Why is it wrong to eat meat?

Question

Greetings - First of all this question is not intended to attack anyone or anyone's position, it isn't intended to be antagonistic. I am genuinely seeking to understand the position of people who think it is wrong to eat meat.I realize this is a sensitive issue and I'm trying to be thoughtful of others feelings and opinions.

First - I understand the many wrongs done in the meat processing industry. I think those issues are separate from this one. Which is, why is it wrong to shoot and kill an animal, cook the meat and eat it? What is your basis for this argument. The only basis I know of for right and wrong is the Bible. I'm not trying to push the Bible on people, but it's the only thing that I know that says this is right and this is wrong. God slew an animal himself to clothe Adam and Eve, so was God wrong to kill an animal? God commanded animals be killed as a sacrifice to himself for years. Was this wrong? God told Peter to slay and eat animals, and He said for every

creature of God is good if taken with thanksgiving. So that is saying that it's ok to eat animals.

Now in my opinion being ok to eat animals is one thing, and whether it is best is another. I think it is ok to hunt and kill, and ok to eat animals, but not best to do so. I also don't want to really eat them myself, I'm not quite sure at times what the boundaries are and where it should be with what a person should and shouldn't eat.

Honestly I am seeking to understand. I want to know what someone's point of view is, and why they believe how they do. I try to understand people. I want to relate and have a common ground. And sometimes my beliefs change, where someone challenges me and I see that I'm wrong and I change. So it's a constant learning experience.

It's obvious that killing in and of itself is a troubling act and that if you shoot an animal, it was living and now it's dead.
That's troubling to me too. Hope people aren't upset at me for asking. thanks

snowflake = good answer thank you

THe passage was Genesis 3:21 "The Lord God made garmets of skin and clothed Adam and Eve" Implying that he slew and animal and made garmets of the animal skins - That's my understanding anyway.

I follow a vegan diet, but I"m not vegan if you know what I'm saying, because I"m doing this because I dont' like eating meat and for health reasons. I did add fish for a while but I quit doing that again. I agree with people about commercial meat production - It is just plain awful. I really am seeking to be respectful and I'm just sharing what my current view is so you know the perspective I'm coming from

thank you

I like to learn about other perspectives than just my own and I like to see where people are coming from and why they think the way they do. I don't want to go and say my way is right your way is wrong. I grew up in Texas and it's very conservative there, and conservatives are supposedly right and liberals are wrong. When I moved to Wisconsin instead of trying to argue a point or something, I'd just ask people why they thought the way they did about different political issues, and I wanted to find out what was motivating them. It turned out that there often were very deep personal and emotional issues that they believed strongly in and it was helpful to me to understand their perspective, I feel it made me more well rounded as a person. I still think the same way I did before, but I have a greater appreciation for other views than my own. I already follow a vegan diet.
I think most of the protest against meat is with commercial production of meat like Tyson ChickenTHANKS

I do have a conscience...

I also view killing like many of you do. IT's just that it seems Biblical for people to kill an animal and eat it, except for the fact that man wasn't created in a sense to eat meat. maybe both are ok. I don't know. I think it's hard to understand, it's really hard to stomach some of the things done today and yet, at least hunters seem within their right to do so. So there's a difference between what I think and feel and practice myself and what I think is right and wrong. if that makes any sense. hope this helps.

thank you for answering this difficult question.

I think if I understand other viewpoints that I have more understanding and compassion for how someone might view things.

I do have a conscience...

I also view killing like many of you do. IT's just that it seems Biblical for people to kill an animal and eat it, except for the fact that man wasn't created in a sense to eat meat. maybe both are ok. I don't know. I think it's hard to understand, it's really hard to stomach some of the things done today and yet, at least hunters seem within their right to do so. So there's a difference between what I think and feel and practice myself and what I think is right and wrong. if that makes any sense. hope this helps.

thank you for answering this difficult question.

I think if I understand other viewpoints that I have more understanding and compassion for how someone might view things.

Answer 1

Personally, I grew up in a farming community, and I raised chickens for slaughter, and my Uncle had pigs and cows and the whole nine yards. Eating meat doesn't bother me (especially if it's our animals b/c I know how they were raised)

My sister tried going Vegetarian for awhile, b/c she thought it was cruel to kill animals, but she gave that up and now doesn't eat red meat.

I'd like to be a Vegetarian, but I just couldn't do it, I grew up in the Midwest, and I like meat & potatoes just as much as I like a salad.

[I'd like to note that I LOVE Veggie burgers, and prefer them over any Angus burger]

Answer 2

Basically the cruelty issue is obvious and you don't need a bible to see that. However--I agree with you--eating meat has been accepted by humanity. I think you are wrong in your bible references however. Where does it say God slew an animal to clothe Adam and Eve? In fact, God specifically said that green leafy plants are for food. In fact, the the Flood was inflicted because of meat eating among other things.. However--in an concession to popular will--God created a new covenant with mankind in which meat-eating was permitted--so long as the blood was removed. Read your Bauble my friend--don't just go by comic books.
Jesus was outspoken on the topic of diet. What he said was among many comments it is not what you put in the mouth that counts but what comes out--words & deeds. Nevertheless, he does not actually condemn vegetarianism (and he was of course known to fast) but he condemns replacing ethical behavior with excessive concern for dietary matters. Needless to say, the Church required absention from meat at certain times.
As for animal sacrifices you can make what you want out of that. Personally I think it was their idea. There was also sacrifice of grain.
However, all this ignores the fact that vegetarianism is healthier than meat eating--although moderation can make up for most shortcomings. Getting adequate protein on a vegetarian diet is a problem especially for men. Many meat eaters will argue against the health benefits of vegetarianism pointing to their muscular, Roman-like physiques. But I don't know whether that is either attractive or healthy. They think so. It seems a swelled head (but not literally) goes with it. Vegetarianism is not a sign of moral perfection in my opinion--and I am a vegetarian. And of course, most vegetarians are concentrated in the younger age bracket--to say the least. Most will abandon ship. You would be foolish to take them seriously apart from actual traits of character which you can appreciate. Which is to say, diet itself doesn't matter. If they are not similarly open minded, then you have your answer.

Answer 3

I'm not entirely sure that it's even appropriate to ask moral questions on here. i mean I think you are asking what each individual feels. But from what i've seen most people's concept of right an wrong are pretty nihilistic anyway. Non vegetarians don't like being told that eating meat is immoral but if someone truly feels in their conscience an injustice is done, there is no convinvincing them otherwise. That would be like a child molester getting mad at you for telling them they are immoral for touching kids. I use this example since I believe most people still consider this wrong but who knows..in a few years it may be acceptable. In Indian society, you would most likely be shunned for eating meat, it's just as wrong as killing another person. Many call it speciesism since you are violating the rights of another based on its rank in the animal kingdom. I'm not saying that's how I feel personally but I wouldn't get mad if someone was outraged by whatever thing I do that is considered sinful. Everyone feels one thing is wrong that another may see as an amoral act such as people who let their dogs take dumps and piss on gravestones. I find this very offensive. They do not. Not everyone feels it is wrong to steal or lie. Some would say lying is good for some situations to protect someone's feelings. Some would say that's never ok. Some see the moral issue of eating meat like a nihilist would see it. No action is more right or wrong than another (ie it is no more wrong to take a life than to save it) . This causes a contradiction because if you are morally outraged by something, would it make sense to do nothing? People who are bothered by vegetarians "shoving their morals down their throat" are no different than a jail counselor trying to convince an inmate that they shouldn't murder people. It's an issue of conscience..if you have one

Answer 4

Vegetarians/Vegans are so for multiple reasons, but personally I am because I dont think that it is an animal's sole purpose to serve humans. I would have no problem with animal products if we simply hunted them in reasonable amounts as a natural part of the food chain and did not let any of the animal go to waste. But animals today are forced to devote their entire lives to humans. I believe every animal on this planet has a purpose, and should not be grown and harvested like plants. It isnt always directly related to religion, though some religions have rules about it like Buddism and Judiasm.

*in response to the girl above or anyone who thinks abstaining from meat/animal by products is hard*
Grocery stores and resturaunts every where have vegitarian and vegan options that are much tastier and healthier than the meaty alternatives. The food is not hard to find, all you have to do is ask your waitress or somebody at your grocery store to point you in the right direction, and read labels.

Answer 5

I am a vegetarian because I do not want to be a supporter of animal cruelty. When someone chooses to eat meat, wear fur/leather/wool, attend circuses, etc. they are choosing to support animal cruelty. For me it is one thing to hunt and kill animals in the wild for the purpose of food/survival (although i dont eat animal flesh no matter what the circumstance nor do I believe meat is at all neccessary in the human diet) Animals are tested on in laboratories and are raised from babies in small cages and tortured for their entire lives, this breaks my heart and I will have no part in it. There is no reason a living being should suffer and I simply do not believe humans have the right to play God. When you say that your bible tells you that God asked for sacrifices (I do not know much of the bible) this is not the same as a human deciding who should be sacrificed and who should not be. In your beliefs God chooses who should be sacrificed, when humans start deciding who should be sacrificed where is the line drawn? If humans can choose to sacrifice animals for their own well being than why not other humans? There is no sense in this. I also remember hearing a bible story of God asking a man to sacrifice his own son? Does this mean humans should sometimes be sacrificed.

The bottom line is that no living being should suffer, expecially when the only reason they are suffering is to satisfy a humans craving for flesh.

I would also like to add that if you are interested in becomming a vegetarian you should try it for atleast 2 months and I think that you will feel much better about yourself in many ways (health, morality, happiness) Being a vegetarian will change your life and I suggest you let yourself try it!

YOUR QUESTION IS WONDERFUL. I FIND SO MANY PEOPLE DONT KNOW WHY SOME OF US CHOOSE TO BE VEGETARIANS AND MAYBE IF MORE PEOPLE HEAR AND WONDER ABOUT OUR STORIES THEY WILL CHOOSE TO LIVE THEIR OWN CRUELTY FREE LIFESTYLES. THANK YOU!

Answer 6

I guess it's wrong to eat meat because it gives a little fat...but you've got a point there! Maybe God just did that for food? But yeah, some people think it's wrong. I don't think killing an animal is right....can't you just leave things the way they are? God told Peter to slay and eat animals because God told him to. I know it's a little dangerous and bad. And meat's kinda nice but I pity the poor animals. It may be right for food but wrong for killing animals. What can we do about it? Do you have a choice? Well, I'm not saying I don't care for animals...I'm just saying why don't you leave things they way they are? But I still pity *sniff* the poor animals. You never should've asked this question....it made me think about the poor animals turned into meat! And I eat them! I'm so sorry about those poor animals. I should've stayed with vegies! *Sniff* I hope I helped....*sniff*

Answer 7

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Answer 8

First, let's eliminate the question of right vs. wrong. That is not a question that can be asked, i.e. it is not germane.

Consider that the planet is a web of living things, most of which are dependent on another living thing. Herbivores eat living plants, carnivores eat living animals, and we humans are omnivores who eat almost anything. Something must die for something else to live. It's not right or wrong, it just is.

There are sound reasons not to eat commercially raised meat. One is the moral argument about the filthy, inhumane conditions of farms and feedlots. Another is the cruelty argument of the slaughterhouses. There is the health argument in that factory-farmed animals are given antibiotics and growth hormones that have been implicated in human disease. Consider, too, the amount of grain required to produce a pound of meat. An argument has been made that the grain could better feed humans directly. Not that this would end world hunger, but there is a point to be made there.

But suppose that you raise your own meat, organically and humanely, or that you hunt wild meat legally. I have done both. My animals lead a happy life. We take excellent care of them because we are fond of the quality of our steaks and chops and Thanksgiving turkey. I see no evil here.

Each of us is unique. Some thrive on a vegetarian diet, some need animal protein to be at their best. One size does not fit all. I would encourage meat-eaters to do so in moderation, and to buy from local and organic sources whenever possible.

Answer 9

I'm not offnded by your question.You are more polite thasn ohter non-veg/vegans that ask questions on this page!;-)
I don't think that want God said is that we have to eat meat but ,t hat it is okay to eat meat. I just believe it is wrong to kill something that breathes and fells pain. I know that if the tables were turned, i wouldn't want the animals to try and hunt me down!!!hee heee. Besides, that just bings up antother question, why did God put plants on the earth?.hee heee1im not a vegetarian because i hate meat, it's because i HATE VEGGIES THEY MUST DIE!!!1 (heeeeheeee)

Answer 10

I'm a vegetarian, but I don't like telling other people that it is wrong to eat meat. I can explain why I prefer not eating it when someone asks.

I believe that meat, especially red meat is not very good for your body. I'm not a doctor and can't positively tell you, but since I stopped eating meat 12 years ago I feel much better physically. I no longer have an issue of strugging with obesity. That's my main reason. Since I stopped eating meat I discovered so many different foods that I ignored back then. My diet has more variety now than it used to.

I had some episodes from my youth when eatign meat just didn't stroke me right. I grew up in a city, far away from farm animals. My friend's grandmother had a farm outside the city. So one day they got a calf, vey cute one, and they named him Yahska. He pretty much became my friends pet. She spent her summer brake on the farm and came back to school in Autumn. Right before winter Yashka was umm, slaughtered. Every time I came over to visit my friend she'd say somethign like "We have really good stew today with Yashka". I just couldn't eat.

Another story: (crazy stuff, OK?) one guy I used to know (who happened to be half-korean, I've heard it's acceptible to eat dogs in their culture) decided to cook and eat a stray dog. Later it turned out that the dog had an owner who was lookign for it.

When Mom brought fish from the market, some of them were still alive. If I was the one who supposed to gut it and cook it I just couldn't bring myself to killing it. Why would I want someone else do it for me? It's just as unpleasant for them. When I imagine that someone's job is to kill animals for food every day it seems terrible to me - sounds like bloody nightmare every day.

So stuff like that generated a lot of moral conflict for me: which animal is pet, which animal is meat? When somebody told me that one actually doesn't have to eat meat and it is healthy it was a relief. I know we can't live without killing something - animals or plants. But animals seem to be too much like us.