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==Biblical issues==

==Biblical issues==

Nearly all of the Bible operates on the premise that meat is a normal part of the human diet. Beginning with Genesis 1:26, God gives dominion of the animals to man, where specific reference is made to cattle (in the King James Version) or livestock (in the English Standard Version and others). Genesis 1:29 indicates that the human diet was originally limited to plants, but sin entered the world as part of a vegetarian diet.

Nearly all of the Bible operates on the premise that meat is a normal part of the human diet. Beginning with Genesis 1:26, God gives dominion of the animals to man, where specific reference is made to cattle (in the King James Version) or livestock (in the English Standard Version and others). Genesis 1:29 indicates that the human diet was originally limited to plants, but sin entered the world and after the flood meat was allowed in the human diet.

By Genesis 4, animal sacrifices are offered to God, indicating the value of meat to humans. This is reinforced in Genesis 7:3, where Noah was commanded to bring ritually clean animals aboard the Ark. Verses such as Exodus 16:3, Numbers 11:4, Deuteronomy 12:15 and 12:20-21 indicate that a meat-based diet was a blessing. Psalm 78:27 and 105:40 recall God's divine provision of meat during the Exodus, along with bread from heaven in abundance.

By Genesis 4, animal sacrifices are offered to God, indicating the value of meat to humans. This is reinforced in Genesis 7:3, where Noah was commanded to bring ritually clean animals aboard the Ark. Verses such as Exodus 16:3, Numbers 11:4, Deuteronomy 12:15 and 12:20-21 indicate that a meat-based diet was a blessing. Psalm 78:27 and 105:40 recall God's divine provision of meat during the Exodus, along with bread from heaven in abundance.

In echoing Daniel, Acts 15:29 condemns the consumption of food sacrificed to idols and meat that has been strangled. In Romans 14:2, the Apostle Paul stated that a weak person eats only vegetables. Nonetheless, the ensuings verses caution against personal judgement towards abstinence from meat.  

In echoing Daniel, Acts 15:29 condemns the consumption of food sacrificed to idols and meat that has been strangled. In Romans 14:2, the Apostle Paul stated that a weak person eats only vegetables. Nonetheless, the ensuings verses caution against personal judgement towards abstinence from meat.  

Although meat eating is acceptable under the Bible, cruelty is not. Thereby eating a chicken that was free-range raised and led a healthy and cared for life, is not sin. By contrast, eating an animal that was factory farmed and treated as an object for human profit, rather than a gift and creation of God, is blasphemy. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus tells His followers that God looks after the animals. It is clear from this verse that God The Father cares after His creation. How could we be living Christian lives if we were to show less respect to God's creatures than God Himself does, especially since God gave us that responsibility for dominion in Genesis 1:28?

Although meat eating is acceptable under the Bible, cruelty is not. Treating an animal cruelly as an object, rather than compassionately as a creation of God, is not living within the traditions of Biblical animal husbandry (see Proverbs 12:10). In Matthew 6:26 Jesus tells His followers that God looks after the animals. It is clear from this verse that God The Father cares for His creation. How could we be living Christian lives if we were to show less respect to God's creatures than God Himself does, especially since God gave us the responsibility for dominion in Genesis 1:28?

==Famous vegetarians==

==Famous vegetarians==