www.whyville.net Sep 12, 2002 Weekly Issue


Vegetarianism, History, and Religion

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Vegetarianism, History, and Religion


Dumblonde
Times Writer

Hey everybody! A few weeks ago, in Merchant's article, the Editor asked, "Did you ever wonder why certain religions maintain different kinds of vegetarianism?"

There are a lot of historical figures that triggered people to become vegetarian. Most of them spoke out because of their love of animals and their feelings about the brutality of killing them. Your religion often also determined your eating habits. Many religions have various reasons for not eating different kinds of meat. I couldn't find any two that were the same. A religion's beliefs arise strongly from ancestry, leaders, and/or gods.

About 3,000 years ago is when the first practices of vegetarianism were recorded. Pythagorus was one of the first. He believed animals had souls and people who had died returned as animals. A follower of Pythagorus named Aristotle disagreed, and believed animals did not have souls and were meant to be eaten. They basically started the debate, and it's still going.

Here are some different religions and individuals that practice vegetarianism.

Jewish Vegetarians

Many Jews have chosen to live a vegetarian life. The first chief of modern Israel, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, supported vegetarianism. He is a vegetarian himself, and believes it is the only way to have peace between humans and animals.

    "We are all God's creatures--that we pray to God for mercy and justice while we continue to eat the flesh of animals that are slaughtered on our account is not consistent." --Isaac Bashevis Singer

Christian Vegetarians

Christians believe that God sent his son Jesus to earth. Jesus gave out a loving and positive message to people. He was known to be very compassionate. Because of this, some Christians are vegetarians. They say there is no compassion or love in slaughterhouses. They believe we should respect God's creation.

    "Animals are God's creatures, not human property, nor utilities, nor resources, nor commodities, but precious beings in God's sight. ... Christians whose eyes are fixed on the awfulness of crucifixion are in a special position to understand the awfulness of innocent suffering. The Cross of Christ is God's absolute identification with the weak, the powerless, and the vulnerable, but most of all with unprotected, undefended, innocent suffering." --Rev. Andrew Linzey

Buddhism and Vegetarianism

Buddhists believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is when a person dies and comes back, sometimes as a animal. They will not kill animals for food, but they will eat one that has died accidentally.

    "My thought has wandered in all directions throughout the world. I have never yet met with anything that was dearer to anyone than his own self. Since to others, to each one for himself, the self is dear, therefore let him who desires his own advantage not harm another." --Conze Edwards

So you see, the word vegetarian can be split many different ways. People obviously have different reasons for being one. There is a spiritual side to it. There's a lot history and religion behind this stuff. That is why you have to respect people's beliefs and know where they are coming from.

Till Next Time...
Dumblonde

Sources:
http://members.aol.com/sauromalus/jewishveg.htm
http://www.nutrition.cornell.edu/foodguide/veghist.html
http://www.jesusveg.com/index2.html
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa100401b.htm?terms=Vegetarianism

 

 

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