Monday, May 4, 2020
Christians adopt Diet for Christian Ethics- myassignmenthelp.com
Question: Discuss about theChristians adopt Vegetarian Diet for Christian Ethics. Answer: Introduction The age old debate on whether Christians are having obligations to follow a vegetarian diet or the vegetarian diet is going on for centuries. Religions and their relationship with the animals are expected at the mind of people and that is why, this topic is being raised debatable. Most of the religions take into consideration certain laws of diet (Dombowski, 2014). For example, the Old Testament lists down the rules for the food, which are being followed by the various religions. However, the maximum Christians today are having economic and health concerns rather than pondering theologically. Against this background, Christians these days started revaluating about the status of animals and they are growing their concerns for the lives of the animals (Dombowski, 2014). Discussion Mr.Orland regarding Christian Ethics stated that, if meat is eaten, an ethical approach must be followed while raising animals and give acknowledgement to the fact that while killing them, no pain is given to them . When they are being killed, that should be done with the minimum pain and sufferings are possible. However, the other academics took more radically natured stances (Grumet, 2013). One of the speakers at the Oxford Conference, Corinne Painter delivered lecture that there is a present of gap between preaches and practices of the Christianity. Dr. Painter thinks that Christians do carry responsibilities to abstain them from having drink and meat and he thinks the Christians should follow a vegan diet (Seesengood, 2014). According to him, Christians must have the moral duty to have food, which is not the consequences of undue suffering, unjustified treatment or the human caused premature death of the sentiment beings, who are completely interested in preventing suffering and preserving their lives, which God stated explicitly that they are good and valuable (Seesengood, 2014). Christianity and Vegetarianism In Australia, when the Christians are asked about the morality of taking life of animals and having them, the reply that came from many Christians was mainly based on the biblical teachings. They mainly emphasized on the fact that Bible gives teachings that the animals are mainly regarded as nation of mankind, and sacrificing those animals in order to fulfil the purpose of eating services to the humans, is permissible (Linzey, 2016). However, despite accepting this animal inferiority ethos within the premise of the Western Christianity, the facts remain when the passages of script in relation to the welfare of animals are viewed from a bigger context. Which should be further incorporated in the Christianity messages of atonement, grace have been developed throughout the course of Bible. Even there is a presence of a stronger argument, which would promote the better treatment of the animals. As a result, stronger Biblical case is adopting the complete abstinence from the animal produc ts and meat, which have been taught for many years (Linzey, 2016). By going against the practices of Augustine and Aquinas, there are some of famous Christian theologians, teachers and leaders, who were pure vegetarians, have put forwarded their view that the consumption of meat opposes the Biblical messages of compassion and love. The act of killing and devouring animals is considered to be unhealthy for both the planet and for mankind. There are numerous conflicting passages in the Bible, which has taken into consideration the way animals fit into the creation and the process the humans follow in order to initiate interaction with animals. Throughout the Old Testament, the texts are elaborating the sacrifices of the animals and subordination of animal ethos, intermixing with those people speaking on the sanctity of animals and their capacity to both praise and reason God. However, in the New Testament, the paradoxes of the teaching practices are continuing. In many verses, the imagery of animals has been used to reflect not only the correct attributes but also even Lord himself. In many verses, Jesus has been referred to the Lamb of God. In Matthew 23:37, it is written that Jesus compares his personal love for Jerusalem to that of a mother hen, taking care of her chicks (Koosed, 2014). Hermeneutics applied on animals The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobras den; the young child will put its hand into the vipers nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11: 6-9). Throughout the narration given by Genesis is that the Garden of Eden was vegan in nature. Virtually the scholars generally agree that prophetic stanzas in the Isaiahs writing give the description of the eternal kingdom of Lord. It is a place where the killing of any animals is completely forbidden and as a result, the existence of the peace would prevail. Through the description of the Garden of Eden and the account of Isaiah, it is cleared that God expects a world without killing and violence (Filyanina, 2014). The ideals of the accounts are being rightly pointed before us. The excuse that motivates people is that killing of animals is mandatory for the purpose of food or the products. However, the people of this world are capable of leading a life without any killing. Moreover, it can be said that when it comes to the murdering of another living creature, the act goes beyond the normal human nature. Leo Tolstoy has pointed out that Mans opposition to killing is stronger. However, b y following the assertions of Lord, who has allowed it, and, to top it, by the sense of habit, people has entirely lost their natural feeling, which was imbibed in them in the beginning (Filyanina, 2014). Reasons to adopt vegetarianism According to Dr. Richard Alan Young, who is a famous Biblical scholar and the author of the book Is God a Vegetarian?, pointed out that the horrors in the present modern industry farming and vivisection ( Where animals are used in the scientific experiments and testing of products) did not exist during the biblical times (Clough, 2017). He has stated that these random acts of barbarism and brutality under the limelight of the unimaginable sufferings are inflicted upon the creatures of God and there are completely no means by which God will forgive or accept such ill acts. The Christians these days have pointed out that as the consumption of vegetarian meal is importantly useful for the human beings and for the planet Earth, there cannot be any excuse for people to defend their act of eating meat (Clough, 2017). Researchers have proved that people who are either vegans or vegetarians usually lead a longer and a healthier life. On the other hand, the non- vegetarians suffer from heart diseases, colon cancer and other health related problems for consuming meat at a higher rate (Amato Partridge, 2013). In the year 2006, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization has reported that the global meat producing factories made its contribution to more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere of Earth than all the emissions of all trucks, airlines, cars and other transportations. Animal rearing and animal agriculture is also regarded as one of every the important factors in the water pollution and deforestation across the globe. The transformation of plant food to meat wastes approximately contains 68% of the protein and 95% of the calories and all the fibers (Koosed, 2014). The leaders of Church have finally begun to see the consumption and production of mean as an absolute sin. Consumption of meat is considered to be the worst way to make the human bodies and the planet survive. Consumption of meat ruins as well as inflicts anguishes in the mind of innocent animals, which were the creation of the God. While committing such heinous crimes, people forget that these innocent animals came to earth to cherish a life full of freedom just like the humans (Koosed, 2014).Most of the Christians accordingly would agree that cruelty happening to animals is both unchristian and immoral, however, many people go to lengths to deny the suffering that the animals are facing in order to satisfy their taste buds. Animals in the firms, according to most of the Christians animals must be given protection from the sufferings. The Christians in United States have pointed out that God has created every animal with wants, needs and desires. God has created pigs in such a way that it is their natural instinct to play around and take bath in the muddy ditches. God has designed chicken to build nests, lay eggs and raise the chicks. God has given lives to the animals with a hope to remain cheerful and remain happy in the earth instead being served on the dishes for the human beings (Amato Partridge, 2013). From this perspective, with their belief, it can be stated that Christians must turn into vegetarian. As per the Old Testament, some Christians do believe that the Bible provides explanation in the future that both animals and human beings would adopt vegan diet (Koosed, 2014). Some people at the same time believe that the Book of Daniel particularly promotes veganism as the mode of empowering. Daniel particularly refuses the meat from king and instead of those, requests vegetables from the king. However, the present theology presented the argument that in this instance, Hananiah, Azariah and Daniel have rejected food, which has proved to be unholy. During the time of Lent, some communities of Christians such as Orthodox Christians take partial fasting; they eat generally per day one light meal. For the Orthodox Christians, all the meals during the period of 40 days are cooked without the products of animals and are essentially vegan. Even the Eastern Orthodox has lately abstained themselves from having animal products. A shift can be seen presently regarding the transformation of the Christians slowly to vegetarianism (Amato Partridge, 2013). By taking into account both Old and New Testaments, it can be stated that Christianity prevents any kinds of cruelty to animals. The central teaching of Jesus incorporates compassion, love and mercy and it is as well tough to imagine Jesus looking upon the current factory farms and the slaughterhouses and give permission to consume meat happily. Christians always have strived to help and support the hungry and poor folks. Though, as per the present scenario, the cruel act of killing and d evouring animals have proved the inefficiency against that ministry. In the United States of America, 67% of the food grains are being used as the animal fodder just for slaughtering them. It has been pointed out that because an increasing level of meat consumption that the rich minority in the world is having an unfair share of the availability of food. Knowing these deleterious impacts about the animal products on the health of the human beings, Christians are gradually moving to the plant based diet (Amato Partridge, 2013). Another primary reason for the Christians to become vegetarian because to render support to the basic rights of the human. Christians believe that the only means by which one can care about the sufferings of others is by having a vegetarian diet (Ruby, 2012). As per the New Testament, it is important to take into consideration about the suffering from others. Another important reason to promote a well health is due to the fact that vegetarian promotes better health to the human beings. As Jesus pointed out Whatever you do to the least of weapon of war and sweep them off the earth, so that all living creatures may lie down without living in fear. Christians are today are looking forward to live a non- violent life like that of Jesus Christ (Ruby, 2012). Conclusion To conclude it can be stated that, after going through the principles of Christianity and their immense support to the human rights, Christianity is slowly adopting the vegetarian diet and it is justifiable. The religion is the main component of a persons life and a persons value depends upon the teachings of their religion. The topic further supported this statement and elaborated with the help from Old Testament and New Testament ideologies and the contemporary issremoveues. Therefore, that it is important for not only Christians but for the human beings to convert themselves to vegetarianism as the animals have the right to live their liberal life. References Amato, P. R., Partridge, S. A. (2013).The new vegetarians: Promoting health and protecting life. Springer. Clough, D. L. (2017). Consuming Animal Creatures: The Christian Ethics of Eating Animals.Studies in Christian Ethics,30(1), 30-44. Dombrowski, D. A. (2014). Philosophical Vegetarianism and Animal Entitlements. InThe Oxford Handbook of Animals in Classical Thought and Life. Filyanina, N. (2014). Concepts of ecological hermeneutics and its potential in overcoming of the ecological crisis. InYoung Scientist USA(pp. 140-143). Lulu Press. Grumett, D. (2013). Food and theology.Routledge International Handbook of Food Studies. Abingdon: Routledge. Koosed, J. L. (Ed.). (2014).The Bible and posthumanism(Vol. 74). Society of Biblical Lit. Linzey, A. (2016).Christianity and the Rights of Animals. Wipf and Stock Publishers. Ruby, M. B. (2012). Vegetarianism. A blossoming field of study.Appetite,58(1), 141-150. Seesengood, R. P. (2014). What Would Jesus Eat?: Ethical Vegetarianism in Nascent Christianity.The Bible and Posthumanism,74, 227.
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