Am I disobeying God by becoming a Vegetarian?

Question

“Every creeping animal that is alive may serve as food for you.” Only blood was forbidden: “Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat.” (Gen. 9:3, 4)

Answer 1

yes u are... so eat the f*cking meat...

Answer 2

I'm going to proceed under the assumption that you're a believer in the God of the Bible, Torah and Qur'ān since you did actually mention something referanced in at least two of those (for those who seem to have not picked that one up) via a scripture, and knowing that the third calls on the same God, adding it all up, I hope to help you answer your question.

It's pretty clear that when God (aka El, Elohim, Shaddai, Shalom Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Big Guy) created the world, he created it with the plan that man and animal would be vegan. I personally believe it was a step further and a raw existence was the hope, but since it doesn't actually say that, I can't tell you it's more than simply my opinion.
Gen: 1, 29-30

After the fall of man (Adam/Eve) and after the great flood, (Noah), God then allowed for the dietary changes apart from what he deemed perfect (vegan (raw?) because man's choice was respected even though it wasn't what God wanted.
Gen:3, 1-24......Gen: 9, 3-4

Ok, all the above pertains to anyone who believes the Old Testament to be the word of God, and that would be practicing Jew, Christian, Islam.

Moving on. If one is a Christian (I am by choice, not by tradition), I'm more familer with what that says on the matter, and I find that Paul's words will be of benefit and hopefully free a person to be a vegan (I am) a vegetarian or a meat eater if that's what they choose.
Romans: 14, 1-23

Since you didn't state if you were a believer in God as a Jew, Christian or Muslim, I'm including a link to sites which may help you further where your question is concerned.

GB

Answer 3

no, not disobeying God, just evolution. People are naturally omnivores, so they naturally eat meat, but in this day and time, with so much different food and vitamin pills at our fingertips, you can get away with being a vegetarian without having serious health defects.

In that passage, it says that animals "may" serve as food for you, which could be interpreted as they can be food for you, but they don't have to.

Also, your kinda stuck either way with the second passage, because you don't ever really suck every last red blood cell out of meat before you cook it, so your eating blood anyway, its just cooked.

Answer 4

You know something that is funny... Alot of people seem to forget what day and age we live in.
Okay Maybe when the bible was written.
It would have been harder to find food at that time than today (not alot of supermarkets if you know what I mean)
And I'm sure they had to take what they could get, whether it was an animal or a vegetable. But if people are going to ask questions like this, then they should think about it a little more before they ask it.
Today, we DO NOT need meat to survive! and it is not as if we are in desparate need of food and then here comes a cow. That is survival to eat that cow!(not saying I would, I don't think I could kill it anyway...lol)
So what I am trying to say is, Do you think you are dissobeying God to support the tourturing and killing of his beautiful creations in facorty farms?
I think that is the more appropriate question.
because if there is a God, then he definatly did not put animals here for the reasons we are using them for today.
Today, If we are hungry, then we go to the supermarket, or a resturaunt and we eat. We don't sharpen our spears, and go hunting.
Why do people look at the bible and other things like that so literally?... People have to understand that it was not written recently, and things that may literally apply to the people at that time(like the quote above), can't really apply to the people of our time. We don't need to eat animals to survive, the quote says, "every creeping animal that is alive may serve as food for you". The key word being MAY(I would think) may as in if we needed it. Today we don't need it.

Answer 5

My personal belief is that when man was given dominion over animals, he was also given the responsibility for their lives. So no, I do not think God will be upset with you for not taking those lives to eat, especially when you don't have to. Factory farms are also very cruel. Eating an animal that has lived a full life, seen the sun, and been outside is one thing. Eating an animal that has lived it's life in a crate in a warehouse with a conveyer belt of food running in front of it is cruel. I'd rather not have to answer for that, personally.

Answer 6

Hi.. I do not know much about religion but according to science and the evolutionary theory, some beings were designed to be carnivorous and some herbivorous.. and since man evolved from monkeys,, he is naturally designed to be a vegitarian., the animals destined to eat meat have specific designs eg. their teeth, claws etc that help them tear meat and chew them without need for cooking or specific appliances.. so actually man was designed to be a vegitarian but with his advancement he adapted to eat meat as well.. so in effect there is nothing wrong with going back to being a vegetarian at all.. thats how God meant man to be and in fact you are choosing a better option that fits your system better!! good luck!

Answer 7

Your quote itself says "may" not must.

Additionally, a bit earlier in Genesis 1:29

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food".

This was the diet intended for people when they were created.

Your passage was just after the flood (which would have killed most if not all of the plants.)

Answer 8

God gave us meat to eat, but true, not the blood, but I do not think He would mind so much. I remember Daniel 1:8-16 went vegetarian for 10 days because he did not want to defile himself with food and drink that had been used as offerings to false gods ...... God blessed them in that decision.

So, I think it is probably okay to eat a vegetarian diet, but please do not become such a fanatic that you are judgemental of anyone else who does choose to eat meat. Remember Luke 6:37-42, taking the plank ...... This is where many vegetarians make a rod for their own back condemning others and giving animals "human characteristics".

God gave us meat for a reason. We need it for certain nutrients and minerals - iron for example, and protein and other things which only a nutritionist can understand. We do need that from red meat (though we tend not, in the West to eat the blood.) I was dangerously anaemic as was my sister when she was pregnant and having been vegetarian (and never well) she was encouraged to eat meat again for the iron content. I was also told to eat red meat more often, as well as fish (mind you, I was bleeding internally and no-one knew).

I know it is not recorded in the Bible that Jesus ate meat, but you have to remember those times were different and meat was for the richer people. Though he might have done.

Also, we are not under law but under grace, since Jesus died and ascended in to heaven.

Also, read Believers Freedom 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 and make your own decision. It is not for me to judge or condemn you.

Hope this has helped you and God bless you.

Answer 9

Not really. The Holy Bible does not contain ANY restrictions on eating vegetables or preference for a vegetarian lifestyle. In fact, some Christian faiths such as Adventists promote vegetarianism.

Answer 10

It is amusing that those that talked about "God" assumed the person asking the question was referring to the "God" the Christians follow. Allah and Yahweh are the same "God" in the Bible's "eyes." And as for an answer, you aren't disobeying anyone, you are free to choose.

Answer 11

Well technically you are killing a living thing with a life if you eat meat so I guess Christianity does condone killing. As a vegetarian you spare the life of a living thing with a heart.