Acharya Prashant addresses the role of religion in the treatment of animals by dividing religions into two streams: the Abrahamic and the Indian. He states that the Judeo-Christian view is that God has dominion over man, and man has dominion over animals. A similar view is found in Islam, which talks about Allah having created all animals, fish, and insects for the sake of man. In contrast, the Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, talk of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) and 'Ekatva' (oneness). However, the speaker expresses that he is not convinced that one should talk about the views of organized religions, because the moment a religion is organized, it becomes something man-made. He prefers to discuss the essence of religion itself, which he defines as man's relationship with himself and the world, including animals. This relationship is determined by how man perceives himself. Man perceives the universe through his senses and interprets it through his intellect, reason, knowledge, and memory. How he relates to the world depends on his inner state. If a man feels incomplete, hollow, and hungry within, his view of the universe will be utilitarian and exploitative. Everything becomes a resource to fulfill himself. He will value himself according to his ability to exploit, consume, plunder, and hoard. The more he can exploit, the bigger, higher, and more respectable he feels. This exploitative mindset extends to the treatment of animals. Man is proud of his intellect, which is the basis of all exploitation. Animals are seen as fit for exploitation because they are not rational beings in the same way humans are; their capacity to exploit is limited. Therefore, there is very little respect for them. Man respects only power, and since animals appear to have little power, they are not respected.