Christian vegetarianism

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Christian vegetarianism

Christian vegetarianism is a minority Christian belief based on extending the compassionate teachings of Jesus

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation ....
, the twelve apostles

Twelve Apostles

In Christianity, apostles were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Christianity and, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus Christ himself....
and the early church to all living beings through vegetarianism

Vegetarianism

File:Foods.jpgVegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes meat , fish and poultry.There are several variants of the diet, some of which also exclude egg and/or some products produced from animal labour such as dairy products and honey....
or veganism

Veganism

Veganism is a diet and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans endeavor not to use or consume animal products of any kind....
. Alternatively, Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism#Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament....
s may be vegetarian for nutritional

Vegetarian nutrition

Vegetarian nutrition is the set of health-related challenges and advantages of Vegetarianism diets.Evidence suggests that vegetarians are generally healthier and live longer than non-vegetarians....
, ethical

Ethics of eating meat

In all societies, Ethics issues regarding the consumption of meat have arisen. Ethical objections are generally divided in to opposition to the act of killing in general, and opposition to certain intensive agriculture surrounding the animal husbandry of meat....
, environmental

Environmental vegetarianism

Environmental vegetarianism is the practice of vegetarianism or veganism based on the fact that the animal production by Intensive farming is Natural environment sustainable development....
or other spiritual

Spirituality

Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity....
reasons.

Churches
Vegetarianism is common among both Jewish and Gnostic

Gnosticism

Gnosticism refers to diverse, syncretistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a Nature created by an imperfect god, the demiurge; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God, and is contrasted with a superior entity, ref...
forms of Christianity. One of the first Christian communities, the Ebionites

Ebionites

The Ebionites were a Jewish sect that insisted on the necessity of following Torah, which they interpreted in light of Jesus' expounding of the Law....
, is thought to have been vegetarian.

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Encyclopedia

Christian vegetarianism is a minority Christian belief based on extending the compassionate teachings of Jesus

Jesus

Twelve Apostles

Vegetarianism

Veganism

Christian

Vegetarian nutrition

Ethics of eating meat

Environmental vegetarianism

Spirituality

Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity....
reasons.

Churches

Vegetarianism is common among both Jewish and Gnostic

Gnosticism

Ebionites

The Ebionites were a Jewish sect that insisted on the necessity of following Torah, which they interpreted in light of Jesus' expounding of the Law....
, is thought to have been vegetarian. Jewish Christians

Jewish Christians

Jewish Christians is a term with two meanings, a historical one and a contemporary one.The historical term refers to Early Christians of or attracted to Jewish culture....
and Gnostic sects, such as the Cathars, have adhered to vegetarianism throughout history.

The Seventh-day Adventists

Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Christianity Religious denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance of Saturday, the original Days of the week of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath and Seventh-day Adventism....
present a health message that recommends vegetarianism and expects abstinence from pork, shellfish and other foods proscribed as "unclean" in Leviticus

Leviticus

Leviticus is third book of the Torah , the name given in Judaism to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible .Leviticus contains laws and priestly rituals, but in a wider sense is about the working out of Covenant set out in Genesis and Exodus - what is seen in the Torah as the consequences of entering into a special relationship with God...
. Another denomination with common origin, the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement

Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement

The Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement is a Protestantism Christianity denomination, part of the sabbatarianism adventist movement, and the result of a split from the Seventh-day Adventist Church created by disagreement over proper Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism observance and military service during World War I....
requires vegetarianism as a test of fellowship, with many of its members being practicing vegans as well.

The Word of Wisdom

Word of Wisdom

The "Word of Wisdom" is the common name of a section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book considered by many churches within the Latter Day Saint movement to consist of Revelation from God....
is a dietary law given to adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement

Latter Day Saint movement

The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of Restorationism religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the Teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr....
(also known as Mormonism

Mormonism

Mormonism is a term used to describe the religion, ideology and subculture elements of the Latter Day Saint movement, and specifically, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
) which says that meat and fowl "are to be used sparingly; And ... that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." Not given as advice, this commandment is reiterated in the same section, "And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger." (see also animals in the LDS Church).

All Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
, and Eastern Catholic monastics

Monk

A Monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, the unconditioning of mind and body in favor of the realization of one's true nature, and does so living either alone or with any number of like-minded people, whilst always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose....
abstain from meat year-round, and many abstain from dairy and seafood as well. Laity

Laity

In religious organizations, the laity comprises all persons who are not clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not Holy Orders clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order ....
generally abstain from animal products on Wednesdays (due to a traditional belief that it was a Wednesday on which Judas arranged to betray Jesus Christ) and Fridays (because Jesus was crucified

Crucifixion

Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution , whereby the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead....
on a Friday), as well as during the four major fasting periods of the year: Great Lent

Great Lent

Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season in the church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Easter ....
, the Apostles' Fast

Apostles' Fast

The Apostles' Fast, also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles, the Fast of Peter and Paul, or sometimes St. Peter's Fast, is a fasting observed by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians....
, the Dormition Fast and the Nativity Fast

Nativity Fast

The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation for the Nativity of Christ, ....
. This is not for environmental or animal welfare

Animal welfare

Animal welfare refers to the viewpoint that it is morally acceptable for humans to use nonhuman animals for food, in Animal testing, as clothing, and in entertainment, so long as unnecessary suffering is avoided....
reasons, but for spiritual reasons. Fasting is seen as purification and the regaining of innocence. Through obedience to the Orthodox Church and its ascetic practices, the Orthodox Christian seeks to rid himself or herself of the passions, or the disposition to sin.

Roman Catholic monastic orders such as the Carthusians and Cistercians

Cistercians

Image:Cistersian priests in Szczyrzyc monastery.JPGThe keynote of Cistercian life was a return to literal observance of the Rule of St Benedict. Rejecting the developments the Benedictines had undergone, the monks tried to reproduce life exactly as it had been in Benedict of Nursia time; indeed in various points they went beyond it in austerity....
also follow a strict vegetarian diet, and Catholic laity are encouraged to abstain from meat on Fridays and through the Lenten season leading up to Easter

Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
. Carmelites

Carmelites

The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Roman Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, whence the order receives its name....
and others following the Rule of St. Albert also maintain a vegetarian diet, although the old and sick are permitted to eat meat according to this rule of life. However, Pope John III

Pope John III

Pope John III was pope from 561 to July 13, 574.A Roman surnamed Catelinus, he was of a distinguished family, being the son of one Anastasius who bore the title of illustris....
declared an anathema

Anathema

Anathema originally meant something lifted up as an offering to the gods; later, with evolving meanings, it came to mean:# to be formally setting apart;...
against the vegetarians at the First Council of Braga

First Council of Braga

In the 'First Council of Braga' of 561 eight bishops took part, and twenty-two decrees were promulgated, among others the following: that in the services of the church the same rite should be followed by all, and that on vigils and in solemn Masses the same lessons should be said by all; that bishops and priests should salute the people with ...
in Portugal. He wanted to outlaw the Manicheans

Manichaeism

Manichaeism was one of the major Iranian Gnosticism religions, originating in Sassanid Persia. Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived....
who were living vegetarian.

According to some interpretations of the Bible, raw veganism

Raw veganism

Raw veganism is a diet which combines veganism and raw foodism. It excludes all food of animal origin, and all food cooked above 48 degrees Celsius ....
was the original diet of humankind in the form of Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve are the First man or woman created by God in the Hebrew creation story told in Genesis 1-2....
, and many Christian Vegetarians believe upon the return of Christ, the world will return to vegetarianism.

Some members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Religious Society of Friends

The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, was founded in England in the 17th century as a Christian denomination by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity....
practice vegetarianism or veganism as a reflection of the Peace Testimony

Peace Testimony

The Peace Testimony, also known as the Testimony Against War, is a shorthand description of the stand generally taken by members of the Religious Society of Friends against participation in war, and against military service as combatants....
, extending non-violence towards animals. Historically, the early vegetarian movement had many Quaker promoters. Some Ranter

Ranter

The Ranters were a radical English sect in the time of the Commonwealth of England , who were regarded as heresy by the established Church of that period....
sects back in the mid-17th century are known to have been vegetarian as well.

In some Christian communities partial fasting

Fasting

Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. A fast may be total or partial concerning that from which one fasts, and may be prolonged or intermittent as to the period of fasting....
, for example during Lent

Lent

Lent, in Christianity, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Conventionally it is described as being forty days long, though different Christian denominations calculate the forty days differently....
, resembles vegetarianism since meat and dairy products are forbidden for a temporary period. For some groups, such as Catholics, seafood

Seafood

Seafood is any aquatic animal that is served as food and eaten by humans. Seafoods include fish and shellfish .The harvesting of seafood is known as fishing and the cultivation and farming of seafood is known as aquaculture, mariculture, or in the case of fish, fish farming....
is permitted during these periods of fasting. A basic difference to other forms of vegetarianism is that Lent has spiritual connotation, not environmental or animal welfare reasons. Also, abstaining from meat and dairy products during Lent is intended to be temporary, lasting only until the season is over, not a permanent way of life.

Biblical references

A versed cited by many Christians who support vegetarianism is Genesis 1:29-30, which says:

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

However, in the New Testament, Saint Peter

Saint Peter

Saint Peter was a leader of the early Christianity church, who features prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles....
was told to kill and eat unclean animals

Unclean animals

Unclean animals, in some religions, are animals, on whose consumption or handling is labelled a taboo. According to these religions' dogmas, persons who handle such animals may need to Ritual purification themselves to get rid of their uncleanness....
:

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Individuals

James the Just
James the Just

Saint James the Just , , also known as James of Jerusalem, James Adelphotheos, James, the Brother of the Lord, was an important figure in Early Christianity....
or Jacob the Righteous (called "Brother of Jesus") is described by ancient and reliable sources as being a very strict vegetarian. (See The Lost Religion of Jesus, by Keith Akers, listed below).
There have been various notable ascetics
Asceticism

Asceticism describes a life-style characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spirituality goals....
, such as Saint David
Saint David

Saint David was a church official; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. In contrast with the other national patron saints of the British Isles, Saints Saint George, Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick, David is a native of the country of which he is patron saint, and a relatively large amount of information is known...
, who have adopted a vegetarian diet for spiritual reasons.
Keith Akers
Keith Akers

Keith Akers is an United States advocate of nonviolence, simple living and Christian vegetarianism.Akers graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1971 with B....
claims that the movement away from simple living
Simple living

Simple living is a lifestyle characterized by minimizing the 'more-is-better' pursuit of wealth and Consumerism. Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in 'quality time' for family and friends, Stress reduction, personal taste or frugality....
and vegetarianism began with Paul the Apostle, and that Christians should look at returning to pre-"Pauline Christianity
Pauline Christianity

Pauline Christianity is a term used to refer to a branch of Early Christianity associated with the beliefs and doctrines espoused by Paul the Apostle through his Pauline epistles....
".
Christian anarchists
Christian anarchism

Christian anarchism is any of several traditions which combine anarchism with Christianity. Christian anarchists believe that freedom is justified spiritually through the teachings of Jesus....
, such as Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, or Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy Tolstoy's further talents as essayist, dramatist and Education reform made him the most influential member of the aristocracy Tolstoy....
and Ammon Hennacy
Ammon Hennacy

Ammon Hennacy was an United States pacifism, Christian anarchism, vegetarianism, social activist, member of the Catholic Worker Movement and a Industrial Workers of the World, and was known for establishing the "Joe Hill House" in Salt Lake City, Utah and for tax resistance....
, believe that the Christian principles of compassion and nonviolence
Nonviolence

Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical violence. As such, nonviolence is an alternative to passive acceptance of oppression and armed struggle against it....
require a vegetarian diet, whether Jewish Christians
Jewish Christians

Jewish Christians is a term with two meanings, a historical one and a contemporary one.The historical term refers to Early Christians of or attracted to Jewish culture....
were historically vegetarians or not.
Nathan Braun
Nathan Braun

Nathan Braun is a Canada author, independent scholar, and activist in the vegetarian movement. He was the founder, along with Stephen H. Webb, Professor of Religion at Wabash College, of the Christian Vegetarian Association in 1999 and was one of the "initial leaders" of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians, co-founded with Richar...
states that the Christian mandate to feed the hungry can only be truly fulfilled on a world-wide scale by our evolution to a vegetarian diet. He, along with many other environmental vegetarians
Environmental vegetarianism

Environmental vegetarianism is the practice of vegetarianism or veganism based on the fact that the animal production by Intensive farming is Natural environment sustainable development....
, believe that a carnivorous diet consumes and destroys too large a proportion of the world's food resources.
Andrew Linzey
Andrew Linzey

Andrew Linzey is an Anglican priest, theologian, writer and Christian vegetarianism.He is a member of the Faculty of Theology in the University of Oxford and held the world?s first academic post in Ethics, Theology and Animal Welfare ? the Bede Jarret Senior Research Fellowship at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford....
is an Anglican priest, a theologian and a writer. He is internationally known for his views on Christianity and animals.
Benjamin Urrutia
Benjamín Urrutia

Benjamin Urrutia is an author and scholar. According to the Mormon Literature Database, Urrutia is "the only Latter Day Saint Basque people Israelis United States anthropologist, linguistics, and science fiction writer in the universe." Urrutia co-edited, with Guy Davenport, The Logia of Yeshua, which collected what they consider to...
writes articles, book reviews and film reviews from the viewpoint of Christian vegetarianism.

Organizations

Christian Vegetarian Association
Christian Vegetarian Association

The Christian Vegetarian Association is an international, non-denominational Christian ministry that promotes responsible stewardship of God's creation through plant-based eating....
Animal chaplains
Animal chaplains

Animal chaplains provide a wide array of services to the community, including pet loss grief support, animal memorial services, praying for animals who are sick or injured, comforting bereaved family members, holding hands with pet owners during surgery or animal euthanasia at a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, and performing animal bles...

Footnotes

External links

- article by Keith Akers
Keith Akers

Keith Akers is an United States advocate of nonviolence, simple living and Christian vegetarianism.Akers graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1971 with B....
(The Nazarene Way of Essenic Studies)
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

Christian vegetarianism

Churches

Biblical references

Individuals

Organizations

Footnotes

See also

External links