Each
and every religion tells us to be mentally and spiritually pure. So, it is
obvious that each and every religion oppose pornography. Even though it is
obvious that each and every religion also support vegetarianism, ignorant people
like PyTom and his cronies claim otherwise. So, let me show you all how each
and every religion support vegetarianism and animal rights. Note that I am
taking about vegetarianism here, not veganism.
Judaism- The Torah is full of commandments
that demand proper and humane treatment of animals. But today, the way our
slaughterhouses and factory farms treat the animals, is far from humane. Judaism
has a lot of concern for the poor and the starving, yet billions of people are
starving across the world, because other people have chosen to follow a
carnivorous diet.
Christianity- The Bible says “Thou shall not
kill”. Even though people may say that it applies only to humans, Leo Tolstoy
and other such scholars said that it applies to all creatures. People try to
provide interpretation for this commandment by showing passages from the Old
Testament. But, interpretation is required only when the meaning is not clear. “Thou
shall not kill” is a clear and specific instruction which requires no
interpretation, though ignorant people may say otherwise.
Zoroastrianism- Zoroaster, the founder of this
religion was influenced by Pythagoras. Like Pythagoras, Zoroaster followed
strict vegetarianism, and abolished animal sacrifices.
Buddhism- Lord Buddha said that meat is for
sub-human beings. He believed that the life of a human being was equal to that
of a cow, lamb, and pig and so on. He, especially in his youthful days, was a
great animal lover, and is known to save the life of an innocent bird
(probably, a swan) from his cousin, who was a merciless and cruel hunter. Lord
Buddha also taught us that vegetarianism is the first step to nirvana.
Jainism- Mahavira, like Lord Buddha,
believed that all creatures are equal. He instructed all his followers to
follow strict vegetarianism, and strongly opposed animal sacrifices.
Islam- Prophet Mohammed said that he who is
kind to God’s creatures is kind to himself. Is there any better way to be kind
towards God’s creatures than to stop eating them? No. The Prophet is also known
to reprimand the people of his time who used to abuse animals. He also forbade
the killing of animals for their skin.
Sikhism- Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism,
forbade his disciples from taking meat and wine. The Sikh scriptures strongly
support vegetarianism and say that human beings should live in harmony with all
of God’s creation.
Hinduism- Non-violence, towards all creatures,
is the basis of Hinduism. The Bhagavad Gita says that food like meat and fish
is usually liked by demonic types of people. According to many Hindu saints,
since we have no power to create any living being, we have no right to kill. And
therefore, man-made laws that distinguish killing of a human being and an animal
are imperfect.
As
for veganism, it was started because of the horrors of the diary industry. The
scriptures say nothing against taking milk. So, veganism was started because of
the way this milk is obtained, not because milk is an evil ingredient. So,
veganism is not a doctrine, but a tool to reduce suffering for all creatures, especially
the cows.
Let us all love our fellow creatures instead of looking for excuses to kill and eat them. They all share the planet with us.
Thou shall not kill does not apply to animals. As God himself has given grace to humanity allowing us to consume animals.
ReplyDeleteAnd also lambs were slain as a sacrifice and offered to God.
It seems that you have little or no knowledge about the Christian scriptures. So, let me enlighten you.
ReplyDelete“Thou shall not kill” means that you should not kill. That’s all there is to it. Leo Tolstoy said that it applies to all creatures, not just human beings. And, to say that you know better than Tolstoy would be a bit arrogant, don’t you think so?
And, God didn’t give mankind permission to eat animals. He gave Noah permission to eat meat for a limited time, because all the plants were destroyed because of the flood. If God wanted people to eat animals, he would have given us teeth and claws to hunt ourselves and the ability to eat it uncooked. If God gave us permission to eat animals, he would have done so after he created Adam and Eve. But Genesis 29 clearly says that God gave Adam and Eve permission to eat only plants.
About the animal sacrifices in Leviticus, here is my explanation. First, Leviticus 1 and 2 repeatedly refers to the proper way to make sacrifices of animals or plant food if one wished to make an offering to God. These chapters do not show God commanding animal sacrifices. The ancient Hebrews lived among human-sacrificing and animal-sacrificing people, and they could not imagine a God who had no desire for blood sacrifices.
But, still, in your comment, you meant that God demanded sacrifices, didn’t you? In ancient times, many people believed that their sins could only be “atoned” by sacrificing innocent animals to their god(s). Some of them even sacrificed humans. I can’t believe that such people even exist nowadays. Are you really one of them? Or maybe, you are just using the examples of sacrifices to defend your habit of meat-eating.
That excuse is really pitiful. Can you really imagine a loving, kind and compassionate God being pleased with the killing of his own innocent children? No. But, still, let me show you that God neither demanded nor approved animal sacrifices.
Twice in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not animal sacrifices.” And, we know that Jesus was a strong follower of Isaiah, and Isaiah repeated countless times that God doesn’t like animal sacrifices. For example, read Isaiah 1: 11. And, in Jeremiah 7: 22-23 we come to know that God never gave anyone any command to offer sacrifices but he only asked his people to be faithful.
Read Isaiah 53: 4 – 9 carefully. It clearly refers to Jesus. Isaiah was also identifying Jesus with the millions of innocent animals that were lead to slaughter before Jesus. That is why he is often compared to a lamb. Why did Jesus sacrifice himself? He sacrificed himself to put a full stop to the animal sacrifices once and for all. God revealed to humanity that we need not kill innocent animals because “God himself would be the sacrifice” in form of Jesus, God’s incarnate. In today’s world, if (so-called) Christians begin to “support” animal sacrifice, that would defeat the whole purpose for which Jesus died.
And, ever since I posted this, I have got multiple comments full of weak excuses by meat-eaters to defend their habit of meat-eating. But, I really don’t feel obligated to approve such comments and reply to all of them. No matter what kind of excuse you have, it will not change the fact that eating meat causes additional suffering. Remember that taking the life of an innocent creature just for your appetite is a deadly sin. That’s the very reason each and every religion support vegetarianism.
For anyone who has doubts about vegetarianism, feel free to ask me any questions. You may or may not get a quick response. But, please note that foolish and irrelevant questions will not be answered. Also, even though questions are welcome, arguments are not. Because it is a fact that meat-eating is wrong, and causes unnecessary suffering. So, please refrain from arguing here, even if you are 100% against vegetarianism.
ReplyDeleteIf you wish, you can go ahead and argue with the scholars of the Catholic Vegetarian Association. But, as for me, I don't have time to waste on pointless arguments.