EATING

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A plant-based diet honors God. It helps us become healthy, joyful, effective servants of God; and it avoids the animal cruelty, environmental

damage, and human misery associated with factory farms.

Honoring God’s Creation

Joyful, Compassionate

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God’s Animals Jesus said that God feeds the birds ofthe air (Matt. 6:26) and does notforget sparrows (Luke 12:6). In theirown ways, God’s creaturesdemonstrate a full range of feelings –curiosity, pleasure, playfulness, love,joy, fear, anger, pain, and suffering:

• Cows play and enjoy each other’scompany.1

• Pigs are intelligent and curious, andthey form bondswith one anotherand other species.2

• Chickens havedistinct person -alities and can learntheir names.3

• In many ways, theanimals people eatare just like theanimals we love aspets.4

And yet, in the United States, nearlyall farmed animals live in intensivelycrowded, dirty, smelly, windowlessfactory farms, where animals suffergreatly. For example:

• Castration, debeaking, and otherpainful mutilations are routinelydone without pain-relief.

• Egg-laying hens are crammed intocages so small they can’t spreadtheir wings.

• Pregnant pigs spend months incages so small they can’t turnaround.

• Mother cows grieve for days orweeks after their calves are takenfrom them so humans can drinktheir milk.5

• Today’s factory farmers show noconcern about individual animals.They embrace any practice thatincreases profit, regardless of howmuch animal pain, suffering, anddeath it inflicts.6

• Living in miserable conditions thatfrustrate nearly every instinctivedesire they have, factory-farmed

animals never have a good day.

What animal agribusinessdoesn’t want you to knowBecause compassionate peopleoppose cruelty to animals, the animalagribusiness industry has been doingits best to hide the truth from thepublic. Animal agribusinesses andtheir friends in many state legisla -tures have passed “ag-gag” laws.

2 “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.

Isaiah 11:9

“Veal” calves can’t turnaround for their entirelives of 18-20 weeks. © CIWF

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These laws make it a crimeto photograph or otherwiseexpose how God’s animalsare routinely abused onfactory farms.

What does the Bible say aboutmeat?The Bible does not prohibiteating meat in all circum -stances, but most Christianstoday have ready access to a wide variety of healthful plantfoods. The Bible depicts a plant-based diet as God’s ideal. In Eden, all creatures lived peacefully, and Godtold humans to consume only plantfoods (Gen. 1:29-30).

Isaiah 11:6–9 prophesied a return to this harmonious world. For adiscussion of biblical passagesrelated to meat eating, see all-creatures.org/replies.htm.

Does God care for animals?Genesis 1:21–22 relates that, after Godcreated animals, God blessed themand called them “good.” In Genesis2:18–19, God made animals as Adam’shelpers and companions. The Biblerepeatedly describes God’s concernfor animals and forbids cruelty.7 Jesussaid “Blessed are the merciful” (Matt.5:7), yet no mercy is shown for nearlyall farmed animals. Indeed, can we

profess faith that Godis good if we believethat God approves ofcruelty to animals?Should not theGolden Rule (Matt.7:12) – treat others asyou would like othersto treat you – guidehow we treatanimals?

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Hog Farm Managementadvises, “Forget the pigis an animal. Treat himjust like a machine in a factory.”

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Don’t laws protectfarmed animals?In the United States and many othercountries, “standard procedures” onfarms are all legal, regardless of thepain and suffering they cause.Practices such as bodily mutilations,which would warrant felony animalcruelty charges if done to a dog or

cat, are perfectly legal when done toa pig or chicken. At the slaughter -house, “humane slaughter” laws areweak and poorly enforced, and theyexempt the slaughter of birds.

What about “humanemeat”?Even though farmed animals do notalways suffer equally, it is neverhumane to kill a young, healthyanimal. People should know thatterms like “farm fresh” have nomeaning, and “organic” and “local”do not mean “humane.” “Free range”can and usually does involveintensive confinement and painfulmutilations. And, many small farmershave embraced the same or verysimilar practices of large corporateanimal factories.

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“When we consumethe productsof factory farming,we are tellingfactory farmers:I approve. Do itagain.

Rev. Frank L. Hoffman

Cattle ranchingand feed crops for

farmed animalsare largely

responsiblefor deforestation

in the Amazon.

Vegan NFL linemanDavid Carter.

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Why do people eat meat?For many, it is the taste, texture, orconvenience of flesh. However, asChristians, we must ask whether suchdesires reflect Christian values. Iseating meat the right thing to do?

The Benefits of aPlant-Based DietYour Health – your bodyis a temple of the HolySpirit (1 Cor. 6:19) Eating right and exercising help usfeel more vigorous and alert, as wellas attain and maintain a healthyweight. The American DieteticAssociation, America’s largest

organization of food and nutritionprofessionals, notes that well-balanced vegetarian and vegan dietsreduce the risk of heart disease, highblood pressure, diabetes, obesity,cancer, and other conditions.8 TheMayo Clinic Health Letter similarlypromotes a plant-based diet.9

Our bodies, including our teeth anddigestive system, are best suited forplant foods.10 For other importantplant-based nutrition information, see christianveg.org/nutrition.

Our Planet - being a good stewardIn Genesis 2:15, God instructed Adamto “till” and “keep” the Garden ofEden, and we may see caring forGod’s Creation as our sacred task.Humanity’s appetite for flesh isdepleting essential land, water, andenergy resources. Further, worldwidelivestock production contributes upto 51% of humanity’s greenhousegasses.11 The most important thingpeople can do to reduce theircontribution to environmentaldamage is to reduce their use of animal products.

Vegan ultramarathon champion ScottJurek and other top athletes credit

their plant-based diets. See ScottJurek.com. “

Be merciful, even as your Fatheris merciful.

Luke 6:36

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Hunger and FoodSecurityClose to a billion people suffer frommalnutrition, killing tens of millionsannually. Meanwhile animals raisedfor slaughter consume 37% of theworld’s harvestedgrains; in the UnitedStates the figure is66%.

Only a fraction ofwhat chickens, pigs,and other animals eatturns into edible flesh –most is needed tosimply keep them aliveor to grow body partsthat people don’t eat. Consequently,farmed animals consume much morefood than they produce. Convertingplant foods to meat wastes 67–90%of the protein, up to 96% of thecalories, and all of the fiber.Because land, water, andother resources are limited,the world can support manymore vegans than meateaters. As worldwidedemand for meat has grown,the world’s poor havebecome increasingly unableto afford food of any kind.

Antibiotic-ResistantGermsFarmers routinely add antibiotics totheir feed, because stressed,overcrowded animals are vulnerableto infections. This promotes thedevelopment of antibiotic-resistant“superbugs” that threaten humanity.

How Can I Take the FirstStep?If you’re thinking of moving toward aplant-based diet, good for you! And,this is a lot easier than most people

think. There are manytasty, convenient, andnutritious non-animalfoods. You will feelbetter as you gainenergy and shedunwanted pounds.Local vegetarian andvegan groups areeverywhere offeringsocial events,

encouragement, support, andadvice.12

FootnotesGo to christianveg.org/footnotes/htm.

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“Blessed are the merciful.

Matthew 5:7

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What to Eat?When changing your diet, it may taketime to explore new foods anddevelop healthier habits. There aremany different products that aretasty, convenient, and nutritious –keep experimenting to find yourpersonal favorites.

Nearly all grocery stores havevegan and vegetarian main courseoptions. Similarly, restaurants of alltypes routinely offer plant-basedmeals – just ask!

Substitution GuideYou can continue to prepare yourfavorite dishes and avoid animalproducts by making simplesubstitutions:

Meat – There are many options, suchas tempeh, tofu, or vegan meats(such as Beyond Meat, Tofurkey,Gardein, and Boca) in the frozen food section. Dairy – Use milks, cheeses, creams,yogurts, and frozen desserts madefrom soy, rice, coconut, or nuts.Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavorto foods. Replace butter with olive oilor trans-fat-free margarine.Eggs – In baking recipes, use egg substitutes.13

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ResourcesChristian Vegetarian Association:ChristianVeg.org

Contact: CVA@christianveg.org

Facebook: facebook.com/Christian-Vegetarian-Association-10156148652

Nutrition guide:christianveg.org/nutrition.htm

Recipes:christianveg.org/th-recipe.htm

Simple meal ideas:christianveg.org/simplemeals.htm

Restaurant Guide:HappyCow.net/browse.html

Printed on recycled paper with soy ink© Christian Vegetarian Association 2000-2018(reprint permission granted); Rev. 01/2018“

…and what does

the Lord require

of you but to do

justice, and to

love kindness,

and to walk

humbly with

your God?Micah 6:8

Peace by William Strutt © Reinthal & Newman, NY

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