How can Christians be Vegetarians...?

Question

... if the Communion IS Christ's flesh and blood and not only a symbol thereof?

Again I don't want to offend anyone as I'm Christian myself. Makes sense to me though. A friend asked me this sometime ago.

I wanted to say: Does it make sense to be vegetarian if you eat (His) flesh every Sunday (in the opinion of teh Catholic Church)?
But I agree with all of you seeing it more like something symbolical to remember His sacrifeice for us. Though I'm officially Catholic now in that point I'll always stick with Protestantism.

Answer 1

What you are referring to is called "The Eucharist", which is the belief that at the very moment that a Priest completes a special prayer over the broken bread and wine used in Communion a transformation occurs which literally turns the bread into Christ's flesh and the wine into his blood (1).
From a vegetarian point of view it is important to remember that the bread is typically unleavened (not made with yeast) and the wine is fruit-based, none of them containing any meat or meat by-products. However, if you are Catholic you should consider talking to your priest about your concerns, since apparently the transformation is physical, the bread actually becomes meat and the wine blood (2). You should also consider the reasons behind your becoming a vegetarian, since if they are based on the desire not to contribute to the demise of an animal then the Eucharist should not concern you. It should also be noted that no medical data that I am aware of support the physical transformation aspect of the Eucharist.
In closing, please see your minister or priest about the subject, since this is considered by many to be a key cornerstone of the Christian way of life.

Answer 2

There are actually four major views on Communion. The Catholic view is that the bread and the wine are literally the physical body and blood of Jesus. The view that Martin Luther taught is that the bread and the wine contain the literal, physical body and blood of Christ. This means that the whole piece of bread is not the body of Christ, but rather it contains a small piece of his body (the same with the wine). Another view is called real spiritual presence. This view teaches that the bread and the wine are just bread and wine but that Jesus is spiritually present at Communion in a way that is different and stronger than He is present at other events. Finally there is the memorial view (this is my view). This view teaches that the bread and wine (or grape juice) are just bread and juice and that Jesus is present at Communion in no way different than He is present when 2 or more people are gathered in His name (Matt 18). The purpose of communion is not to receive special grace or a special presence of Christ, but rather as a tool to help Christians to remember the sacrifice of Christ and to motivate them to live a godly life. It's a little long, but I hope it helps!!!

Answer 3

I believe that communion is a symbol of the body and blood of Jesus. That being said, I understand where the Catholics get their ideas about it actually being Jesus and I don't begrudge them their beliefs.

As far as being a vegetarian, though, God gave us the freedom of choice. And He told us that we should not do things that we think are wrong (In Romans somewhere). So if someone thinks that eating meat is wrong, then they should refrain from doing so.

Answer 4

*** rs p. 268 Memorial (Lord’s Evening Meal) ***

Does John 6:53, 54 indicate that only those who do partake will gain everlasting life?

John 6:53, 54: “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day.’”

This eating and drinking would obviously have to be done figuratively; otherwise the one doing it would be violating God’s law. (Gen. 9:4; Acts 15:28, 29) However, it should be noted that Jesus’ statement at John 6:53, 54 was not made in connection with the inauguration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. None who heard him had any idea of a celebration with bread and wine used to represent Christ’s flesh and blood. That arrangement was not introduced until about a year later, and the apostle John’s report about the Lord’s Evening Meal does not begin until more than seven chapters later on (in John 14) in the Gospel bearing his name.

How, then, can a person “eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood” in a figurative way if not by partaking of the bread and the wine at the Memorial? Notice that Jesus said that those thus eating and drinking would have “everlasting life.” Earlier, in verse 40, when explaining what people must do to have everlasting life, what did he say was the will of his Father? That “everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life.” Reasonably, then, ‘eating his flesh and drinking his blood’ in a figurative sense is done by exercising faith in the redeeming power of Jesus’ flesh and blood laid down in sacrifice. This exercising of faith is required of all who will gain the fullness of life, whether in the heavens with Christ or in the earthly Paradise.

So Christians can be vegitarians if the choose to be one.

Answer 5

In most of the churches the communion is the SYMBOL of Christ's body & blood. I think that the Catholic church views it alittle different but I am not sure

Answer 6

The "flesh" eaten is a wafer and not animal in orientation. I am Christian but do not usually partake of that ritual. And in reality it is meant to be symbolic and not an act of cannibalism. One can eat meat and not be a cannibal.

Answer 7

The flesh and blood are not literal.
I think they ARE a symbol.

I'm also a Christian.
I could never be a vegetarian.
I'm a meat and potatoes (or pasta) woman.

Answer 8

Communion cosists of bread and wine, but here's how some Christians can be vegetarians.

Romans 14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Answer 9

Physically, the communion is a piece of cracker. That's not meat. If you go to a church that gives you a piece of meat and tells you it's actually Christ's flesh, go find another church.... and call the police.

Answer 10

I wonder how Christians cannot be Vegetarians. As I read it Genesis gives permission to eat fruits and herbs but I don't see permission to eat flesh...or milk or eggs for that matter...maybe that should be Vegan.