~ Learning to Embrace Vegetarianism ~
As a Christian, I believe I have been called to share with you (you being any reader who may view this page) why all humans should embrace vegetarianism. At first, I didn't know how exactly to go about doing this; all I knew was that I didn't want to be shouting at people and condemning them if they refused to listen. My best friend and I both agreed that evangelists who scream at you and tell you you are going to hell if you do not accept Jesus as your Savior (etc..) probably mean well and want you to seek a relationship with God ...but their method isn't the best way to reach people. Spreading the word about vegetarianism is very similar; though it is a black and white issue, I realize people would simply just not listen if I begged them to stop eating meat.
So I decided to make a website where Christians and non-Christians can view my silent plea. Before I begin though, I would like for you to know that I do not regard myself as a perfect person who has everything figured out. I am merely a person who believes we all have insights into being a more faithful servant or a more caring human being. I think each insight is a little different from another's, and I am simply sharing mine with you. Please, for those of you who know me, do not feel uncomfortable talking to me. I do my best and continually ask God to help me not judge others. But, again for those of you who know me, I encourage you to talk to me if you feel you need to. I am always open to listening to others' feelings. So please, do not hesitate to do so.
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Most people cringe at the thought of being a vegetarian or simply stick up their nose and proclaim, "Animal rights?! You've got to be kidding me." So I have compiled four strong reasons why I have chosen to embrace a vegetarian diet - reasons, I pray, may open eyes and hearts of daily meat-eaters. The words that follow, in defense of animals, are a reflection of what God has conveyed to me over the past few months - I shall now share them with you.
Reason #1: Around the beginning of this year, I discovered that meat does not come from a traditional, happy farm we so easily envision. The truth, I found, was that most meat people purchase (whether in stores, sit down or fast food restaurants) come from factory farms. These places are cruel, unsanitary, and cramped environments where animals are raised for the sole purpose of being butchered for human consumption. Most of these animals are barely able to turn around in their filthy cages. Chickens are put through painful debeaking procedures and their delicate feet become deformed because they are denied a soft groundcover in which to walk. Most creatures are pumped full of hormones so they can grow faster and produce more meat. Because these animals grow so fast and are denied exercise, many can barely walk. Due to the high demand for meat, workers in these factory farms are paid low wages and become desensitized to any feelings or pain the animals are experiencing. Some people try to deny the harshness of these environments and tell themselves that surely this is all an exaggeration. Sadly, this is just not so. Factory farms are a constant reality for most creatures. Some even go so far as to say "they are going to die anyway, so what does it matter if they suffer?" But I wonder, could a person who really believes this apply it to his or her self?
Originally I had thought eating meat was not necessarily wrong - it was only wrong eating meat that came from factory farms. I told myself that if animals eat other animals, then we can eat them also. "We should just simply change our way of raising animals" was my original, ignorant reasoning. Then God showed me even this wasn't ethical; I had forgotten that humans are moral beings, and fully capable of extending those morals to all living creatures. Yes, some species are carnivores, however, they are not able to say, "this is immoral to eat another creature" - we, as humans, are capable of recognizing its immorality. Immediately people think "well then, since they do not have morals like us, why then should be extend our morals to them?" I counter that question with this thought: a human baby, a severely mentally retarded person, or an elderly person suffering from a crippling disease also may not be capable of having or expressing morals either, but, of course, we would not abandon them or treat them cruelly: we, instead, would reach out to them with every bit of compassion as we share with anyone else. When I was fully open to God's message of extending our morals to all of His beloved creatures, I abandoned the idea of ever eating meat again.
Reasons 2-4 are ones that didn't necessarily convince me to become a vegetarian (because I already was one at the time I discovered these other reasons), however, these reasons I believe will help show others why we all should abandon a meat-eating diet. I pray at least one (if not the first one) will touch you and help open your eyes and heart.
Reason #2: This reason can be embraced by Christians and non-Christians alike: It is fact that being a vegetarian is more healthy than upholding a meat-eating diet (of course assuming one eats an adequate amount of protein - peanuts, sunflower seeds, beans, soy products, tofu, brown rice, etc..). So, this being fact, that means the majority of people are choosing to kill innocent beings to eat simply and solely because they "like the taste of it. Period." I don't find the reason people give for eating meat to be ethical or moral in anyway (again, for both Christians and non-Christians). Many, of course, contend that it would be too difficult to become a vegetarian because they don't like tofu or soy or they just don't feel strong enough to change. But I realized if I didn't give up meat for this reason I would be no better than a slave holder saying, "I just can't stand the thought of me working in the dirty, hot fields - I will continue to force innocent beings (slaves) to suffer so I will not have to step outside my comfort zone." So yeah, probably a corny example - but still very true and does convey the same message.
Reason #3: Genesis 1:28-30 says, "And God said, "Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their food." And so it was." After reading this passage, one can easily see that God had intended there to be no death on earth - because it was perfect. He had given both humans and animals plants to eat. And so though God did give us "dominion" over the animals - He did not intend for us to kill them. I found this reason to be quite helpful in explaining the meaning of our dominion over the animals: "Dominion is not the same as tyranny. The Queen of England has "dominion" over her subjects, but that doesn't mean she can eat them, wear them, or experiment on them. If we have dominion over animals, surely it is to protect them, not to use them for our own ends. There is nothing in the Bible that would justify our modern-day policies and programs that desecrate the environment, destroy entire species of wildlife, and inflict torment and death on billions of animals every year. The Bible imparts a reverence for life; a loving God could not help but be appalled at the way animals are being treated."
Some still claim that even if God didn't intend for humans to eat meat, after the fall it became "okay". I full-heartedly disagree with this statement. In Isaiah 11:6-9 it says, "In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all. The cattle will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together. And lions will eat grass as the livestock do. Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. And as waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord." God desires to have His creation restored and free from pain and suffering. The message we Christians should be hearing and acting on is found in the very prayer we recite with our fellow Christians in Church " ...thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven ..." As the followers of Jesus, we are fully capable of embracing and living out His will - and one of the many ways we can do this is by becoming a vegetarian.
I have found many people point to the fact that while Jesus was on earth, he ate fish. Yes, the scripture does say this, but unfortunately I am not able to explain this - just like I am not able to explain why God did not condemn slavery and why God said women should submit to men and not speak out in church. There are numerous things in the Bible I do not understand - but that's part of being human and is where having a relationship with Jesus is most important and crucial. Though I'm lost and confused as to why He ate fish - He has guided me and has showed me passages (discussed previously) which clearly convey the message we should not kill His creatures for our own use.
For a person to cling to the confusing fact Jesus ate fish, and refuse to hear other passages which reveal His will for us as Christians ...I pray for those individuals, I can only hope they are able to overcome their fears of turning their whole lives (including eating habits) over to God.
Reason #4: For those of you who are not moved by the suffering animals endure today in factory farms, refuse to extend your morals to animals, don't much care for a healthier diet, and are not Christians, I sincerely pray this last reason I am providing will serve to open your heart.
The final reason (that I can give) to become a vegetarian is this: to end world hunger for human beings. There are about 6 billion people on earth, out of those 6 billion, 2 billion are malnourished and an estimated 20-40 million die of starvation each year. Most probably are aware of this continuing crisis. But did you know we are able to feed these people? There is, in fact, enough food on earth to feed these starving humans. If wealthy countries slowed down the reproductive process of factory farm animals, essentially converting to vegetarian societies, there would be enough food, grain, and money to feed the hungry. The reason for this is because farm animals (which people raise to kill and eat) consume much more food than it takes to feed a human. (Because wealthy countries continue to uphold meat-eating societies, we continually deny poor countries the food we are instead giving to animals being raised for our pleasurable consumption.) By slowing down the reproductive process in factory farms (as opposed to simply killing them off), there would gradually be less animals to feed - and so they could be moved to organic, spacious farms where they could be loved and cared for and not be butchered for consumption. Because there would be less animals to feed, the concentration of grain and money could be shifted over to poor countries in need of food. I wonder if people knew they had the power to feed the hungry - would they do it? Would they, one by one, give up a meat-eating diet and embrace the life of a vegetarian?
I want to emphasize that converting to vegetarianism would not result in the loss of jobs nor the killing of animals because there is no use for them anymore. Transitioning to a vegetarian society would be a slow, gradual process (because everyone would not convert over night) and would allow time for present workers in factory farms to find humane jobs and enable the farms (after slowing down reproduction) to find organic farms for their animals to live.
I pray any of these four reasons to become a vegetarian will touch you in some way. I also would like to encourage you to ask me questions if you are confused or troubled about what I have written. I am not so naive to think it's easy to break a widely-held tradition ...especially one that has been practiced for thousands of years. But we do have the ability to change ...God lives in all of us ...and He will give us strength, if we ask, in this struggle.
Thank you for listening ...and God bless you.
Peace and Love,
Elissa
Contact information: ecooper4@utk.edu