From Cattle to Cross: Jesus Confronts the Root of War. By Kameron Waters. Paraphrased by Dr. Chapman Chen
- Chapman Chen
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
In the following paraphrased passage, titled by me, Kameron Waters (2025), co-director of Christspiracy, traces the etymology of the word war back to animal agriculture, which he links to the foundations of capitalism. According to Waters, Jesus’ Temple Raid was not merely a symbolic act but a direct revolt against animal exploitation and the idolatry of wealth.
Are you aware of where the term “war” originates? Have you ever looked into the roots of this word? In our documentary, we explore this topic, revealing that the earliest recorded term for war traces back to the Vedic era in ancient Hindu culture, from the distant East—among the earliest places where battles arose. The term is “gavisti,” which is derived from the older root “go.” In Sanskrit, this ancient term for conflict literally translates to “a desire for more cows.” It referred to livestock—cattle—because initial human conflicts were sparked by disputes over herds. Herding societies relied heavily on animals as their main form of wealth generation.
Even the modern term “capital” is related to the head—“cap”—as in the head of livestock. Societies once evaluated their prosperity based on the size of their herds. However, livestock later proved to be a deeply wasteful way to use regional resources. These animals consume enormous amounts of greenery and drink vast quantities of water. As a result, these pastoral communities eventually depleted their local supply and were driven to seize the resources of other nearby tribes. And that’s how fighting began.
Now, we’re witnessing a similar pattern: people fear the loss of their autonomy and basic rights—freedom of expression, personal liberty, and more. But the pattern in one thing reflects the pattern in all things. The whole framework we operate within was constructed on the subjugation of animals. Today, most sentient beings live in confinement. We force them into life, only to slaughter them for consumption. This is the essence of capitalism—literally rooted in “cattle ownership.” The concept of capitalism suggests a system of open exchange. But how open is the economy when animal agriculture is massively subsidised? It receives the largest government support worldwide—about four-fifths of global subsidies, using taxpayers’ money. In fact, animal farming benefits from a thousandfold more public funding than plant-based agriculture.
Yet what’s truly nourishing—what we might call ital or vital food—is plant-based. Through this film, we present historical records showing that during the era of Jesus—Yeshua—there existed a deeply entrenched animal trade in the Jerusalem Temple. Every Passover, enormous numbers of animals were bought and sold to be killed as offerings. But Jesus made a bold statement: “I want compassion, not ritual slaughter.” He overturned the system—both figuratively and literally—disrupting the trade and releasing the animals.
This act would be equivalent today to Christ arriving at the famous Bull of Wall Street, flipping over the financial tables, and declaring, “A revolution is coming. Power and money have dominated not only human lives but also those of animals.” #VeganChrist #VeganGod #veganChurch #VeganTheology
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