Halal Vegetarianism

Mercy and Compassion

The Qur'an is clear about the special lives of animals:

Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do. Sura 24:41

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have We omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end. Sura 6:38

The Qur'an tells us that animals are communities and nations unto their own and that they are more than mere resources. However, animals are treated as nothing but machines on today's "factory farms." Not only are these factory farms found in the West, they are also becoming the dominant means of meat, egg, and milk production throughout the world. More than 20 billion animals are slaughtered for food each year worldwide. These billions of animals are confined to extremely small spaces so that producers can raise as many animals as possible. Ninety percent of U.S. eggs come from chickens who are crammed together up to five to a cage the size of a record album cover, and this method of egg production is spreading throughout the globe.

Chickens have their beaks cuts off with hot irons; cattle are dehorned, castrated, and branded, and their tails are cut off without anesthetics. Dairy cows are also confined to tiny stalls and kept constantly pregnant through artificial insemination. All animals on factory farms suffer.

The overcrowding of the factory farm causes many animals to become psychotic and to mutilate themselves because of boredom or stress. To combat the diseases rampant in such overcrowded conditions, factory farmers routinely spray animals with pesticides and inject them with antibiotics. To fatten them quickly and inexpensively, animals are injected with growth hormones. Residues from these drugs and chemicals are passed on to those who consume the flesh.

These practices violate the Prophet's (SAWS) teachings to cause no pain to an animal before she or he is slaughtered. In addition, Muhammad (SAWS) forbade the cutting off of tails and other mutilations, as well as branding animals on the face (which is still practiced by some ranchers).

During transport, animals raised for food are typically denied food and water, are overcrowded, are given no protection from the elements, and can often languish for days while waiting to be slaughtered. Many chickens have their wings broken during transport, and many animals suffocate in the transport trucks. The Prophet (SAWS) said that one should not keep an animal waiting to be slaughtered, and Hazrat Umar (RA) once flogged a man who refused to give a sheep water before she was slaughtered.

Very often there are further atrocities at the time of slaughter. One investigative story, regarding non-dhabiha slaughter found that cattle were being dismembered while still very much alive . But even Muslims who try to keep halal by purchasing halal meats may be supporting similar abuses. An undercover investigation into halal meat exported from India found that animals were being skinned and butchered while they frantically tried to escape or while they exhibited other clear signs of life. This despite the clear Islamic ruling that animals must clearly be dead before any skinning or butchering begins.

Factory-farmed meat may also not be halal (permissible). Cattle, sheep, chickens, and other animals are routinely fed the ground-up bodies of pigs, chickens, and cattle, along with chicken excrement and other unsavory waste products as a supplement in their food. This should make most meat haram (forbidden) for two reasons:

1. The animals have eaten pork and
2. These animals could be considered carnivorous, and carnivorous animals are generally forbidden for food in Islam.

Some meat sold in the United States has even been mixed and tainted with pork. Click here to see a report by the Detroit Free Press.

Environment

Muslims are charged to look after the environment. The Qur'an says, "Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it." Sura 33:72

But consuming the products of the factory farm directly leads to the destruction of the earth and the environment. It depletes the topsoil, uses vast quantities of water, and pollutes both earth and water with sewage runoff. For more on the environmental consequences of factory farming, please visit Earthsave.org.

Health

Muslims are exhorted to eat good, pure, and wholesome food. But we now know that eating animal products is implicated in a host of diseases. People who consume animal products are 10 times more susceptible to heart disease, 40 percent more susceptible to cancer, and at increased risk for many other illnesses, including stroke, obesity, appendicitis, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, and food poisoning. Additionally, meat contains accumulations of pesticides and other chemicals up to 14 times more concentrated than those found in plant foods. For more on the health consequences of eating animal products, please visit the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Islam Does Not Require Meat-Eating

Say: 'I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any meat forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it�" Sura 6:145

The Qur'an says only that permitted meats may be eaten if one so wishes. Nowhere in Islam are Muslims required to eat meat. Meat consumption is neither encouraged nor even recommended.

Neither the kindness to animals taught by the Prophet (SAWS) nor the special place of animals as described in the Qur'an is reflected in modern methods of raising animals for food. Adopting a vegan diet (a diet free from meats, dairy products, and eggs) is the easiest way for Muslims to live in accordance with the ethical, environmental, and health precepts of Islam.

from www.islamconcern.com

Question about vegetarian

By Bruce Friedrich

Question 1: Animals eat one another in nature, so why shouldn’t we eat animals?

Variations on this question include, “Aren’t humans at the top of the food chain?” and “Aren’t humans omnivores?” Please really think about what we do to animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses, denying animals everything that is natural to them and then killing them in gruesome ways, and try to tell me that this is moral. Nature’s law is, without a doubt, Darwin’s “survival of the fittest.” But some animals may procreate by rape and other animals may fight territorial battles to the death. But the fact that those things occur in nature does not mean we say they’re acceptable for humans. We hold ourselves to a higher standard in our interactions with one another. We even hold ourselves to a higher standard with regard to animals we often form special bonds with, such as dogs and cats—readily granting them some basic protections. What animal welfare advocates suggest is that we should be compassionate toward all animals, not just those who we know a bit better.

Question 2: Do you care more about animals than humans?

Variations on this question include, “With so much human suffering, why don’t you focus on human issues?” The interesting thing to me about this question is that none of my friends who run shelters or soup kitchens or who work on famine relief ever asks it. The people who ask this question invariably have not dedicated their lives to alleviating suffering—human or animal. And, of course, a vegan diet is the only environmentally responsible diet, it’s the healthiest diet, and it’s the diet that is the best for U.S. workers and the global poor. So a vegan diet is good for both animal and humans. Regardless, shouldn’t all suffering be addressed? Princeton bioethicist Dr. Peter Singer said: “When nonvegetarians say that ‘human problems come first,’ I cannot help wondering what exactly it is that they are doing for human beings that compels them to continue to support the wasteful, ruthless exploitation of farmed animals.” One great thing about veganism is that it allows you to take a stand against suffering without doing anything that requires any real time or effort.

Question 3: Didn’t God give us dominion over animals?

As a Roman Catholic, this is the one question that most unsettles me, because it is such an obscene rationalization. Dominion doesn’t mean domination and exploitation. All of the world’s prominent religions teach the importance of compassion, the importance of mercy. But the choice to eat meat, dairy products, or eggs is a violent one; it supports cruelty. Even if their religious beliefs allowed people to eat these products, they would certainly not be required to do so. Leaving aside the environmental and human consequences, which should be anathema to any kind or ethical human being, God created animals with needs, wants, desires, and species-specific behaviors, and all of these things are denied the animals who are turned into food by the farmed-animal industries. God created animals with a well-developed capacity for pain. Chicken, pigs, cattle, fish and other farmed animals—they are individuals. If you get to know a chicken or another farmed animal you find that they have personalities, intelligence, and social structures. They love their families. The Bible talks repeatedly about a hen’s love for her children, and that’s the metaphor Jesus uses to describe his love for humanity. Anyone who has ever seen a hen with her children or protecting her nest, knows this to be true. Farmed animal industries abuse animals and deny them the expression of each and every natural behavior God created for them. For more information on this topic, please check out JesusVeg.com.

Question 4: Why are you imposing your will on me?

This is sometimes put as, “You choose to be a vegan. I choose to be a meat-eater. Live and let live.” The problem here is that meat and dairy consumers are supporting the gratuitous abuse of an animal who had no choice in the matter. They are not putting into practice a “live and let live” philosophy. Just as child abuse involves the child who has no choice, eating meat, dairy, or egg products involves an animal, or many animals, who have had no choice. And just as you can choose to beat your child, you can choose to eat meat. But if you do, you’re hurting someone who is powerless to stop you.

Question 5: Don’t plants feel pain?

Pain requires a brain, a central nervous system, pain receptors, and so on. All mammals, birds, and fish have these things. No plants do. Really though, we all know this to be true: We all understand that there is a fundamental difference between cutting your lawn and lighting a cat’s tail on fire and between breaking up a head of lettuce and bashing a dog’s head in. Birds, mammals, and fish are made of flesh, bones, and fat, just as we are. They feel pain, just as we do. I may not know quite where to draw the line. For example, I’m not sure what a roach or an ant experiences. But I do know with 100 percent certainty that intentionally inflicting suffering because of tradition, custom, convenience, or a palate preference is unethical. And if we’re eating meat, dairy products, or eggs, we’re intentionally causing suffering, for no good reason.

Vegetarian Diets during Cancer Treatment

By now most of us have heard of the association between a vegetarian diet and cancer prevention. A multitude of antioxidants and phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables, and legumes are being studied intensely as a result of some promising studies showing these foods’ anti-cancer properties. This research is leading us to believe that a vegetarian diet may be one of the best preventive measures against certain cancers. However, there is no clear consensus on the type of diet that is most beneficial after a diagnosis of cancer. There are those who advocate macrobiotic diets and various "nutritional therapies" as forms of cancer treatment, but there is not enough scientific evidence to back up these claims, and severe dietary restrictions can be detrimental to those already at risk for malnutrition. So, is vegetarianism a wise choice for someone with cancer? A vegetarian diet can be both safe and beneficial for people undergoing cancer treatment, provided they know how to make appropriate food choices. In fact, vegetarian foods may even help people get through difficult times during cancer treatment when their regular diets may falter. However, the guidance of a registered dietitian is recommended for any vegetarian undergoing cancer treatment, even if this diet is not new to them. This article provides information for planning a vegetarian diet that will satisfy the special nutritional needs of the cancer patient, whether that person is yourself, a friend or family member, or a client. Those who have been diagnosed with cancer and endured its treatment can attest to the nutritional deficiencies and weight loss which can be a difficult part of this experience. The foundation of this predicament is the increased calorie and protein requirements that often result from the presence of a tumor as well as from the need for repair of healthy tissues damaged by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. To complicate matters, these cancer treatments can challenge one’s normal eating habits because of a variety of potential side effects. Chemotherapy, for example, works by attacking rapidly growing cells. This, unfortunately, targets not only the tumor, but some healthy tissues as well, including the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. While some of these drugs produce only mild side effects, others can severely impact quality of life. The effects of radiation therapy can be similar to those of chemotherapy, but are usually related to the part of the body that is being treated. Consequently, radiation to the head, neck, chest, and abdomen can induce significant GI distress and a decreased tolerance to many foods. Following is a list of some of the more common problems experienced during cancer treatment which can influence the ability to eat regularly: Decreased appetite (anorexia) Feeling of fullness (early satiety) Nausea and vomiting Loss of taste (taste blindness) or taste distortions (dysgeusia) Dry mouth (xerostomia) Sore mouth or throat (mucositis) Constipation Diarrhea During cancer treatment, you may be counseled on a diet that is high in both calories and protein in order to meet the body’s increased demands, as well as to maximize the value of a reduced volume of food. Small, frequent, high calorie snacks may be helpful. The Table below compares a variety of foods which are relatively high in protein. If you are unable to eat large amounts of foods, choose those which have more calories per serving. Foods Supplying Approx. 7 gms of Protein/Serving Food Item Calories ½ c. legumes 80-100 2 Tbsp peanut butter 180-200 1-2 oz. nuts/seeds 175-200 ¼ c. cottage cheese 50 1 oz. cheese 100 7 oz. milk, yogurt 80-140 1 c. egg noodles 160 ¼ c. tofu 75 1 ½ c. rice 300 1 c., ckd. broccoli 50 2 ½ oz. tempeh 120 Vegetarian Foods for the Non-Vegetarian One of the treatment side effects mentioned can cause a change in food preferences. Your favorite foods may now be less appealing. You may develop an aversion to meat, poultry, fish, sweets, or coffee. Taste distortions often occur so that strongly flavored (or strong smelling), bitter, and sweet foods taste "off." From my experience counseling cancer patients, I have found that red meat is commonly among the first foods to be rejected, as well as coffee and highly acidic foods. This aversion to meat may be due to a heightened sense of bitterness or a metallic taste after the proteins are broken down in the mouth. Poultry may or may not have this effect. Dairy products and eggs are generally better tolerated. Smell sensitivity can also lead to a rejection of meat, fish, and poultry, as the odors produced while cooking can trigger nausea. In these situations, the adoption of vegetarian substitutes for these foods can help make up for potential calorie and protein deficiencies that could result from omission of these foods from your diet. Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Diet For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, the choices of nourishing foods are many. Dairy products supply protein and are a good source of calories, as well as calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and vitamin D. It is relatively easy to meet high calorie and protein needs with the use of foods such as milkshakes, cream soups, cheeses, and commercial nutritional supplements. Although these foods may be high in fat, the diet is often recommended only temporarily, and can also be adjusted according to individual fat tolerance. Eggs, egg substitutes, and legumes can be incorporated into the diet as additional protein and calorie sources. Lactose intolerance is common in the general population, and even more prevalent in people receiving cancer treatment, even if only temporarily. This is especially true when diarrhea is a problem, as it can temporarily "wash" away the lactase enzyme, thus creating an inability to digest lactose. Fortunately, there are lactose-reduced and lactose-free dairy products available now, as well as lactase tablets and drops. These products may help some people digest milk products without developing abdominal discomfort, excess gas, or diarrhea. There are some people who cannot tolerate any dairy products, no matter what, and for those with chronic diarrhea, dairy products may only worsen the condition. In these cases, vegan foods can be extremely helpful in filling in dietary gaps. Vegan Diet Although it probably would be easiest for most non-vegetarians to make the transition to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, a vegan diet can be appropriate for the well-informed patient. A vegan diet should initially include as many familiar foods as possible, with "new" foods to fill in the gaps. The trick is to use products that are quick and simple to prepare, and can be easily exchanged for animal products in familiar dishes. The vegan can substitute nutritious plant-based foods for most of the common dairy products. For example, the vegan can substitute fortified soy milk for cow’s milk; vegetable oil or margarine for butter; soy/rice frozen desserts and sorbets for ice cream and frozen yogurts; soy alternatives for sour cream, cheese, yogurt, and cream cheese; and tofu or egg replacer for eggs. Getting sufficient iron, calcium, and vitamin B12 is a particular concern with vegan diets. Vitamin B12 can be obtained from fortified cereals and fortified soy beverages, or a vitamin B12 supplement. Macrobiotic diets are generally too restrictive for people with cancer, especially during treatment. The more limitations placed on the diet of a person who is experiencing eating difficulties or who may already be malnourished can set the stage for additional problems. For those with an increased sense of strong or bitter tastes, the mild flavor of some soy products can be a welcome change. If taste blindness is a problem, using marinades and seasonings for tofu and tempeh can enhance the flavor. Dry beans and peas, nuts, peanut butter, and seeds are examples of foods used sparingly or infrequently by non-vegetarians. These foods and snacks can be utilized frequently by vegans to supply a greater percentage of calorie and protein requirements. Shakes can be made with soy milk, tofu, and non-dairy frozen desserts and can be flavored with fruit or chocolate syrup to make a tasty, calorie-rich treat. Many varieties of trail mixes are readily available and great for high-energy snacks. Quick and Easy High Calorie Snacks For the lacto-ovo vegetarian these would include pizza, milk shakes, ice cream, yogurt, puddings and custards, cheese and crackers, fruit, and creamed vegetable soups. The vegan should select from the following foods: bean tacos/burritos, fruit shakes, non-dairy frozen desserts, soy yogurt and puddings, peanut butter on crackers, bean and chunky vegetable soups, fruit and dried fruit, nuts and seeds, and bagels. A multivitamin/mineral supplement is often recommended for patients undergoing cancer treatment, as they may not be able to eat a variety of foods in sufficient amounts to meet their needs, whether following a vegetarian diet or not. References: M Dollinger, EH Rosenbaum, G Cable. Everyone’s Guide to Cancer Therapy, 2nd ed. Kansas City: Andrews and McMeel, 1994. FJ Zeman. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan, 1991. ______________ Adapted from the article published in The Vegetarian Journal, July/Aug 1996, pp 12-14. Donna Paglia is a clinical nutrition specialist at the John Hopkins Hospital Oncology Center in Baltimore.

Vegetarian kids get plenty of good nutrients

From "Veggie Life," May 1994

Don’t worry about vegetarian kids getting their nutrients. As with adults, a meatless diet is considerably healthier.

Protein: More and more health authorities agree that the optimal diet receives 65 percent of its calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent from fat and 15 percent from protein. You can get as much as 8 percent protein just from oranges or rice. Whole wheat bread is 16 percent protein, peanuts 18, beans 28 and tofu 34.

Fiber: A diet based on plant food provides about 60 grams of fiber per day. A meat- and dairy-based diet provides about 10 grams of fiber per day.

Minerals: All minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, originate from the ground. They are absorbed through the roots of plants and stored in plant parts. Greens like broccoli, collards, kale, celery, romaine lettuce and roots are rich in usable calcium. In fact, one cup of broccoli contains as much usable calcium as a 6-ounce glass of milk. Iron and magnesium are plentiful in many grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Zinc can be found in amaranth, whole wheat flour and wheat germ, almonds, cashews, filberts, raw sesame and pumpkin seeds, peanuts, and miso (soybean paste).

Vitamins: Plants make 11 of the 13 recognized vitamins: beta carotene (A), thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid, pyridoxine (B6), biotin, folic acid, ascorbic acid, E and K. Vitamin D is synthesized by sunlight acting on cholesterol circulating through the skin. Vitamin B12 is synthesized by certain bacteria and a few algae. Neither animals nor plants make B12 , but animals store it. Only vegans who avoid all animal products are at risk for B12 deficiency. Five micrograms, or one tablespoon of brewer’s yeast will provide your child’s B12 needs.

By Lara Pizzorno, M.A., L.M.P. and Joe Pizzorno, N.D.

Vegetarian Eating

By Lynn Roblin MSc.RD.

in recent years, the vegetarian diet has increased in popularity. And while many people are vegetarian for cultural, religious or ecological reasons, more and more people are converting to vegetarianism for health benefits. The vegetarian food-style has been called "a healthier way to eat" for many reasons.

Vegetarian diets have been credited with decreasing the incidence or severity of heart disease, hypertension, diverticular disease, cancer of the breast, colon, prostate and lung, and osteoporosis and gallstones.

The health benefits associated with vegetarianism go beyond simply having better eating habits. People who have been following a traditional vegetarian diet for many years may be healthier because they also tend to avoid or use less alcohol, caffeine and refined foods. They also tend to have other positive lifestyle habits including being more physically active, having less stressful lifestyles and being non-smokers.

Vegetarianism has been part of the lifestyle of many religious and cultural groups for centuries. But vegetarianism is a more recent phenomena in North America.

Despite the interest in vegetarianism, only about 4 percent of Canadians define themselves as vegetarians. But the desire to adopt a more vegetarian eating pattern is truly here. Thirty percent of Canadian grocery shoppers now serve meatless meals on a regular basis.

The term "vegetarian" is used quite broadly to describe individuals ranging from true or pure vegetarians, to lacto-ovo vegetarians and semi-vegetarians.

True vegetarians or vegans avoid all foods of animal origin, including eggs, dairy foods, gelatin and honey. Lacto-ovo vegetarians avoid all animal products except eggs (ovo) and milk products (lacto). Most vegetarians fall into this category.

People who are moving towards a vegetarian food-style are called semi-vegetarians. These individuals are eating less animal foods but are not ready to give them up for good. Eggs, milk products and limited amounts of fish, chicken and sometimes meat are still eaten.

A vegetarian diet, based primarily on plant foods, is higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat than meals containing animal foods. When this diet includes plenty of whole grains, fruit and vegetables it also provides fibre, antioxidant nutrients and plant phytochemicals which play a role in chronic disease prevention.

The greatest challenge with vegetarian eating is making sure adequate amount of essential nutrients are consumed.

Was Christ a Vegetarian?

by Ted Altar

The following arguments are to be found, for the most part, in Keith
Akers' very useful, A Vegetarian Sourcebook, 1989. Another sourcebook I
would also highly recommend for its scholarship is Lewis Regenstein's
Replenish the Earth: The History of Organized Religion's Treatment of
Animals and Nature--Including the Bible's Message of Conservation and
Kindness Toward Animals, 1991.
"I require mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13 & 12:7)
This is a significant message when we remember that in the context in
which this was said meat eating was commonly considered part of these
sacrifices. Sacrificial offerings often entailed meat consumption and a
strict reading of Leviticus 17: implies that, indeed, all meat
consumption necessitated a sacrifice. Also, the noted confrontation of
Jesus in the Temple suggests that he was not at all pleased by the
desecration of the Temple by the money changers AND by "those who were
selling oxen and sheep and pigeons" (John 2:14-15) since these animals
were being sold for sacrifice before being eaten.
No Unequivocal Biblical Reference to Christ Eating or Buying Meat
Consider the verse where it is said that Jesus' disciples "were gone
away unto the city to buy meat" (John 4:8). This translation from the
King James version has been misunderstood as meaning literally "meat".
In fact, the Greek word for "meat" from which the James translation
based its choice for this word, simply meant nutrition in the generic
sense. Hence, the Revised Standard Version now simply translates this
same passage as "his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food".
Regenstein notes that nowhere in the New Testament is Jesus depicted as
eating meat and "if the Last Supper was a Passover meal -- as many
believe -- there is, interestingly, no mention of the traditional lamb
dish".
Did Christ at Least Eat Fish? (e.g., Luke 24:43)
Note that on the two occasions where he is said to have eaten fish,
these were after his death and resurrection. Also, we should maybe keep
in mind that fish was a well known mystical symbol among these early
Christians. The Greek word for fish (Ichthys) was used as an acronym
whose initials in Greek stood for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior".
Given how the early Christians employed the term, there is therefore
good historical evidence for the argument that all of the "fish stories"
that managed to get into the gospels were intended to be taken
symbolically rather than literally.
Biblical Breaks and Contradictions
We should not forget that the Bible is not complete and its many
inconsistencies require thoughtful interpretation. For instance, we have
the contradiction between Genesis 1:29-30 with Genesis 9:2-3. Some
scholars interpret the first prescription for vegetarianism as the
preferred diet, and suggest that it was only after God became grievously
disappointed with human sin and flooded the earth did the second
provision become permitted, and not without qualification (and maybe
only as an expedient for the situation). To take another example, the
New Testament makes repeated attacks on meat offered to pagan idols
(Acts 15:20; Revelation 2:14), but Paul gives assurances that eating
such flesh is all right if no one is offended (Corinthians 10:14-33).
Paul, then, would seem to be contradicting Christ.
Examples of Early Christians
Not a few Christian scholars have concluded vegetarianism to be the more
consistent ethic with respect to the spirit of Christ's teachings. For
example, we have the Ebionites, Athanasius, and Arius. Of the early
church fathers we have Clement of Alexandria
<http://www.ivu. org/history/ christian/ clement.html> , Origen,
Tertullian, Heronymus, Boniface, St. Jerome, and John Chrysostom
<http://www.ivu. org/history/ christian/ chrysostom. html> . Clement wrote,
"It is far better to be happy than to have your bodies act as graveyards
for animals. Accordingly, the apostle Matthew partook of seeds, nuts and
vegetables, without flesh". One of the earliest Christian documents is
the `Clementine Homiles', a second-century work purportedly based on the
teachings of St. Peter. Homily XII states, "The unnatural eating of
flesh meats is as polluting as the heathen worship of devils, with its
sacrifices and its impure feasts, through participation in it a man
becomes a fellow eater with devils". Many of the monasteries
<http://www.ivu. org/history/ renaissance/ monasteries. html> both in
ancient times to the present practiced vegetarianism. For instance,
Basilius the Great <http://www.ivu. org/history/ christian/ basil.html> 's
order, Boniface's order, Trappists monks, etc. Also, we have the
examples provided by the stories around some saints like Hubertus,
Aegidius and Francis of Assisi
<http://www.ivu. org/history/ renaissance/ st-francis. html> .
Indirect Historical Evidence
Knowledge about how the Essenes
<http://www.ivu. org/news/ 1-96/essenes. html> , the Nazoreans and
Ebionites lived suggests that Christ was probably a vegetarian. The
Essenes were Jews who were remarkably similar to the early Christians as
evinced in their deemphasis upon property and wealth, their communalism
and in their rejection of animal sacrifices. The first Christians were
known as the Nazoreans (not to be confused with Nazarenes), and the
Ebionites were a direct offshoot from them. All three groups were
vegetarian which is suggestive of the central role such a practice once
played in Early Christianity.
Paul's need to constantly deal with these vegetarians is also evidence
of how prevalent they were and not a few fellow Christians, it would
seem, took issue with Paul. Paul, if he is consistent with his words,
would have been vegetarian (Corinthians 8:13), notwithstanding his
opposition to the Ebionites. According to Clement of Alexandria, Matthew
was a vegetarian. Clementine `Homiles' and `Recognitions' claim that
Peter was also a vegetarian. Both Hegisuppus and Augustin testify that
the first head of the church in Jerusalem after the death of Christ,
namely Christ's brother James the Just, was a vegetarian and raised as
one! If Jesus's parents raised James as vegetarian then it would be
likely that Jesus was also so raised.
Conclusion
Given the above points, it is reasonable to believe that vegetarianism
would be consistent with, if not mandated by, the spirit of early
Christianity, a spirit that advocated kindness, mercy, non-violence and
showed disdain towards wealth and extravagance. Meat eating would hardly
have been considered the way of the humility, non-extravagance and love
for all of God's creation. Hence, the orthodox early church father,
Christian Hieronymous, could not but be compelled to conclude:
The eating of animal meat was unknown up to the big flood, but since the
flood they have pushed the strings and stinking juices of animal meat
into our mouths, just as they threw quails in front of the grumbling
sensual people in the desert. Jesus Christ, who appeared when the time
had been fulfilled, has again joined the end with the beginning, so that
it is no longer allowed for us to eat animal meat.
Postscript: What Happened After Christ?
Maybe an even more important question than that of whether or not Christ
was a vegetarian, was why Christianity later abandoned its vegetarian
roots. Steven Rosen in his book, Food for the Spirit, 1987, argues:
The early Christian fathers adhered to a meatless regime...many early
Christian groups supported the meatless way of life. In fact, the
writings of the early Church indicate that meat eating was not
officially allowed until the 4th century, when the Emperor Constantine
decided that his version of Christianity would be the version for
everyone. A meat eating interpretation of the Bible became the official
creed of the Roman Empire, and vegetarian Christians had to practice in
secret or risk being put to death for heresy. It is said that
Constantine used to pour molten lead down the their throats if they were
captured.
Ironic indeed that pagan Rome here would have this longstanding
influence upon Christianity.
In any case, I think we can all be thankful that it is a lot easier
today to be a vegetarian. The occasional rudeness and social disapproval
a vegetarian must tolerate is a pretty small inconvenience in comparison
to Constantine' s way of dealing with vegetarians.
To cite another sad example: in southern France a group of Albigensian
vegetarians (a Cartharist religious group) were put to death by hanging
in 1052 because they refused to kill a chicken!
[While I'm not a Christian myself, I do find these questions interesting
and even important. There is a large body of good impartial scholarship
on this issue that is worth reading. Remember, many Christian groups
from the time of Christ have practiced vegetarianism. The Seventh Day
Adventist maybe being the most well known in the U.S. And even within
other mainstream Christian groups, and even Jewish groups, there exists
among them all at least some minority opinion held by respected members
who would forward the merits of vegetarianism being the more consistent
practice with their principles. You might also take a look at Andrew
Linzey's book, Christianity and the Rights of Animals. -- Ted]

Source:

International Vegetarian Union http://www.ivu. org <http://www.ivu. org/>

Less is more, Going Green

by Heather Stephenson

As utilities bills skyrocket faster than you can say, “My electric bill this month was what?” everyone’s looking for creative ways to save water and energy. But you don’t have to tear apart your plumbing or start installing solar panels to help the earth and lower your bills. There are lots of simple, low-cost ways to make energy consumption around the house more eco-friendly. These easy tips for each room add up to savings that benefit your budget—and the world around you.

IN THE KITCHEN
Air it out Install aerators on faucets (a good thing to do on the bathroom sink as well). Aerators mix air with water to decrease H2O consumption.They also have the handy side effect of increasing the feel of water pressure and reducing splashes. Penny Bonda, founding chair of the US Green Building Council Committee for Leadership in Energy and Environ- mental Design, recommends Niagara Conservation’s Swivel Aerator ($7.50, niagaraconservation.com) which can be installed without calling a plumber.
Savings: 1,700 gallons for all faucets (All savings based on a family of 4 per year.)

Scrub in stages When washing dishes by hand, don’t send water savings down the drain. For double sinks, fill one side with sudsy water, turn off the faucet, then wash. Place soapy dishes in the second sink, and when that’s full, rinse. Or simply wet dishes, add soap to the sponge, then turn off the tap. Wash dishes until the soap runs out, rinse those and set in a dish rack, then repeat.
Savings: 2,372 gallons, plus the energy it takes to heat all that water

Don’t do the dirty work When using a dishwasher, there’s no need to pre-rinse plates before loading. Most dishwashers are now built to do the job themselves. Consumer Reports found that pre-rinsing doesn’t get dishes any cleaner during the cycle and it just means more work for you. Also, run the dishwasher (and washing machine) only when it’s full.
Savings: 6,500 gallons, plus energy for heat and electricity

Downsize dinner Prepare entrées in 8x8-inch baking dishes or regular loaf pans (they’re just the right size for four servings), then bake in the toaster oven for an eco-friendlier hot meal.
Savings: Up to 50 percent of energy used by conventional ovens

Put the freeze on energy drains When it’s chilly outside, cold drink consumption goes down, but automatic ice makers keep chugging along. Switch to hand-filled ice trays, or turn the ice maker off when the bucket is full to keep it from running constantly.
Savings: $13.80

Perform some strip-ease Did you know that if you only use a microwave less than seven minutes each day, the oven’s clock requires more power than the microwave itself? Automatic coffee pots and CD players are also major electricity drains when left plugged in. Not to mention cell phone chargers, which use only 5 percent of the electricity they draw to juice up a phone. The rest goes to waste while the charger is left plugged into the wall, according to the CarbonNeutral Company in London, an organization dedicated to cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The solution? Power strips with on/off switches and multiple plugs. They make it easy to cut the current flow to several devices at once, no cord-yanking necessary. Just flip the power strip switch when you turn on or off the lights in the room.
Savings: $100 and up

IN THE BATHROOM
Stop the flow By turning off the faucet between rinses while brushing your teeth or washing your face, you save up to 10 gallons per day.
Savings: 3,650 gallons of water

Ditch the drips One drop of water per second from a leaky faucet can waste as much as 300 gallons each month (enough to take six baths or do eight loads of laundry), according to the Water Conservation Coalition of Puget Sound, WA, which promotes utility conservation programs. For loose taps that you can’t completely close, call a plumber (average cost: $24). For tight faucets that test your wrist every time you try to turn them off, spray WD40 on the joint to make it easier to turn.
Savings: 3,600 gallons of water

Rub-a-dub—just avoid the tub Everyone loves a nice, hot bath once in a while—the key words here being “once in a while.” Go with a shower for daily scrubs: A long, hot soak can require up to 50 gallons of water while a typical five-minute shower consumes less than 20 gallons. Tip: Use a kitchen timer to keep showers short and sweet.
Savings: 44,000 gallons

Rinse with the right tap Health experts say that unless you’re handling meat or work in food services, washing hands with cool water is as effective at killing germs as washing with hot. Switching to the cold tap will cut costs (both water and energy—waiting for water to heat up takes even longer in winter) by up to 5 percent. And a brisk rub with a towel will heat hands better than hot water; the fabric friction stimulates circulation for longer-lasting warmth.
Savings: $75

Head off waste Install new showerheads: Those made after January 1994 are required to use no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Older low-flow showerheads spray up to 5 gallons each minute.
Savings: 10,950 gallons of water for five-minute showers

IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM
Banish lint bunnies To improve dryer efficiency by 30 percent, remove lint from the filter after every use. A clear filter eases the strain on airflow, making it easier for the dryer to pull moisture from clothes.
Savings: $40

Reload right away Dry batches of laundry one right after another so your dryer doesn’t have to reheat between loads. (This will still work if your dryer has a 10-minute cool-down period at the end of the cycle.) Clothes will dry faster and the chore will be done in less time.
Savings: 10 to 20 minutes’ worth of electricity per load

Hang up bad habits Rather than tossing the day’s outfit in the hamper after only one wear, put it back in the closet. You’ll trim laundry by two to three loads per month. Savings: 1,100 gallons of water Think warm, not hot Laundry detergents have improved to the point where hot water is no longer necessary to remove smells and stains. Because about 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water, setting the cycle on warm instead of hot can cut a load’s energy consumption in half. Going cold will save even more.
Savings: $43 or more

AROUND THE HOUSE
Lighten up Incandescent bulbs may rule the sockets, but a mere 10 percent of the energy they use is converted to light. According to the Environmental Defense group in New York City, replacing just 10 of these bulbs with longer-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can spare the environment the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the average SUV in a year. And fluorescent bulbs don’t mean your home has to look like a classroom: Brands such as O-Zone and Fresh2 have made that harsh white lighting a thing of the past, but still give better illumination than classic bulbs. Ask your local power company about CFLs—you may be eligible for a free supply.
Savings: $67 for 10 bulbs

Warm up with wind power There’s nothing you can do to beat that age-old law of physics—heat rises—but ceiling fans can certainly help you win out when it comes to heating your home. Installing fans isn’t very expensive or difficult, and when you set them to spin counterclockwise in winter they force warm air back down to living areas. Not only does this keep your space warmer, it helps maintain a steady temperature for the thermostat, so your heating system doesn’t kick in and cut off intermittently.
Savings: $180 for four fans

Dress (your water heater) for success For about $20 you can save up to 9 percent on water-heating costs when you purchase and install a water heater insulation blanket. “It’s one of the simplest ways to reduce energy waste and save money,” says Christina Page, a consultant at Rocky Mountain Institute, a non-profit focused on energy policy in Snowmass, CO. Wrapping your water heater in insulated warmth takes only 30 minutes. (Note: Newer models already come equipped with a blanket, so make sure you need one before heading to the hardware store.)
Savings: $102

vegetarian history

The term 'Vegetarian' was coined in 1847. It was first formally used on September 30th of that year by Joseph Brotherton and others, at Northwood Villa in Kent, England. The occasion being the innaugural meeting of the Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom.

The word was derived from the Latin 'vegetus', meaning whole, sound, fresh, lively; (it should not be confused with 'vegetable-arian' - a mythical human whom some imagine subsisting entirely on vegetables but no nuts, fruits, grains etc!)

Prior to 1847, non-meat eaters were generally known as 'Pythagoreans' or adherents of the 'Pythagorean System', after the ancient Greek 'vegetarian' Pythagoras.

The original definition of 'vegetarian' was "with or without eggs or dairy products" and that definition is still used by the Vegetarian Society today. However, most vegetarians in India exclude eggs from their diet as did those in the classical Mediterranean lands, such as Pythagoras.

VEGANISM may be defined as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.

In dietary terms it refers to the practice of dispensing with *all* animal produce - including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, animal milks, honey, and their derivatives.

Abhorrence of the cruel practices inherent in dairy, livestock and poultry farming is probably the single most common reason for the adoption of veganism, but many people are drawn to it for health, ecological, spiritual and other reasons.

"Land, energy and water resources for livestock agriculture range anywhere from 10 to 1000 times greater than those necessary to produce an equivalent amount of plant foods. And livestock agriculture does not merely *use* these resources, it *depletes* them.

This is a matter of historical record. Most of the world's soil, erosion, groundwater depletion, and deforestation -- factors now threatening the very basis of our food system -- are the result of this particularly destructive form of food production" (Keith Akers, p. 81, "A Vegetarian Sourcebook", 1989).

The defenitions

Vegetarian: For the purpose of membership of IVU, vegetarianism includes veganism and is defined as the practice of not eating meat, poultry or fish or their by-products, with or without the use of dairy products or eggs.

Often broken down further into OVO-LACTO, and LACTO. Vegetarians may or may not try and minimize their non food use of animals like vegans.

Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian: same as VEGAN (see right), but also eats eggs and milk products. This is the most 'popular' form of Vegetarianism in many Western countries..

Lacto Vegetarian: Same as VEGAN, but also eats milk products.

Veggie -- Shortened nick-name for a VEGETARIAN; often includes VEGANs.

Strict vegetarian: originally meant vegan, now can mean vegan or vegetarian.