According to Philo and Josephus practically all of the Jewish and Greek Messianic cults of the first century were vegetarian and many didn't allow marriage.
The Christians in Judea, whoever they actually were, shared many of the beliefs and practices associated with the Pythagoreans, Theraputae, Nasoreans, Essenes, etc., such as communal living, rejection of Temple Sacrifice, refusal to bury the dead or come in contact with the dead, a leader or central figure who was considered a 'Teacher' and even a Messiah.
I'm not saying that they definitely were, but if the Christians weren't vegetarians they would have been practically the only Messianic group in the region that wasn't.
Most of the reasons for thinking they weren't come from the letters of Paul who cannot be considered a reliable source for the practices of the Jerusalem Church since he disagreed with them on so many subjects and slandered them more than once. The Gospels are unreliable for the same reason.
2007-06-16 01:54:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Only Christ knows.
2007-06-16 01:58:52 · answer #1 · answered by Janet B 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, they weren't.
How come Philo and Josephus are more reliable than Paul?
Ah, yes, he also spoke out against homosexuality. He was hung up on sex.
Anything you find in the Bible that you don't like, blame it on some psychological problem of Paul (or Jesus or John or whomever).
Great way to undermine the standing of the Bible.
Paul disagreed with the Jerusalem Council and slandered them? And just WHERE did you get this information from? The writings of Paul !! But his writings are unreliable, in your opinion. Yes, sometimes it's reliable and at other times it's unreliable, depending on the point you want to make. How do you know the difference? And still, this is just your OPINION.
2007-06-16 02:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by flandargo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did some study on the Essenes, the Ebionites, and other groups of people hiding out in the rocks away from society in hopes a guy was returning, living a hermetical life
I read a book that talks about them, and learned a lot from Hyam Macobee
2007-06-16 02:01:47 · answer #3 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Were the early Christians vegetarians?
An excellent question. I do not know, though I should because I am vegetarian. But, as you no doubt already know, you should not expect an intelligent answer from the fundamentalists onboard here. I'm sure there is a biblical scholar in the shadows who knows. I am discovering, as an atheist, that there are "real" Christians here who are embarrassed by the fundies. Understandably.
2007-06-16 02:08:36 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, probably. God had man kill lambs to learn how to become meat eaters. Maybe God knew man needed some animal proteins to survive outside of Eden's environment.
And God also made grapes with yeast on them so man could make a tastey anti-oxident that helped limit the plaque caused by animal fats.
2007-06-16 02:11:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
no, they ate lambs remember?
the whole escapade with marking the door with the blood of their most precious lamb so that their children wouldn't be killed. why are you asking so many questions about christians? you seem to be a jude.
2007-06-16 04:46:26 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ Gabbie ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The passover meals where lamb.
2007-06-16 02:06:51 · answer #7 · answered by blahh2 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have discernment over what is spirit and what is flesh
2007-06-16 02:01:39 · answer #8 · answered by answerteam 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋