Why are religious vegetarians/vegans more accepted than purely ethical ones?

Question

I often get quite nasty reactions when I tell people I'm vegan. In Japan I would get looks of horror for even suggesting it. When they ask why, the easiest way to explain is to say for the same reasoning as that of buddhist monks. Then they usually smile and say "oooh it's because you're a buddhist" and seem happy about it. When I reply no that I'm not actually a buddhist they go back to their first reaction and can't understand why I'm a vegan. It's as if they think monks just blindly follow rules without giving it any thought and this is preferred.

I find this happens a lot in the west too. If you're a hindu or buddhist that doesn't eat meat it's like you have an automatic shield against abuse. Why is it that people are more accepting when they think you're obeying a rule rather than using your own reason to come to an ethical decision? The reasons are practically the same... it's just that one group bases it on religion and another bases it on a personal choice.

Answer 1

I agree that this happens all the time. It is part of the 'undeserved respect' that society teaches people to accord religion(s). Richard Dawkins writes about this in 'The God Delusion'.

It doesn't make sense - why should more respect be given to the 'blind' following of an ancient 'rule' than to the considered decision of a thinking, caring person?

Answer 2

Having been on this planet a good many years, I've come to accept that people will defend their own beliefs without consideration of others.

When it comes to food, I admit to being an omnivore, but I always like to embrace other cultures and recipes.

I often visit resturants and will have a purely vegetarian meal, and can do so as often as I like because I admit to being an omni.

If anybody asks why I'm having veggie - I just say I like a change every now and then.

I think a lot of people see vegetarians and vegans as 'missing out', and then feel guilty because they can't justify their particular choices, and then they get defensive.

My philosophy - don't give them the ammunition in the first instance.

Answer 3

I live in an area where cattle-raising is a way of life. I'm talking real-live cowboys here. The idea that someone doesn't eat beef is not only unusual, but almost "un-American" to the folks out here. I find that I get a more "accepted" reaction when I explain to people that I'm allergic to beef. They seem to think, "Oh, it's just because she CAN'T eat beef...." I am just allergic to beef, little do they know that I don't eat ANY meat and wouldn't eat beef even if I wasn't allergic to it! But, to them, it's an acceptable explaination. I think people are more comfortable with the idea of vegetarianism/veganism if it's mandated by some reason. The folks out here have been cattle farming for generations! It's just weird to them.

Answer 4

For some reason some people feel that way and not just towards vegans and vegetarians. Any controversial subject you will find people are more excepting if your views are organized religion based.

I have real issue with this since I don't choose to follow any organized religion some feel my beliefs are less important. I have faith, I have beliefs that are very strong, just because I don't have a religious organization to back me up doesn't make my beliefs and thoughts any less important to me.

People really need to become more open minded and realize you don't need to agree with others views and choices but as long as no one is getting hurt a little respect and acceptance won't kill you.

Answer 5

Religions have that effect. When people KILL for religions, they think maybe it's OK because some people would die for their religion and think it's OK to kill in order to protect their religion.
It's time people realised that one doesn't need to be Buddhist to be vegan or vegetarian. If they get nasty or simply don't want to understand why you choose to be vegan, then what does that say about those people? They have a brain, which they don't know how to use.
When I told my mother in Taiwan that I'd given up eating meat, she immediately said, 'oh scary, you've turned religious.' I put her right straight away, but whether she understood my argument or not, I don't know.

Answer 6

I'm not sure I can answer this, but I feel impelled to say that this is the most intelligent question I've read thus far in Yahoo Answers. It's not just a good question; it's also well rendered.

As for my answer, my instinct tells me that human beings tend to like authority (but not all of us); it makes people feel safe.

Your idea that individual autonomy should be accorded the same respect as an organized religion is astute. Buddha believed that too. He never set out to create an institution called Buddhism. Jesus proclaimed, "I and the Father are One," meaning he was God. They nailed him! The Church later burned "heretics" and "witches" for claiming the same thing.

So I guess my point is that people tend to acknowledge the external representations of reality (like churches and religions) and aren't comfortable with people who acknowledge their own authority and autonomy. If I were you, I would just say, "I'm Vegan for spiritual reasons" and leave it at that.

Answer 7

I think people have come to avoid the discussion of religion due to so much confrontation so if someone says it's a religious reason they just want to end it there. The funny thing is that I have done a lot of research on different religions and even Judaism, Christianity, Muslim, and Islamic religions have evidence in their religious books that god did not intend for man to eat meat however so many people who are actively part of these religions refuse to fully read or practice these parts of their religion. I respect people who are religious because many of them need something to lean on in order to maintain and guide their ethics and decisions but it really bothers me when someone says, "Where having a BBQ at the church" when the bible specifies you shall not feed upon slain beasts. I suppose it's hypocrisy at its best.

Answer 8

People are hella stupid and think that morals can only come from [a] god or that the only motivation for something like that is an unusual source of fear of punishment in the afterlife.

Any other reasons and you are either crazy or you're tying to be better than everyone else.

Stop trying so hard, it makes everyone else look bad.
Have some consideration, would you?

With Buddhists and Hindus, they just think, *Oh, she thinks that she might be eating her reincarnated grandfather. How cute is that?*

Answer 9

It's a great question, and I think grayure had the answer. For many people, it's probably easier to accept that someone is following their religious dictates than the notion that someone came to an ethical/moral decision on their own and left the higher powers out of it.

Answer 10

People tend to interpret a moral decision as an accusation and a criticism of themselves personally. A religious preference is more likely to be hereditary or part of a disciplined traditional lifestyle, and so is less personal, as it may be part of a family or community tradition, and people tend to value this in itself and accept the rest as a side effect rather than take it personally. However, a moral decision need not be self-righteous or accusatory, though it is a tacit challenge to the other's conduct.