Veganism

Veganism is the following of a diet in which refrains from consuming any animal products - including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, milk, or honey. It is often thought of as a stricter form of vegetarianism. Vegans also try to avoid use of wool, leather, fur, silk, down, and other animal-derived products. The basis of veganism is the idea that killing animals for food is only one part of a wider problem of unfair exploitation, and that keeping animals for eggs, wool etc. is another form of the same exploitation.

These beliefs are refuted by most, as many believe God placed animals on earth for human consumption and to allow us to prosper. This is not supported by scripture, as Genesis clearly states that God gave man plants and every green thing for food (see Genesis 1:29). God only allowed meat eating after the flood,(see Genesis 9:2-3) as all plant life had been wiped out and the environment was not as suited for hardy plant populations as it was before the flood.

In addition, many mistakenly believe it is impossible to supply all the essential nutrients required by the human body entirely through plant products. In actuality, we could supply more nutrients to people through plants than meat, since it take 16 pounds of grain fed to a cow to make 1 pound of beef. Treating animals as if they are common and expendable objects would be disrespectful to the God who gave us dominion over them. Jesus speaks of compassion, and in the New Testament God is stated by Jesus to look after the needs of animals (see Matthew 6:26). If we are to follow God's example, we must treat animal life with respect.

Animal welfare most closely fits with the morality expressed in the Bible. Eating animals is acceptable, but animals are to be treated with compassion.

Atheism and veganism

See: Atheism and veganism

Veganism and atheism in Asia

See also: Asian atheism and China and atheism

In China, consumption of meat is rapidly increasing while a small but growing number of young people in large cities are vegan.

Razib Khan points out in Discover Magazine, "most secular nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed 'Confucian societies'. It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."

The current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites. See: Western atheism and race

China has the world's largest atheist population. See: China and atheism

East Asia contains about 25 percent of the world’s population. China’s population represents 20 percent of the people on earth.

Veganism, atheism and China

Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, declared in August of 2019: "In China, consumption of meat is rapidly increasing while a small but growing number of young people in large cities are vegan. An estimated 4 to 5 percent of Chinese are vegetarian. However, in a survey conducted by SJTU researchers, only 0.77 percent of respondents labeled themselves vegetarian."

Religious India, vegetarianism and its low rate of convinced atheism

In 2007, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations statistics indicated that Indians had the lowest rate of meat consumption in the world. India has more vegetarians than the rest of the world put together.

3% of Indians are convinced atheists.

See also: Religion in India