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Actually... Almost all of that is post-commandment. Same book, after the commandments are stated.

I've talked to many, many Christians who believe that the world somehow has some duty to subdue other animal life. Some of the comes from Genesis, in which many of today's Bibles suggest that God gave dominion over all of the animals to human beings. However, in Jewish tradition, the word that we interpret as "dominion" means "guardianship" or "stewardship." To me, that means that we were meant to live amongst animals and to have animal companionship, but not to be cruel or neglectful because it serves our purposes.

Anyway, there will be Christians who will go out of their way to make you feel threatened. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who feel that if you're different, you're not as good as they are. Just memorize a few verses in favor of animal care, mercy, or the animals in paradise, and let them know that they're the ones being ignorant.

I go to a Christian school myself (a different experience after years and years of public school, let me tell you!) and I find that Christians are a pretty mixed bunch. There are many who respect vegetarians and vegans for their commitment to Christ's basic principles of mercy and humility.

I think the rules of Kosher were sort of created as a food safety guide. Back when they were written, it probably was really dangerous to eat pigs and shellfish and things containing blood.

My grandparents are strict christians, but don't seem to care about my veg*nism (probably b/c their oldest daughter (my aunt) was vegan for sometime in her teens and has been some form of veg*nism for most of her life. She broke them in for me!).

I'm pagan, and while there's really no ruling on the meat issue, many pagans and wiccans are veg*n out of respect for the animals' spirits. My religion really has nothing to do with my meat-related morals (which is odd b/c they both started at about the same time in my life...). I just don't like the way commercial livestock are treated, so I don't support them.

That's a very good statement, but I feel the need to correct you. Sorry if it comes out rudely in any way. I don't mean to offend.

The cornerstone you speak of is the Wiccan Rede, which states, "An ye harm none, do what ye will."

A lot of Wiccans, Pagans, & others take it as it means 'harm none', but it is really just telling us to not interere with another's free will.

I do think that the general meaning of harm none is very nice, but it's almost impossible in today's society to harm none. It's also almost impossible to not interfere with another's free will, which is why I call myself Pagan, not Wiccan.

Again, sorry if that seems rude in any way. sweatdrop

I think maybe Jesus ate fish, and the reason God permited eating animals, is because after the Flood, it is quite possible you could no longer get all the essential vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Its not like today where you can head on down to Wal-Mart and get everything you need. Back then you had to earn your food, the hard way. The Flood could have distroyed certain plants, or maybe it became hard to get certain things in certain places. Since that is no longer an issue (unless you live in a poor country) I feel people just do not need to eat animals any longer. In these days it is now more of an indulgence than a necessity.

On another note, I think the Bible mentions something EXTREMELY intresting:

Daniel 1:12-20 (King James Version)

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.


Pulse = beans/vegetables (not 100% sure which)
(Btw, hi, I'm new :O)

I really dont give a ******** if it says that animals are going to heaven. I'm agnostic, I dont believe in an afterlife. I believe the only way to "live" after youre dead is to make your mark on the world, and make sure that you are remembered for doing all you can to make the world a better place. What im saying is i dont care if it says they go to heaven, kuz this is all we have. It still condones it. saying theyre going to heaven isnt justifying it with me, because theyre still dieing here, and i dont believe in heaven. Don't give a ******** that it doesnt say its wrong to not eat meat, in fact that matters zero. Christians will still say that its ok, and the bible still says that It is ok to eat meat, which i very strongly and absolutely believe that it is horrible. In a way it does encourage you to eat meat... it teaches that god is perfect, and if god is perfect taht must mean of course the morals he teaches are true right. the bible teaches that god is always right, and he says that its ok to eat meat. a true christian is going to eat meat, because if they were to believe it was wrong, they would be calling god a liar, and god is "perfect", and incapable of "sin". You just cant say that the bible is ok because it doesnt say its wrong to not eat meat! By being a vegetarian, you obviously believe that killing animals is murder, and that it is wrong and corrupt. the bible says its ok... it also says god is perfect... but by you being vegetarian and saying its wrong is saying that god is wrong, and christianity teaches that he is perfect. ugh... i grow weary of arguing about this topic, only gets me angry. im just gonna take a post from a previous post of mine in punks and skins united and paste it here

"I have no problem with a christian saying "god is powerful" or "god created man" or "god is amazing". But, i do definately have a problem when they start saying "god is good" and "god loves us" and "god is love". Who are they to say that their god is good? of course theyre gonna say that. what, are they gonna say that hes not? you will never hear anyone from any religion say "my religion is horrible, it sucks, so thats why im going to follow it". theyre saying that god is good, and god is perfect, because their religion is deciding what good and perfect is. it would be like me going out here and murdering someone and saying that i didnt do anything wrong. of course i did. they cant say that. they cant describle anything about their religion as good, or say that their religion is the best thing for the world, unless theyre prepared to do the same thing to every other matter and decide what the best thing for the world on that subject is. ive had arguments with christians and some have said something of the nature of "yes, i can describe god as being good, because gods will is being carried out through marriage laws, which is good is good."(incase you dont understand, hes talking about homosexuality) thats pretty much just saying "i can say my god is good because he says hes good." then i say "of course, the writers of your religion arent gonna portray god as a ******** emo who hates himself". i dont quite know how to get across what im saying. they cant say god is good because no matter what by their standards he always will be because they claim the bible is guided by the hand of god, and i doubt their message would be as effective if god wasnt portrayed as perfect, and couldnt even follow his own teachings that hes telling the followers of christianity to so tirelessly follow simply because he said so because they are his ******** cult. its the same kind of brainwash that caused 9-11. those terrorists were so into their "good" "muslim" religion, that killing thousands was totally justified in their heads(btw, im not saying i support the war incase youre interpreting it that way from this sentence, and im also aware that the extremist group is very different from traditional muslims, and much more psychotic icon_xd.gif). until a christian is willing to look outside their own box, and judge whether or not some of the principles advocated by their religion have either positive or negative effects, they cant call anything inside their religion "good" without being a hypocrit and being just plain brainwashed. theyre all brainwashed out their a**... its sickening. i wish we could all just form our views on a better world vision, regardless of whether it goes against religious beliefs. we need to judge right and wrong by by whether or not its effects are negative or positive, not on "god said this is right and said this is wrong", and the world isn't gonna be ******** by some set of 'divine' laws starting at the beginning of time. impossible"

here send me a message if youd like to debate this out with me, i would love it. just dont expect a reply tonight... im exhausted, and i need some sleep

Seventh day Adventists are very strickt(spelling?) about their diet, atleast here in Finland. Most of them are vegans and only eat organic and/or food produced here in Finland.
I myself don't belong to any religious group at the moment but I wouldn't call myself an atheist. You could say that I'm searching but I'm sure that I'll never become a christian, unfortunately most of them are very keen to spred prejudice and hate.