VEGANISM IN BIBLE

Sabtu, 15 Agustus 2015

There is no verse in the bible that strictly tells us to be vegetarian nor tell us to be meat eaters. Some tells us it’s okay to eat meat but some tells us not to do that. I can mention Genesis 1:29-30 or Isaiah 11:6 that guide us to be vegan. But other can say Jesus’ life that brings us to eat fish and meat.

When I began veganism, I debated with other about veganism in the bible. Firstly, I didn’t know how to explain contradiction in the bible about veganism vs meat-eater. I was very sure that we mustn’t eat meat. As human we must be vegan whatever was written in the bible. In a harsh way, I wished to tell “you eat all things; you eat vegetables, you eat meat also; don’t you know your pork is from pig, your beef and milk are from cow, eggs are from chickens; your meal on your plate is from sentient beings; they were hurt before you enjoy your meal; if you can eat all things even being, then eat also your holy bible”.

That was I wished to say, but I didn’t. I learnt and learn. And I know that we mustn’t understand or find veganism in the bible. There are verses support veganism and there are also supporting meat eater. We must see the whole in the bible. I believe that in the beginning, people were vegan. When people became meat eater God tolerated. In the bible, people eat meat at Genesis 9:3. God said to Noah about Halal and Haram. I am sure people could eat meat only because there were not enough vegetables. So, it was in the past. In the present and I hope in the future also, we have and will have enough choices of vegetables to make us healthy.

We must remember also that some values and morality aren’t directly from bible. Example? Trinity, …… I simply say, there are more. You can mention the other?

Oh, yeah. I can mention the value or trust: God is love, but in Exodus 4:21 God did harden the heart of Pharaoh so he didn’t let the Israeli go. So, Value: God is love is not just directly from bible. It comes from the experience of believers. Value and morality are also come from the heart of human, not only from the writing and writer of Holy Bible. After all we did to understand veganism in the Bible, then the best way is. . . .. .  close our eyes even our bibles, open our heart to the pain of pig, cow, goat, chicken and all sentient beings that have to be sacrificed for our meals. Are we in the same situation when bible was written? Must we eat meat to survive? Or just for our stomach and tongue? Nowadays there are many and enough vegetables for us, human, to survive and keep healthy

If you do all of them and try again to find in bible, then eat your holy  .. . . . bible also.