.

He lived in Funkstown, Maryland (USA) with his second wife, Patti Rogers. Phelps died on December 31, 2014, at the age of 75. He was survived by his wife Patti Rogers and 2 children, his son Nelson and his daughter Kyra.^[7]

Education

• University of Maryland, College Park, BA, history, philosophy, 1958–1962.^[8]

Publications

Books

• The Dominion of Love: Animal Rights According to the Bible. Lantern Books, New York, 2002. 208 pages.
• The Great Compassion: Buddhism and Animal Rights. Lantern Books, New York, 2004. 240 pages.
• The Longest Struggle: Animal Advocacy from Pythagoras to PETA. Lantern Books, New York, 2007. 368 pages.

Articles

• A Chronology of Animal Protection: Part I: The Ancient World - begins at 250,000 YBP
• Why the Animals Need Religion - cites religious social sources of compassion for animals and for humane reforms for animals
• An Open Letter to the Dalai Lama, June 15, 2007 - in which Phelps states that he had been practicing Tibetan Buddhism for more than 20 years
• Use a Sharp Knife: Animals and Islam
• Ethical Eating: Comments on the Unitarian Universalist Association's Draft Statement of Conscience

Audio podcasts

• Changing the Game, Part II (7/23/2013) - Transcription by Brandon Chung, 7/30/2013

Published Interviews

• The Dominion of Love: Interview with the Abolitionist Online
• The Great Compassion: Interview with the Abolitionist Online

Book Reviews

• Animals and the Holocaust: Eternal Treblinka by Charles Patterson
• Tales of Common Sorrow: Job Enters a Pain Clinic and Other Stories by Roberta Kalechofsky
• Trying to Walk before We Can Crawl: Speciesism by Joan Dunayer
• Speaking of the Unspeakable: the Holocaust and the Henmaid's Tale by Karen Davis

Video lectures

• History of the Animal Rights Movement (17:11), Apr 10, 2013, featured at the Animal Rights 2012 National Conference, organized by Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) of Bethesda, MD - argues for the secular roots of the animal rights movement, as 'the orphan child of the 1960s' and as having secularist roots from the European Enlightenment, contrasting it with the animal welfare movement which he said had emerged from 18th century religious roots, when contemplation of the moral meaning of sentience was centrally important to reflection on animals. Also distinguishes the 'new welfarism' of
  Gary Francione
  .

See also

• Alex Hershaft
• Buddhism
• Christian Vegetarian Association
• Ethical veganism
• Henry Spira
• Moral status of animals in the ancient world
• Oxford Group (animal rights)
• Richard Schwartz
• Roberta Kalechofsky
• Veganism

Notes