OK - so I'm finally getting around to talking about vegetarians . . . and I find that I don't really know much about the subject, and that it really isn't something I think I'll get too passionate about one way or the other. Having said that, I do have a few thoughts on the subject:
1. We can't look to Jesus and say "we should eat only meat" or "we should eat only vegetables." The Gospels really don't go into Jesus' dietary requirements, and where they do there is no subtext that says "only eat what Jesus ate." . . . Though as I say this, I'm envisioning a whole new campaign: WWJE: What Would Jesus Eat? :-)
2. The few dietary norms found in the rest of the New Testament are prescriptive: drink a little wine at night to aid digestion, etc. The one place where it talks about eating/not eating meat, the discussion is in the context of eating meat offered to idols/false gods. A dietary commandment it is not :-)
3. I perused PETA's website and supplementary materials. I know they don't have the most sterling reputation, but I was disturbed at what I learned about animal treatment, especially chickens, pigs and cows (our main sources of meat here in the US). I learned that many of them are abused, neglected, and in conditions that are less than sanitary and less than charitable. Even though I don't see animals as "other humans," I think the treatment of many of them, in the single-minded pursuit of greater profit margins, is inexcusable. The slight nudge that I may make because of that is to look for more products that come from well-treated animals (free range chickens and eggs, for example) to help support those businesses that don't mistreat their animals. The cost is a bit more (I've discovered that free-range eggs cost twice as much as normal eggs!), but my conscience rests a bit easier. :-)
4. After perusing PETA's website and other vegan web sites, it almost seems like becoming a vegetarian is a conversion to another faith - some of the web sites were very . . . devotional in their tone and approach to the subject of diet. While I acknowledge that eating more grains and veggies is good, I still think that as omnivores we are allowed the occasional BBQ. :-)
So my conclusion? Eat more veggies, fruits and grains, and maybe try to look at where your meat is coming from. But having to be meatless? Not a fundamental Christian practice . . . and thank God for that! - I do love my fajitas! :-)
Blessings & Peace,
Hugo
10 comments:
Brother Hugo your reasonable approach to today’s questions may not win you the coveted Blog of the year award but you can count on my vote for what it’s worth.
Your observation on the devotion and conviction that the fur fighters exhibit seems popular among many of the right to rights groups. It seems so many people are struggling to find something to believe in.
Thanks for stopping by. not a lot of time here, but interesting observations.
And about the PETA's animal for food program. I used to work in cancer research lab and we always said what we did was more humane than the food industry.
Ciao.
Thanks to all three of you for stopping by.
KC: I'll take all the votes you can throw my way! :-) I hadn't taken it to that logical conclusion (that everyone seems to want something to beleive in), but it sparked a thought I'll make into a new entry - thanks! : -)
Pecheur: Yeah - I was appalled (sp) at the way those animals are treated - new born chicks in many chicken farms have their beaks sliced off with hot knives so that they won't peck each other to death in their pens - they peck becasue in the wild they form natural hierarchies (literally pecking orders) and in captivity they can't even tutn their whole bodies around - shocking stuff for me to read.
Gabe: Glad the info on the Pope was informative - I know I did, and my students did as well . . . it's amazing how much more focused I became on the papcy during these last few weeks - I'm learning, too! :-)
And like I mentioned, I like fajitas much too much to give up meat altogether, though my conscience is safe - I tend to buy my BBQ'ing meat from a local meat market - fresh meat, humanely slaughtered, right in front of you if you catch them @ the right time! :-)
Blessings & PEace,
Hugo
I;m not th emost politically-active person, and I've never attended a politicol convention, but I saw the movie The Manchurian Candidate. The scenes where th epolitical candidates entered the arena and the people went wild . . . it seemed like worship to me! :-)
So I agree that many people are looking for something to worship . . . the problem comes in when we worship something created instead of the Creator.
And regarding the plight of chickens . . . my wife doesn't want to eat chicken anymore . . . so much for my son's Happy Meal addiction! :-)
Blessings & Peace,
Hugo
Ignorance is bliss.
I am not quite sure that we don't have some good commentary on what not to eat in the book of Isaiah. Throughout scripture, you see the blatant reference to pigs not supposed to be eaten. Jesus sends the demons into the pigs, which is not so blatant, but it is indicative of what I see as a pervasive theme throughout scripture. Pigs are seen as unclean and filthy animals, but lets think more along the lines of what their meat does to us. God was looking out for us from the very beginning in Isaiah, knowing the meat of pigs is very dangerous for us to eat from a health perspective. I would stay away from pigs, if not from a commandment standpoint at least from a precept standpoint with health ramifications.
As for the cruelty to animals argument, always remember that we were given dominion over animals from the beginning. No sacrifice was ever deemed unrighteous except those that were done in the wrong manner. God intended that we continually kill and eat. And by the way, according to Acts 10, all dogs do go to heaven. :)
Anonymous: Ignorance can seem liek bliss . . . what's the quote I'm looking for . . . "ignorance of the law does not excuse breaking the law" (or something like that)
Pat: Concerning pigs, Chs 10 & 11 of Acts tell us that from a ritual perspective (cleanliness and incleanliness) there is no food that is considered "unclean" or "profane" any longer. Even meat sacrificed to idols was fine, as long as the Christian eating it did not scandalize anyone else that might be watching.
Concerning curelty to animals, I don't go for the mindset that says we shouldn't eat animals. However, I do think that the treatment of animals can become an ethical concern. We have law enforcement divisions that look into cases of animal abuse. However, since it's big business and since we have to have our chicken nuggets and processed burgers, we look the other way to the cruelty & torture that some animals are put through.
Being stewards of creations necessarily entails *good* stewardship, and I think one of the signs of good stewardship would be that cruelty against our four-footed brothers and sisters (to paraphrase a Native American Indian quote I read once) was a thing of the past.
Finally, the Catholic church teaches that while animals have souls they are not the same as human souls, i.e. they do not survive death. I choose to ignore that teaching. :-) I think that when God creates a new heaven and a new earth and the end of time, we will have our beloved animal companions with us. :-)
Blessings & Peace,
Hugo
No, vegetarianism isn't specifically required in Christianity.
But if you look at how meat-eating destroys the rainforest, I'm sure you'll agree that eating vegetarian is the moral, and Christian, thing to do.
You brin g up a good point . . . as I mentioned my wife are trying to move towards more free-range, organic stuff . . . but we won;'t totally cut out meat - it does bring us pleasure to eat, BBQ, etc. I think that our economic system, which is so focused on profits, has much to do with thsi as well . . . if it wasn't profitable, no one would be doing it.
Blessings & Peace,
Hugo
W.C. I can appreciate anyone who follows his or her own conscience and in no way do I condemn your choice, however I do question the reasoning you cited for the moral judgment. Were I to apply that reasoning to the “problem” of death then could I conclude that being born is the cause, therefore the moral and Christian thing to do is refuse to procreate?
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