(That is, according to the Christian Bible.) I've been told this by a couple people and I don't understand where they get it from. I mean, I know about God giving humans dominion over the animals in Genesis, but he doesn't say you have to eat them, does he? And I know the bit about Peter's dream that says "Here are some animals. Eat them." But I got the impression that was more about permission than about saying you can't be a good person without eating animals.
2007-11-13 10:57:10 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Where does it say that, LaptopJesus?
2007-11-13 11:41:31 · update #1
If steak was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for you, too.
2007-11-13 11:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Anybody that would tell you that being a vegitarian was unbiblical must be a good cattle rancher and a bad Christian. The bible posts many restrictions against eating different animals, how to properly prepare them, etc---but never mandates eating them. I'm not a vegitarian myself, but as for the Genesis story--many ancient Judaic groups became strict vegitarians (John the Baptist included) because they noticed that Adam and Eve did not start eating meat in the story until after they had become "sinful". Your choice to eat meat or not eat meat cannot be answered by biblical passages--some of the prophets did, some didn't.
2007-11-13 19:11:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It isn't, unless you start to insist that every Christian or indeed everyone *must* be a vegetarian.
The permission to eat (some) animals is given back in Genesis, at the end of the flood account. But it isn't compulsory, except that the Jewish Passover meal would have featured lamb as an essential central element.
Peter's dream was nothing much to do with dietary laws, but about God's acceptance of the Gentiles, the "unclean" *people*.
2007-11-13 19:10:31 · answer #3 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear ambivale,
There is nothing unbiblical about being a vegetarian. Especially if your motive is to be healthy, etc. I think maybe some people are also pointing out there is not unbiblical about eating animals either which is why they are explaining that Jesus did tell Peter that what He has blessed should not be called unclean.
What we eat really has nothing to do with whether we love Jesus or not. We have freedom in Christ but as long as we do not use that freedom to cause others to stumble. So i would say focus on loving God and continue to be a vegetarian but also love brothers/sisters in Christ who are meat-eaters.
Hope that helps. Kindly,
Nickster
2007-11-13 19:07:43 · answer #4 · answered by Nickster 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing in the Bible that says vegetarianism is wrong (or unbiblical, as you put it). Eat what you like. Ask God to bless it that it may provide health to your body, strength to your bones.
Holy cow!
hehe -that was a mini joke hope you know
and,,,,the part about Peter's dream -- you are right on the money !
2007-11-13 19:03:49 · answer #5 · answered by mgs4Real 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peter's vision was about letting non-Jews become Christians, not about food. There's nothing in the Bible that would lead me to believe that vegetarians are sinful. In the Old Testament, there are some references to the benefits of "pulse", which was a mixture of grain and vegetables.
2007-11-13 19:03:23 · answer #6 · answered by mommanuke 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know of at least one example of someone eating a vegetarian diet in the bible.
Daniel, Chapter 1
9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,
10 but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your [c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see."
14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
2007-11-13 19:06:30 · answer #7 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There needs to be more tolerance from both sides. I mean, what if some people just don't like the taste of meat? People shouldn't have to be forced to eat something they don't like.
On the other hand, though, people who choose not to eat meat for ethical reasons should not push their views onto other people - or judge people who disagree with them.
Like meat? Fine! Just respect others who choose not to eat it.
Don't like meat? Fine! Just respect others who DO choose to eat it.
2007-11-16 04:15:15 · answer #8 · answered by Serena J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible says that anyone who tells you not to eat meat or not to get married are not of God.
Every vegetarian I have known is weak and unhealthy, and I've known quite a few.
2007-11-13 19:01:23 · answer #9 · answered by LaptopJesus 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you can't be a good person if you eat animals at least that is my prospective I won't force anyone not to eat meat because they have a different belief than me
2007-11-13 19:05:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
God dont care what we eat. He is concerned about our souls and getting them to heaven
2007-11-13 19:01:07 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋