Are Christians supossed to eat meat?

[Strawberry Bounce]

When I stoped eating meat 4 years ago, my Christianity was questioned. At the time I was not interested in any other religion and I didn't get the connection. People automatically assumed I was no longer a Christian for not eating meat. Ironically, I ventured away from Christianity a year later.


Eat meat. For we are going into a new level of spiritual warfare that requires us to consume protein in the form of meat. Do so in moderation, and prepare for war. Don't let the devil fool you.

[Karma Chameleon]

When I stoped eating meat 4 years ago, my Christianity was questioned. At the time I was not interested in any other religion and I didn't get the connection. People automatically assumed I was no longer a Christian for not eating meat. Ironically, I ventured away from Christianity a year later.


Interesting. Back when I was a Christian I decided to become a vegan...when for example at a Christmas gathering I'd refuse to eat the ham and tryed to explain but I got accused of giving up my faith. I don't know what it is that makes people assume that meat eating is connected with Christianity but I know what you're talking about.

[Aes Sidhe]

*shrugs* In all honesty, it doesn't matter either way in biblical christianity. It doesn't say you can't and it doesn't say you have to.

[Holly Ariadna]

What does being a vegetarian have to do with being Christian?

[WolfWonderess]

Well...Biblically speaking, humans didn't start eating meat until *after* they sinned and were booted from Eden. I think that's saying something...

Biblically speaking, I'd say vegetarianism is the *preferred* way to do things, but meat is not *forbidden*. I mean, in those times, you had to consume meat to survive; it was a harsh life with few alternatives, and was no longer the paradise men knew, a paradise where man and animal communed together in peace. Today, though, where technologies are available, meat is not *needed* for survival, so it's a whole different ball game.

In my own experience, I started considering vegetarianism when I was Christian, but I was young and what my mom fed me I had to eat. Then I turned agnostic, then Pagan, and, finally, when I got old enough, I said "no more" and became a veg. My mom, who doesn't know I'm Pagan, never once questioned me about my decision (she knows how strongly I feel for animals), but she did throw up the whole "Jesus ate fish" thing, and thus it's okay to eat meat. As did my grandparents. But they never questioned my Christianity (or, unbeknownst to them, lack of).

However...the most trouble occurs when I rescue insects from the house. For some reason, it annoys her, and I often get some derisive comment from her along the lines of, "What, are you becoming a Buddhist?"

I dunno...Christianity preaches compassion. So, I could never understand how, when you act compassionate toward something that isn't human, people would question you and act somehow offended. I always thought the more compassion shown, to ANYTHING, the better. It doesn't make sense...

[Pol]

I've noticed the same thing. I think it goes along with the hippie-"fag"-weirdo-pansy thing associated with modern day american conservative christianity.

[SylverStar]

Maybe because other religions tend to have vegitarian diets. I have no idea.

[Forsythia]

Please note that I am not agreeing with this scripture that I am about to quote, BUT it was the scripture from the bible that many quote against those who do not eat meat.

Some can argue that it doesn't mean all vegetarians (I am not a big meat eater and never have been) but the fact remains that this is the scripture that has provided the idea that those who don't eat meat are in the wrong spiritually.

The scripture is in 1 Timothy, chapter 4 verse 3 and is written by Paul. It is written in a negative context against those who are not of the 'true' faith, ie..the Christian faith. Verses 1-3 give characteristics of those who would seduce a Christian away from their faith and verse three mentions meat:

verse 3 in King James Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, whiich God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

[DebLipp]

Well...Biblically speaking, humans didn't start eating meat until *after* they sinned and were booted from Eden. I think that's saying something...

Actually, the suggestion in Genesis is that man wasn't supposed to eat meat until after the flood. At that time, God said (paraphrasing) that since he now knew that man was evil, he was going to allow him to eat meat, but he wouldn't allow man to be completely bloodthirsty; he would restrict meat-eating. Therefore, he introduced the idea of kosher and non-kosher animals and butchery.

[Valnorran]

Catholics aren't supposed to eat meat on firday, with the exception of seafood, but that's the only one I know of.

[Aine of the Fae]

Please note that I am not agreeing with this scripture that I am about to quote, BUT it was the scripture from the bible that many quote against those who do not eat meat.

Some can argue that it doesn't mean all vegetarians (I am not a big meat eater and never have been) but the fact remains that this is the scripture that has provided the idea that those who don't eat meat are in the wrong spiritually.

The scripture is in 1 Timothy, chapter 4 verse 3 and is written by Paul. It is written in a negative context against those who are not of the 'true' faith, ie..the Christian faith. Verses 1-3 give characteristics of those who would seduce a Christian away from their faith and verse three mentions meat:

verse 3 in King James Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, whiich God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.


That one is saying that "commanding" a person to abstain from meat is wrong. If they abstain by their own choice that's an entirely different thing.

[Forsythia]

That is certainly one worthy view, Aine.

But I was taught, being a once time Christian, a fundamentalist for over 14 years,that the forbidding to marry and abstaining from meats, as my pastors using this particuliar scripture, was because those who communed with the spirit world(as in being spiritists or psychics) felt that marriage in the present world and eating meat would interfer with their connection to the spirit world.

While many can and may interpret the verse with a different slant, my main point was that in context with the preceeding verses of people abandoning their Christian faith and following seducing and deceiving spirits (Paul is saying that those who throw off the Christian faith to follow other doctrines are under the influence of evil spirits) and one of the characteristics of someone who did this would be their insistance of not eating meat and telling others that they have to refrain from eating meat.

This is not necessarily a new doctrine for either the Pagan or Christian world. Many Christians do and will fast before a church service as they feel that they can be more receptive to the Spirit of God on an empty stomach. Many fast for the discipline of it and to show their desire to connect with the sufferings of Christ by implenting self denial on themselves via fasting.

I have read and spoke with many Pagans who also believe that what they put into their bodies, either via bad habits of smoking and drinking and what they eat can either hinder or accent their spiritual abilities as many Christians feel that their bodies are a temple and need to be treated accordingly to be their spiritual best and honor the vessel granted to them. Within the circles I went in while deep in the Christian world, a meatless diet was frowned upon, and using the verse I quoted, it was taught and believed that a meatless diet 'opened' one up to all kind of spiritual influences, and not of the (as they saw it) the true god.

I am not saying that this is the only correct view at all but am giving one of many many many viewpoints that does exist in the Christian world and why perhaps, a Christian may view a meatless diet with a raised eyebrow. And then, if they are a person who only parrots what they hear, they may not know why their particular brand of religion frowns upon a meatless diet but knows only that it does.

[Djiril]

Interesting thread. Where did you get that quote Strawberry Bounce? :huh:

[Strawberry Bounce]

On the bus I over heard a couple of Christians talking about meat eating.

[Morgandria]

Must be an American thing. My best friend is a vegetarian, and a fairly devout Methodist, and no-one bugs her about it. (Mind you, they tell her that she's going to hell because she's a divorced single mother who strangely enough doesn't want to marry again because her husband lied, stole, and tried to beat her...but of course, she's the one going to hell.)

Religion smeligion. It's PEOPLE I'll l never understand.

[Tullip Troll]

Yes they are supposed to eat meat...we all are...do we have to? NO !

MheraPai

[mucgwyrt]

What does being a vegetarian have to do with being Christian?
I think they assume that you're veering towards buddhism or something if you abstain :whatgives

Incidentally, Cambodian buddhist monks DO eat meat - they are only vegetarian one day in two weeks, on a "holy day"! Oh the Irony...

[Ceres]

i think some christians regard anything that contradicts mainstream accepted protocol as "öf satan". i have been told using homeopathy or herbal remedies is questionable....i guess the christian god prefers medical doctors....whose predeccessors were arabic, were they? lmao
Theresa

[Aes Sidhe]

I think the christian god is sitting up there shaking his head saying "bunch of idiots, if they understood they wouldn't need medicine"

[sacrificialgoddess]

I think the christian god is sitting up there shaking his head saying "bunch of idiots, if they understood they wouldn't need medicine"
Christian Science?

[Aes Sidhe]

hell no... whack jobs that cult is lol (of course that is just my opinion, and I am in no way stating that their path is less valid than any other)

[Pilot]

There are so many people in this world with misconceptions of their own religion. When I was talking with a few Christian friends and expressed my opinions on such things as becoming a vegan, they had all sorts of things to say about how terribly wrong I was.

Their own book doesn't say that these are wrong but they (meaning friends and others) have been told so by someone who said that the book does indeed forbid such things. It's just one of those things based on hear-say and not fact-

[aluokaloo]

What does being a vegetarian have to do with being Christian?


Thats what I'd like toi know. I've known quite a few vegetarian and vegan christians and I never once heard them get reamed for being a vegetarian or a vegan. :bundled:

[aluokaloo]

The only thing I can POSSIBLY think of is that God ghave animals to people to be their lord and master and they might possibly see it as denying God's gifts? Well you eat plants, that comes from hime too, so point that oput next time.

[WolfWonderess]

The only thing I can POSSIBLY think of is that God ghave animals to people to be their lord and master and they might possibly see it as denying God's gifts? Well you eat plants, that comes from hime too, so point that oput next time.
It was more like animals were put on Earth so that Adam and Eve didn't get lonely, as companions. Biblically speaking, animals weren't intended for eating; the only "meats" Adam and Eve and the first people were to eat were the fruits and grains of the land.

Of course, most people seem to ignore this, and just skip straight to the part that says "animals were created for Man" (without reading what else it has to say) and, thus, they interpret it as, "oh, hey, that means we can eat 'em!".

Nah...I see no where in Genesis that says animals were created to be exploited.

Of course, later on humans are permited to eat meat, but it is still implied that it is *prefered* that they eat meat. So, it's accepted...but no meat is far better if you can help it.

[Aes Sidhe]

Interestingly enough, the 7th Day Adventists believe that you shouldn't eat meat at all.

And the other christian denominations usually lable them as a "weird cult" lol. And they lable the other christians as "sadly misguided" hehe

[Strawberry Bounce]

Interestingly enough, the 7th Day Adventists believe that you shouldn't eat meat at all.
I didn't know that. My aunt is one. I think she eats meat though.

[Xentor]

Interestingly enough, the 7th Day Adventists believe that you shouldn't eat meat at all.

And the other christian denominations usually lable them as a "weird cult" lol. And they lable the other christians as "sadly misguided" hehe

Aren't the 7th day adventists the ones who are polygamist? Or is that the latter day saints? Anyway, one branch of christianity doesn't necessarily hold the same views as other brances.

[Aes Sidhe]

the latter day saints... the mormons.

Although, I would just like to point out, that neither the mormons nor the JWs are affiliated with "Christianity".

But yes, in fact, I doubt you could find two individual "christians" who agree with each other about everything lol

[Aine of the Fae]

That is certainly one worthy view, Aine.

But I was taught, being a once time Christian, a fundamentalist for over 14 years,that the forbidding to marry and abstaining from meats, as my pastors using this particuliar scripture, was because those who communed with the spirit world(as in being spiritists or psychics) felt that marriage in the present world and eating meat would interfer with their connection to the spirit world.

While many can and may interpret the verse with a different slant, my main point was that in context with the preceeding verses of people abandoning their Christian faith and following seducing and deceiving spirits (Paul is saying that those who throw off the Christian faith to follow other doctrines are under the influence of evil spirits) and one of the characteristics of someone who did this would be their insistance of not eating meat and telling others that they have to refrain from eating meat.

This is not necessarily a new doctrine for either the Pagan or Christian world. Many Christians do and will fast before a church service as they feel that they can be more receptive to the Spirit of God on an empty stomach. Many fast for the discipline of it and to show their desire to connect with the sufferings of Christ by implenting self denial on themselves via fasting.

I have read and spoke with many Pagans who also believe that what they put into their bodies, either via bad habits of smoking and drinking and what they eat can either hinder or accent their spiritual abilities as many Christians feel that their bodies are a temple and need to be treated accordingly to be their spiritual best and honor the vessel granted to them. Within the circles I went in while deep in the Christian world, a meatless diet was frowned upon, and using the verse I quoted, it was taught and believed that a meatless diet 'opened' one up to all kind of spiritual influences, and not of the (as they saw it) the true god.

I am not saying that this is the only correct view at all but am giving one of many many many viewpoints that does exist in the Christian world and why perhaps, a Christian may view a meatless diet with a raised eyebrow. And then, if they are a person who only parrots what they hear, they may not know why their particular brand of religion frowns upon a meatless diet but knows only that it does.

That passage is often used to condemn Catholicism, claiming the Catholic church forbids priests to marry, which is wrong. A priest can get married, and still be a priest even, however they must remain single to lead a church. There are a lot of reasons for it, but one big one is that the difficulties of leading a church often take away from family life. It is easier for a person to concentrate on one or the other, although many people can and successfully do both.

Again, it talks of "forbidding" marriage and "ordering them to abstain from certain foods." A vegetarian who becomes so of their own free will isn't being ordered to do so, unless by their own conscience.

I understand all the arguments, but those who use that passage to criticize vegetarians/vegans are taking it out of context and using it incorrectly, in my opinion.

[Dusk]

The Bible does not forbid eating meat.

A couple examples from the New Testament

Acts 15:19-21 tells us this:
19And so my judgment is that we should stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, 20except that we should write to them and tell them to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, and from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals. 21For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations."

Also:

Romans 14 (from here) (http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?language=english&passage=ROM+14&version=NIV)


The Weak and the Strong

1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "* 12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food** is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Footnotes


*14:11 Isaiah 45:23
**14:14 Or that nothing