I follow a Vegan diet - and I'm trying to reconcile what the Bible says about things and what Vegans believe. It's really hard because you could really use the Bible to build a case for or against eating a vegan diet, or not wearing animal products and all. I think there's convincing Scripture on both sides.
Just because Man has dominion over animals doesn't mean that mass slaughter is ok. Every time an animal dies in Scripture it is directly due to SIN - so the animal pays the price for the man's sin. Animals die due to Man's sin.
You have verses like "Every creature of God is good if received with thanksgiving" etc, and you have God slaying an animal Himself, but obviously Adam and Eve were plant eaters to begin with not meat eaters. My understanding is that Jesus followed a vegan diet as well. There were many Scriptures about this on both sides. I don't think you can make a case for or against just because of one passage. It's just taking it all out of context.???
2007-07-20 09:50:18 · 16 answers · asked by art_flood 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Only one who has no mercy can kill a defenseless animal to satisfy the tongue and stomach. You are correct. Dominion means rule and protection. What kind of ruler slaughters his citizens? Even if there were exceptions made in the bible, those exceptions were not without consequences, and the exception does not constitute the rule. Genesis clearly defines what we are to eat. In any case, as humans, it becomes a matter of discrimination. A tiger has the mentality to kill and eat flesh, but the human can be merciful to all living beings. Why should we behave like animals? We can grow plenty of food, eat healthy, and renew our food source without killing animals.
If we want to know how violent a society is, then we can measure it by how it treats its animals. The more violent people are to animals, the more violent they are to each other. If one has to take the life of an animal in order to survive, that is one thing, but to maintain these scientific slaughterhouses is abominable. People are simply paying someone else to commit murder for them.
2007-07-20 09:59:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First I have to say that I don't believe that man has dominion or stewardship over all animals. I can see where the Bible could be interpreted that way, but I tend to view every living thing as connected and interdependent on each other, and therefore equal. However, we do eat meat as a species. I think it is ok to eat meat, but should be done with the respect that another living thing gave its life to support yours. That respect is completely absent from the meat industry today, which I believe is good reasoning for becoming a vegan, and totally within both Christian and Vegan beliefs. You even gave a verse supporting it yourself: "every creature of God is good if received with thanksgiving." You should be giving thanks for that meat when you ingest it, but how many of us just buy a pre-packaged styrofoam container of ground beef and chow down a hamburger without thinking about where it came from?
I don't think the beliefs conflict, and kudos to you. Good luck in your new lifestyle!
2007-07-20 10:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, Jesus was not a vegan. He was not even a vegetarian. Jesus ate fish:
Luke 24:42, 43
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Just wanted to make that clear. As far as a vegan diet goes, I know that it is very beneficial in some areas, but you also have to be careful that you are getting enough nutrients. I am lacto-ovo vegetarian, so I don't eat meat. This is healthy, but not a matter of salvation. You won't go to hell if you eat meat or dairy products. But God does want us to keep our bodies healthy, for our bodies are the temple of God. If you feel that following a vegan diet is what you should be doing, than go right ahead and do it. Just keep in mind that meating only plants will not suffice in today's world. The food was different in Adam and Eve's time, and contained more nutrients. Because of sin, our food has degenerated. You won't get all the nutrients you need if you just eat plants.
I think that having a meat-free lifestyle is beneficial, as well as a vegan diet if it's done in the right way (after all, God gave us permission to eat meat to shorten our lifespans), but it is a matter of personal choice and not one of salvation or anything like that.
God bless, and enjoy your new lifestyle!
2007-07-20 10:02:18 · answer #3 · answered by musicalchik 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why the two can't go together or why you have to bring the bible into it.
I don't know what vegans are all about except that (I think) they don't eat any meat or animal products? And perhaps don't wear them either. But are they in conflict with the bible? Does the bible demand you eat meat/wear leather or something?
I'm probably missing your point, but it sounds as if you're trying to build a case for veganism if that's a word and claim that those who don't follow it are not following the bible?
2007-07-20 09:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is what I am inclined to believe:
1) kudos to you, vegan is difficult I know. (I could never do it myself)
2) I think that there is nothing in the Bible that outright says 'we should be vegan' but there's also nothing that says 'vegan is bad.'
3) So if your conscience is moving you to be vegan, go for it. You're certainly not doing anything wrong and it is an ethical stance. (Try not to go all hezbollah on the rest of us omnivores okay? please?)
And for what its worth, part of the reason for the animal sacrifices was that the meat from the animals went to feed the priests of the temple. Just saying.
2007-07-20 09:56:20 · answer #5 · answered by LX V 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was not a vegan. He ate passover meals, which included lamb.
And no, slaughtering animals on a massive scale FOR IT'S OWN SAKE is not okay. But we use them for food. Nothing wrong with that.
You can be a vegan if you want, but you can get the same benefit by simply including large amounts of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
2007-07-20 09:58:11 · answer #6 · answered by Daniel A: Zionist Pig 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Deuteronomy 14...the dietary laws....common sense for today...
A true Christian who claims to follow the Bible would see the health and dietary laws that God gave us.....most people just give it lip service and eat whatever crawls across their plate and then blame God when they get sick.....
clean and unclean....
a small amount of chicken, fish, lamb.... one leg not the whole bird for an example....
moderation if they do consume meat....( deck of card size) maybe once or twice a week.....
some people consume the equivalent of their own body weight in meat each month and wonder why they are sick????
we were vegetarian in the Garden of Eden and will be in heaven since there is no death in heaven....
2007-07-20 10:01:49 · answer #7 · answered by coffee_pot12 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thing is U missed the Scripture that says; "It's not what goes into a man that defiles, but what comes out of the Mouth!" Mat. 15:11 Christs' "New Covenant" has set Us Free from Dietary Laws as Paul tells Us. So Do what U want!!! John
2007-07-20 10:05:23 · answer #8 · answered by moosemose 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
James 1:5 is popping into my head - you know the part about "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God."
It's a good verse to go back to when you see the Bible sending mixed messages. God himself can certainly clarify and make sense of it for you, if you ask Him, and really are willing to act on the answer no matter what it is.
Good luck.
2007-07-20 10:10:17 · answer #9 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible is just a book of stories, fairy tales. Some of these things people believed in years ago and we now know that these things were never true. The references to food and animals were cultural practices, not the word of a sky fairy.
2007-07-20 09:55:42 · answer #10 · answered by Lionheart ® 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋