VEGI VOICES: Christian Vegetarians – an unknown Minority
In the minds of most vegetarians
the words Christianity, Christian
Churches, Christians are rather related
to the carnivorous family festivals
which follow the celebrations of
Noel and Easter. Furthermore, many
vegetarians know Biblical verses and
Christian teachings which justify the
eating of flesh.
Yet, however correct this picture
may be, it is not the whole truth.
There was and still is within the
Christian Churches a minority of
Christians who try to live their faith
without excluding non-human animals
from their religious considerations,
i.e the Christian vegetarians.
Christian vegetarians, as well as
Jewish vegetarians, believe that vegetarianism
is a Biblical ideal. They
base their belief firstly on a verse of
the Bible. God after the creation of
nature, plants, animals and humankind
says: “Behold, I have given you
every herb bearing seed, which is
upon the face of all the earth, and
every tree, in which is the fruit of a
tree yielding seed; to you it shall be
for meat. And to every beast of the
earth, and to every fowl of the air, and
to every thing that creepeth upon the
earth, wherein there is life, I have
given every green herb for meat: and
it was so.” (Genesis 1. 29-30). Of
course, meat here means “edible”. It
does not mean “flesh”.
This verse added to a text from
Isaiah and to the compassionate message
of the Gospel, makes Christian
vegetarians claim that vegetarianism
is compatible with the Christian faith.
Some of them even believe that it is
mandatory. When confronted with
Biblical verses which seem to advocate
the eating of flesh, Christian vegetarians
respond using theological
and hermeneutical arguments.
Several famous Christians were
vegetarians. In our time, Professor
Theodore Monod (d. 2000 at the age
of 98) and the great preacher Lord
Soper (d. 1999 at the age of 96) were
well known for their vegetarianism as
well as for their struggles in the fields
of human and animal protection.
Moreover, a team of leading Christian
vegetarians created the interdenominational
Christian Vegetarian Association
which strives to promote vegetarianism
among Christians. In the
board of CVA there are several well
known vegetarians such as Natham
Braun (President and Founding Director,
Former Presidential Scholar,
Augustana University College), Dr
Stephen Webb (CVA Chairperson,
Professor of Theology, Wabash College),
Dr Stephen R. L. Clark, (Professor
of Philosophy, University of
Liverpool), Stephen R. Kaufman
(CVA Medical Director, Assistant
Clinical Professor, Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine)
etc. Among the members of the board
there is one of IVU famous vegetarians;
the Rev Professor Andrew
Linzey, Member of the Faculty of
Theology, University of Oxford, Senior
Research Fellow in Theology and
Animals, Blackfriars College, University
of Oxford and Honorary Professor,
University of Birmingham.
Andrew Linzey is the author or coauthor
of many books on theology
and animal rights. He is also the Editor
of the International World Animal
Encyclopaedia.
Jean Nakos, Brussels
Author of “Plaidoyer pour une
théologie de l'animal”, Editions
Artisanales Cécile de Ramaix, Lyon
For more information:
www.christianveg.com
Ecumenical Service for Animals in Liverpool
The Anglican Society for the Welfare
of Animals, the Animal Christian
Concern, the Catholic Study Circle
for Animal Welfare and the Methodist
Animal Welfare Group, organise
an ECUMENICAL SERVICE FOR
ANIMAL WELFARE at the Liverpool
Cathedral (Anglican) the Saturday
5 October 2002 3.00 p.m.
Preacher: The Bishop of Liverpool
Rt. Revd. James Jones.
ADMISSION FREE-ALL WELCOME
20 minute walk from Lime Street
Station – Taxis available.
Further information from:
AngSocWelAnimals@cs.com
www.aswa.org.uk
Tel/fax: 44-1252 843093.
Note: This event has the support of
several secular animal welfare organisations.
Appeal for help
Dr. Wabbi-Leonard, the Founder
and Chairman of the Vegetarian Society
of Uganda, has set up a Child
Sponsor / Needy Family Support
Scheme and asks for donations of £
25 per month to help a child and £
200 to support a needy family to start
a small soya-selling project.
He wrote: “Furthermore the following
articles are of interest: Used
books, clothing, bedding, pens, pencils,
cutlery, vegan cook books, toys,
bicycles, motorcycles and even cars
are urgently needed. What you see in
Europe as trash is precious to a needy
Ugandan vegan family…”
If you can help, please contact:
Dr. Wabbi-Leonard
Vegetarian Society of Uganda
POB 30362
Kampala, Uganda
E-mail: vegesu@yahoo.com
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