A good question indeed and the title of New Vegan Age's essay challenging Christians to consider going vegan. Now, we actually discussed this piece while it was being written, and there were a few things I would have liked to see in it which do not appear, and a couple of things that I actually disagree with. So, closer to Easter, I'll be giving you my own take on why more Christians aren't vegan, but please do read Tom's essay here.
In the meantime, I'm also working on: an expansion of a discussion I had with veganelder about finding a new category for animals in the property vs. person debate (for those of you who don't read the comments, tsk tsk -- you know who you are -- that's where some of the interesting stuff really happens), a resurrection of sorts (eek, bad Easter joke) of the paradox of being vegan series, white privilege, human privilege, and all sorts of privilege (also originating from a comment), the deceptively titled "one thing you can do to help veganism", and the most striking sentence I read last year.
Whew! I'm gonna be busy, but luckily I have much less time on my hands these days, which oddly enough has resulted in my being that much more focused. So, stay tuned!
Ugh, this is the 4th re-write about the Christianity part. I'm going to just say that I think it comes down to ignorance regardless of how sincere someone is in their beliefs or not. Apathy and ignorance. And by ignorance I don't mean stupidity, I mean simply ignorant - often by choice. This can hold true for anyone of any religion and I'll leave it at that.
I'm not much help in the property vs. person debate. I understand it logically and I realize that the vast majority of humans don't share most of us who are vegan's views and feelings. But personally, I consider every fellow living creature a friend and an equal, just different. As for 'my' two cats, they are my family first and I am their guardian (because obviously they don't get a say in where we live, what they eat, etc.) and I do my very best for them. I realize that in this world, other animals are not our 'equals' because of the place we've made them occupy in this world, but for me personally, they are my friends. "Animals" like birds and squirrels who live in the city that I call home, when I pass through THEIR home, I am respectful of that and treat it as such. If I ever come up with a thought that is useful for the majority of the population in the property vs. person debate, I will share it.
So glad you're getting to post more often! :)
Thank you AGAIN for helping to develop and seriously improve this essay! Like Krissa, I'm glad you're getting to post more often these days—and I'm looking forward to reading your own take on this issue soon. Oh, and omissions from the final version did not necessarily indicate disagreement :-]
That is a very good question and of course I only have some hunches as to why more Christians and other religious sects aren't vegan... My guess is that there's much in religious scripture and ancient texts that actually "permit" man's use of "everything" and every creature. There's a hierarchical model that's been used to justify every type of domination... The patriarchy from whence "man" is over all is deeply rooted in a deity who has assigned us each with "his" purpose. And when anything doesn't make much sense, most dismiss it with "We cannot know or question God's ways". So if nonhumans must suffer to become the meat that is "allowed" to us... Well, who are we to question? And then too there's always the closing remark to me when I challenge why nonhumans aren't treated kindly (by Christians). I'm told flat out "They don't have a soul". And then I can't go any further without challenging their faith. It's a tough topic indeed.
I would love it if more people were less religious and more spiritual. I don't know that Ahimsa could ever be molded into or mistaken as dominion. This topic gives a whole new meaning to the Easter ham and likewise to what is halal. :'(