Why can't Vegans Agree to Disagree?

Question

I follow a Vegan diet. For myself, I'm like many of the other Vegans - where I differ has to do with other people. Me, I don't care what other people do or don't do, I don't care if they eat meat or not - it's their body - they can do what they want. That's a hard thing allowing them to destroy their own body - but it's their body to destroy - right? Eating meat/dairy is not something I want to do myself, but I'm not going out telling other people that they are wrong or whatever, and the truth is I think God has given people the freedom to eat meat or not. How can we say that killing is wrong when the Almighty God Himself slew and animal and clothed Adam and Eve. So I'm very understandable to allowing other people to be themselves, but the problem is I'm in a wierd place - I don't fit in with the meat eaters because I don't eat meat, and I'm different and in Wisconsin you really stand out. I don't fit in with the other Vegans because I don't think that eating meat is morally

wrong. Honestly I am not a true Vegan - I pretty much follow a Vegan diet - primarily for health reasons, and also because for whatever reason meat is just absolutely sickening to me. I've followed a near vegan diet most of my life, and went to the vegan diet 4 years ago. Don't ask me to explain, I don't know. I feel the same way most of you do. The only thing that causes me to think that meat eating might be ok - is that the Bible talks about it being ok in many places. I agree with people about all the horrors of the meat industry - dont go there, I know. I agree. I'm just trying to find out where I fit and I don't seem to fit anywhere. There has to be some basis for right and wrong, and if you don't belive in God then what is your basis for right and wrong? you don't have one do you? or is it just what you think is right or wrong? I just don't get it. If the Bible says "Slay and Eat - For every creature of God is good (for food) if received with Thanksgiving" - this

is to Peter who did not wish to eat certain things. Paul also talks about people who follows doctrines of demons including the abstaining of meats - and honestly I get the picture. But what I don't understand is why just because I believe that the Bible is true - that means I must be excluded from the rest of the Vegan community - just because I don't protest the killing of animals. My question is don't animals die anyway? If you get a dog, doesn't it die? You don't want it to, but eventually it dies. Animals kill other animals, it goes on and on. Everybody dies. Don't ask me to figure it all out - it hurts my brain. Even if we eat all organic food, don't animals die when they clear the land? They do right? If we go by me - myself, I pretty much fit in with everybody - where we differ is that I don't go around telling other people what to do. I honestly have enough trouble dealing with my own issues much less everyone elses. Make any sense? Thanks

18000 people

health reasons - I had pancreatitis in 2003

I'm not a true Vegan - I follow a Vegan diet. - 2 different things.

I don't support animal rights.

how am I selfish?
God gave the animals to be totally under human control - how they are treated, everything. I don't like animals dying anymore than anyone else.
I just believe what the Bible says is true - that is it.

I don't get it - I can't put a snake or a skunk up there with the same amount of rights as a human being. IT just is not the case. Yall can bash me all you want but I just dont get it.

Maybe they need to come up with a new word

like
Vegan - person who believes in animal rights issues and doesn't eat meat and dairy

some other word - person who does not believe in animal rights issues and doesn't eat meat and dairy

vegetarian - doesn't eat meat

I am in the some other word category

etc.

I know I don't fit - but I'm seeking to - and it's amazing that people are so adamant about not including me. Why do I think that a cow or a pig or a duck has rights for people to accept ME. I don't go out and kill animals and all. Unless it's an extreme situation and I have to. I don't hunt or anything. Animals were created for MAN's use. Man is wrong for MISUSING ANIMALS. But God Gave Man animals to use or misuse as he chose to. I do believe that. I do believe MAn has misused animals. I don't think people need to eat meat 3 times a day or more. It's a terrible thing. I agree with most of the things Vegans believe. I am just not all 100% in with you. But do I have to? That's the point. Why do you have to be in total agreement ? That's my question why can't people agree to disagree - and still accept others who are different. I accept others who are different but they dont' accept me.

I wish it let you type in everything at one time - and not make you do it in several boxes.. oh well

I think God holds man accountable for man's use and misuse of animals.

So I probably very much believe in animal welfare. I just don't see that animals have any RIGHTS. Maybe you can explain that to me. If I see a deer in my yard it's up to me what I do with that deer. I have a number of choices. I can do whatever I want. I nearly always leave the animal alone. I think needless senseless killing is wrong. I think it's wrong to create an industry where animals are treated in the manner that they are, but they are still Pigs or whatever they are. Pigs don't have a SOUL - they aren't PEOPLE. They dont' have any rights. I am open to people telling me why they do. I don't see it. But maybe I"m ignorant - and maybe they do and I don't know. I've tried hard to be non-confrontational, but still, it's like everyone is ready for a fight. It's insane.

for me I had acute pancreatitis - and I asked the Pancreatitis association for list of foods that might cause trouble, nearly all of them were meat/dairy - so I quit meat/dairy immediately and then started to improve right away. Meat stays in your system longer.


That is why I follow a vegan diet.
I've made a great deal of progress too.

necessity.

I hate being stuck in the middle like this though. It just stinks.

I promise I pretty much agree 99% with what everyone is saying - except the Bible says meat eating is permissable.

I don't think people should abuse animals because they can. I think God will hold them accountable for those actions. It's like having a dog. I treat my dog very well. Everyone is amazed that all my dogs have lived very long lives, but a lot of it is how I've treated them. My chow is nearly 15 and she's in better shape than other dogs I've seen that are 5. I know people who abuse their pets. Honestly they have freedom to do what they want to their pets, but it isn't best - I'm not ok with it - I hate it. but I recognize they have the right to do what they want. I am sorry I even brought this up

So essentially I am pretty much in line with all the other Vegans except I believe that God is God and God created man to rule over the animals. It says that in the Bible clearly. So what's the problem with that. I should learn to be quiet.

but my question is why can't people agree to disagree - why do I have to agree with everyone else? why can't I think how I do? why does my acceptance hinge on believing exactly like everyone else. It is so stupid.
nobody is answering the question. the question is why can't people agree to disagree? ok I'm different. live with it. why reject me because of that? if I am not hook line and sinker in agreement, then they reject me, that's insane.

Answer 1

Maybe it's just me but I fail to see a real question here. Regardless of that, if you don't fit in, you are putting yourself in that position on your own. Most of the people I hang out with are far from vegetarian and there are a lot more things to talk about then the subject of health or meat.

Answer 2

There is a term for it.
It's called strict or pure vegetarian.
I'm surprised you never came across that term before.

Please read The China Study.
I, too, am a near vegetarian primarily for health reasons although I do abhor what is done to animals for our supposed beneift.
I don't believe animals were put here for us to use and abuse the way we do. If we were meant to eat meat and dairy they wouldn't killus.
Please, just check out the book to learn the medical reasons why we should abstain. I promise you won't be sorry. it tells the findings of the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever done and the guy is not some quack -he's a professor of nutrition at Cornell and has done more studies on nutrition than anyone else proposing a vegetarian diet for health.
http://thechinastudy.com

Answer 3

Okay, I have a couple points to make so please bare with me as this might be long. I applaud you for not judging what others choose to do and taking the high road so to speak. It's human nature to want to be right and it's not just Vegans. It's everyone. It's religious extremists against the Gay communities, black against white, young against old. The list goes on. Another good point, God did give us the right to eat meat or not to. I like meat, it's a good source of Iron and since I am Lactose intolerant I drink Soy instead and take Calcium supplements every day (try to any way). I like your points there, they make sense and are not judge mental.

Here is where I differ, eating meat and drinking dairy products is not bad for you if done right. You need iron and meat is an amazing source for it. Steak, beef, all red meats are abundant in Iron and when following a healthy diet are very helpful to your body. Dairy has Vitamins and minerals that you need as well as some fats. Vitamin D is needed to make Calcium be absorbed. Milk contains both naturally. I take a combo pill that has both since I can't drink regular milk and the special milk without lactose also lacks the Vitamin D.

When you take care of your body, either way is fine in my opinion. If you choose not to eat meat or dairy products please take the appropriate supplements your body needs to stay balanced. If you choose to eat meat and drink dairy have a healthy diet so that one is not over done and something else lacking. Some people are just plain judge mental and honestly believe that if someone else is not doing something the same way as them, the other is wrong and they have a right to judge. I believe that God is the only one that has a right to judge us. You are in a rough spot but don't worry about it so much and be happy with yourself. You can't change the way others think, it's another fact of life. They are who they are and you are who you are. As long as you agree to disagree it's not your problem and let them be. It works for me anyway! Okay, now that it's become a long winded answer, I like the basis of the question. Have a nice day!

Answer 4

Okay, you've said a lot that makes sense to me. I with you. I can not understand how people eat meat TODAY!!! What theye do to meat, how they go about the way they torture meat, the way meat is dead sometimes for weeks and then thrown in with the good meat, cancer meat, etc. I can never imagine consuming any of it!

But in the bible days, I would of scarfed down meat every day, today, no way! If you could see what humans do everyday to these poor creatures, not even for food, but for fun (hunting).

I am a raw vegan and feel healthier as days go by! I thank God everyday for this gift of knowledge of eating this way!

About not fitting in, who cares!!! You are healthy. Your breath doesn't smell, you don't have sickness, you are not in pain after you eat, etc etc. I am proud and will tell anyone who asks info about it and won't shove them to do anything.

Answer 5

You seem to be a "welfarist" vegan.You fit in with the animal welfare beliefs,but not with the animal rights belief.If you think it's okay for people to eat meat and dairy,then why are you a vegan?Are you a vegan for moral reasons?If you are vegan for ethical reasons,then how can you be fine with others consuming animal products?Veganism isn't about one's choice to consume animal products or not,I see it more as a moral standpoint.But,if you are vegan for health reasons,then I guess you don't really feel obligated to support animal rights.Not all vegans are vegan because they support animal rights,that is one aspect of it.

edit:If you believe in the Bible,it says for vegetarians to not look down upon meat eaters,and vice versa,and that seems to be what you are doing.In the Garden of Eden,G-d's perfect world,was vegan,since nothing died.G-d didn't allow animals to be eaten until AFTER the flood,after the fall of humanity,he never endorsed or condoned it,he allowed out man's weakness,not approval.

edit 2:G-d did not put human over total animal control,he gave us DOMINION over them.The Queen of England has dominion over her people,that DOES NOT mean she can do whatever she sees fit with them,it means that she rules over them.

Answer 6

Depends why you are a vegan.

Religous, animal rights, human health, spiritual or the environment.

If this is your choice not based on ethical treatment of animals it may be easy for you to sit back and watch your partner eat steak, although for vegan interested in the ethical treatment of animals and the environment would be more than willing to spread their knowledge and love on to others.

You should join a group for religous vegans who don't care about suffering animals. I think you are very selfish.

Answer 7

I don't know where you live in Wisconsin, but it has to be a mighty small town because Wisconsin has vegans just like anywhere else.