I have been vegetarian for 2 months now and have been flirting with vegan meals.  I am not religious, but was raised to be a methodist, but as I got older my parents sort of fell off the bandwagon.  So I haven't been practicing any religion for the majority of my life.  I just started a new job and my boss is a completely devoted christian.  She said to me that Jesus put animals and vegetables, etc on the earth for us to eat, but then I think about what Alicia said in her book, how we need to respect the animals, and what we are doing to them is no sort of respect. 

So my question is, Alicia, do you practice any religion and if so what do you practice?  and what do you think about what my boss said about putting animals on the earth for us to eat? Or any one that has an opinion on this matter.

I am not religious.  I would call myself spiritual; I do not beleive is a higher "figure" so to speak like God.  This is one of those things that you will have to do some soul searching and figure out what is best for you. 

There is some research out there actually suggesting that humans are physiologically not made to consume meat, from the way our jays are structured, our teeth shape for how long our intestines are.  http://www.vegsource.com/news/2009/11/the-comparative-anatomy-of-eating.html

I could go on and on about this.  Check out the above artice, it's pretty interesting.  Read books, Skinny Bitch talks about this also I think.

I'm not 'religious,' but I certainly recognized the verse referred to, since many people on both sides like to use it to support their argument:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

I guess it's all in how you interpret it. Maybe if we are made in God's image, and we have 'dominion' over the anmimals, then we should treat the animals the way God would treat us, with care and respect, since He has 'dominion' over us?

 I don't know, that would be my interpretation, but it is a very sensitive topic for some and sometimes has to be responded to in a delicate manner. Many won't inderstand your choice to go vegan, so as Laura says, you have to decide what is right for you. Maybe through your example others will be led to the kind way of living.

Why is your boss talking to you about what you eat? And pushing her religious views, seems very unprofessional. We can all eat whatever we want. Our bodies are amazingly great at showing us what is good and what is bad. I would say, be happy to be enjoying food that breeds all around health. Maybe leading by example will help bring some wonderful, kinder health in your bosses life, you never know? I would be as kind and loving to her as possible, can't go wrong there. :) If she is really out for a debate, maybe give her a copy of Alicia's book?

Best to you!
Cassi

I'm glad you posted this because I have experienced the same kind of discussion about Jesus/God putting the animals on the earth for us to eat & it has not gone very well. I am a very devoted Christian, born and raised in the south. Went to a very religious college and the majority of my friends and family are professed Christians. Of course, all are meat eaters. I think I'm the only vegan Christian I know. But I don't see what one has to do with the other really. I don't think the way that I eat has anything to do with the God I believe in or where I go when this life ends. However I do believe that God will see my striving to be kinder to animals, the earth and my body as an honorable thing. I am trying to honor what He created and honor the life that He gave me. Alicia references the old testament scripture that we were given dominion over the animals. I'm not a scholar even though I went to a religious college but it is well known (though we don't like to admit it) that could have many different meanings. In addition to that scripture there is also a scripture in the new testament where Jesus gives the people animals and says to eat. Therefore, my Chrstian friends like to argue that it is natural for us to eat animals. I think the choice to be vegan or omnivore is not a moral issue to debate. I don't think because the Bible depits Jesus instructing his people to eat an animal means that we have to today. That was not a commandment by Jesus but a moment in time and at that time might have been a necessity. Today it is not a necessity to eat meat and in fact may be destroying our health and our planet. I cannot believe that is what God would want for us. I am among the Christians that believe we are given Free Will as a gift from God. Free Will to CHOOSE. What an amazing thing. This is one of those issues that I know God wants us to choose for ourselves. So as a Christian myself, please know this is an issue I am also having to deal with.

There's an excellent website on the subject: http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/default.htm .  Be sure to watch the 20 minute video on there...it's EXCELLENT!  God's original diet for us was vegan.  And the 1st mention of animals in the bible was for our helpers! 

Let me know what you think of the video.

Okay I am a Christian and this issues seems to come up a lot with my family members. All of them are Catholic and i am Non-Denomination. I do not believe in any type of organized religion. We are just here in my eyes to worship God and to do what he puts on our hearts.  I am an over weight wife and mother and i have been over weight all my life. I have no idea what it is to be skinny. I have tried almost every diet possible and i get bored. I have prayed and prayed for him to open my eyes and show me what it is i am supposed to do to get healthy. I just happened to watch the opera show (which i NEVER do) the first time Alicia was on it (a month ago) and it  changed my life. I knew this is what i wanted and giving up meat has not been a problem at all. Well accept the people that dont understand why we chose thislife. I know i am rambling on and i am not at all trying to make this about me but the point i am trying to get to is it doesnt matter really what others think or tell you. EVERYONE will have an opinion and we can either sit and dwell on it or just brush it off and continue with what feels right in your heart.

Didn't mean for my response to be bold.  Sorry.

I find this thread very interesting,
I know that a lot of people have faith, but I have never seen any evidence that endorses any one faith.  Maybe you can think about these quotes the way we think about other quotes that seem unrealistic for us in the modern, rational world.
Yo know the sort of quotes I mean. The ones that can be taken out of context and used to justify all sorts of things that people do.
If we let science be our guide ( my own personal approach ), Alicia's superhero plan passes all the tests.

I find this thread also very interesting. I want to react to what Justin says about science. I think that science is also a kind of "religion" to some (maybe many). A lot of times the fact science produce are brought in to stop a discussion. I used to say: I dont believe (in) science, just to make this point. Science, experiments, the facts are all obtainted under certain circumstances and there is a lot of scientific proove for exemple that meat, dairy is good for you... I believe in the end we must trust what we feel is true to us, because there is always someone saying something, the one this, the other that and they will all back it up with religion or science... Just my thoughts :)

I agree with Brooke. While I try to use the Bible to guide the way I live, the truth is some of it is really a matter of interpretation. I try to honor God in the choices that I make. Being kinder to myself, other living beings and the earth seems like a good thing to me.

I think Jessica also has a good point. Everyone will have an opinion. This makes me think of the advice to quit worrying about  the speck in your brother's eye and instead focus on the plank in your own. Is your boss truly such a perfect person that she has nothing in her own life on which to focus?

Interesting topic, thanks!

its so lovely to  see everyone having a kind exchange over something concerning religion.....maybe the lack of meat in our diets actually leads to more compassionate and open communication.....:)

Ann, I thought the same thing! :D

Thanks so much for everyone's input.  And I have to agree with Ann, it is nice to have everyone kindly put in their thoughts without having to make this a hot debate.

Cathi-thanks so much for that link, that video was awesome.  They mentioned about the genesis, and I pulled out my bible and saw that on Genesis 1:29 "And god said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food".  He never mentions to them that the creatures would be for food, just that we would have dominion over them. 

Just as everyone pretty much said, we all have to believe what we believe and be happy with our own decisions.  And everything is up for interpretation, and I don't think God or Jesus would be happy with those people's decision of hurting animals in factory farms.  It hurts me way too much to want to eat meat. 

Thanks again for the support everyone put on this site!  Hopefully someday the world will understand what we are doing is for our own good and for animals' good and for the earth's good. 

When I saw "religion" as a forum post, I thought-- Oh my word, this is going to get ugly!  I was amazed to see how calm, national & respectful everyone's responses were.  WOW!  I am impressed!  Two things- to answer the first question about Alicia's religion- she said on Oprah that she is Jewish.  2) You are not the only vegan Christian out there.  I too am vegan and methodist.  So Cheers!! :)  However, regardless of what any religion prescribes-- My biggest stance is never judging some else's personal beliefs or actions (as long as they are legal) because to me one persons "sin" is just as egregious as those I commit myself-- so until each of us is perfect...you know.... stones/glass house etc.  Thank you all for discussing this with so much compassion.  It really is wonderful!