‘Christspiracy’ Is What Compassionate People of Faith Have Long Waited For
For many people of faith, one of the most troubling dilemmas they face is the contradiction between their beliefs in compassion, love, and kindness, and the exploitation of animals that is often justified by religious teachings. The question of how a faith rooted in love could condone or ignore the suffering of animals has been a source of inner conflict for generations.
This internal struggle is exactly where gospel songwriter and musician Kameron Waters found himself. Raised in the Bible Belt within a family of gospel singers and a minister, Waters grew up steeped in faith and love for God’s creation. But as he became increasingly aware of the systemic cruelty of the meat industry and the exploitation of animals, he could no longer reconcile his faith with the violence he was supporting by consuming animal products.
“I began to ask myself,” Waters explains, “‘Is there a spiritual way to kill an animal? How would Jesus kill an animal?’” These profound questions became the starting point for Waters’ journey toward understanding the deep theological implications of animal suffering in religious contexts.
A Divine Encounter
In his search for answers, Waters attended a Q&A session with Kip Andersen, a well-known filmmaker and one of the producers of Cowspiracy, Seaspiracy, and What the Health. There, Waters presented the same questions that had been troubling him: How could cruelty to animals be justified in the name of faith? Why does the same God who created all living beings condone harm to animals in the name of religious practice?
Although Andersen didn’t have immediate answers, he was profoundly moved by the questions and, together with Waters, the two embarked on a six-year, multi-continent spiritual journey to uncover the truth.
Their quest took them from Nazareth to the Vatican, from New Delhi to Kathmandu, as they sought answers from theologians, Christian farmers, Indigenous shamans, archaeologists, and religious leaders. They wanted to know why cruelty to animals is accepted in so many religious traditions, despite compassion being the core tenet of virtually all world religions.
Uncovering Hidden Truths
What Waters and Andersen discovered during their journey was nothing short of revolutionary. The historical texts and facts they uncovered—some hidden in plain sight, others buried deep—have the power to change the way we understand religion and its teachings on compassion toward animals.
The documentary they produced, “Christspiracy”, reveals truths that many lifelong Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have never heard before. Through rigorous research, interviews, and compelling evidence, the filmmakers expose how many of the world’s greatest religious leaders—those who founded and shaped these faiths—rejected harming animals. In fact, they discovered that the true teachings of these spiritual leaders often stood in stark contrast to the violence justified by religious practices today.
For example, they found that early Christian figures, including Saint Francis of Assisi, advocated for kindness toward all living creatures, understanding that animals, too, are part of God’s creation. The film argues that these teachings have been obscured or ignored by mainstream religious institutions, leading to centuries of religious hypocrisy surrounding animal rights.
A Struggle Against Censorship
Getting to the truth was not easy. Waters and Andersen faced considerable resistance. Their vehicles were chased, their homes were ransacked, and their documentary was met with censorship—most notably from Netflix, the world’s largest streaming platform, which initially sought to block the release of Christspiracy. However, Waters and Andersen refused to back down. The film became the first ever to have its rights bought back from Netflix after the platform attempted to suppress it.
Waters also faced backlash within his own religious community. After expressing his concerns and questioning the status quo, he was asked to leave his congregation. Church leaders told him to stop asking difficult questions. This experience resonated with many who have been ridiculed or ostracized for their compassion toward animals, for questioning traditional teachings, or for expressing discomfort at religious ceremonies where animal flesh is served.
A Film for Compassionate People of Faith
Christspiracy is more than just a documentary—it is a call to action. For compassionate people of faith who have long felt isolated or confused by seemingly conflicting values, this film provides the clarity and answers they have been waiting for. It presents clear, compelling evidence that the world’s great religious leaders rejected violence and cruelty toward animals.
For those of us who have struggled to reconcile our compassion for animals with our faith, Christspiracy offers hope and affirmation. It helps us understand that true spirituality, based on the principles of love, kindness, and compassion, cannot coexist with cruelty or exploitation. It encourages us to live in harmony with all of God’s creation and be stewards of the Earth, as was originally intended.
A Bigger Truth: The Largest Cover-Up in 2,000 Years
At its core, Christspiracy presents what the filmmakers call “the biggest cover-up in 2,000 years.” It suggests that the systematic erasure of religious teachings on compassion for animals has been deliberate, and that the true message of love, respect, and reverence for all living beings has been suppressed by the very institutions that are supposed to embody it.
The film challenges viewers to rethink the ethical foundations of their faith and to examine how religious teachings have been manipulated to justify harm. It is a powerful and eye-opening exploration of the relationship between faith, ethics, and animal rights.
Practical Resources for Change
In addition to the documentary, Christspiracy offers practical tools for viewers who want to align their spiritual practices with their compassion for animals. The filmmakers have developed a free Creation Care Toolkit, a resource packed with information on how to practice your faith while creating positive change for animals. This toolkit includes guidelines on how to incorporate ethical, animal-friendly practices into your everyday life, drawing from both religious teachings and modern-day ethical considerations.
A Movement for Spiritual and Moral Change
Christspiracy is not just a film; it is a movement. It is a movement for those who believe that compassion and kindness should be central to every aspect of life—especially when it comes to how we treat animals. The film serves as a rallying cry for those who have long been searching for a spiritual path that aligns with their compassion for all living beings.
For those who have felt alone in their questioning, for those who have been silenced by religious dogma, and for those who have long struggled with the conflict between faith and animal cruelty, Christspiracy offers the truth they have been seeking.