I find the arguments for eating vegetarian very compelling. In fact, I went totally vegan for a period of time. My current status is having a "vegetarian preference," if you will. I love to eat vegetarian. I get very excited when I discover a new restaurant with yummy vegetarian options. I head straight to their section of the menu without much thought about what else is available to eat. I don't have to force myself to eat vegetarian and I don't struggle with longings for meat-filled meals. I do long for my beloved "Unturkey" and dream of its return. I wish I still lived near my favorite vegetarian restaurant. I never cook meat, but I do sometimes eat meat. I try to make my rare purchases from the organic/free-range type options available. I think that a lot of people like me would reshape the meat-producing industries.
So while I already believe in the positive health and social benefits of a primarily vegetarian diet, I'm not completely convinced that a strictly vegetarian diet is the only moral option. I have a hard time seeing it taken to the extreme conclusion. If all humans became vegetarians, how would that relate to our place in the ecosystem? When animals lose their natural predators and their populations grow unchecked, there can be disastrous results including starvation. So all killing is not bad. Some killing is part of the natural balance. I grew up with a respect for my Native American heritage. My understanding of traditions that value their place in the environment, view animals with deep reverence, only killing what is needed to survive and wasting nothing were part of what shaped my view of the interdependent web as sacred. I have a hard time seeing the limited hunting that is part of indigenous cultures as immoral. Granted as a "city mouse" and animal lover you won't ever see me killing anything for food. In fact, I find it hard to kill even a bug. But in the larger scheme of things, what I see as truly immoral are the excessive consumption of meat in our society and the horrific conditions that mass meat-production includes. As well, our societal tendency towards mindless eating is bad in its effects on our health and in being oblivious to the consequences of our eating habits.
I'm not sure why this sprang up so intensely in my mind today as I was fixing my beloved miso noodle bowl. I had just finished reading an old blog post about miso soup as an alternative to chicken soup as a remedy. (I prefer miso soup.) The article in UU World and subsequent online reactions had recently stirred up my thoughts. I continue to be subscribed to and occasionally lurk on the UFETA list serve, not sure how I fit in with those who passionately espouse total vegetarianism as the only moral option. This is just one of the issues that are a part of my desire to live an authentically ethical and spiritual life. Meanwhile, I strive to be more mindful in my eating practices of my typically busy modern life and I do so enjoy my miso noodle bowl.
A Musical Diversion...
2 comments:
Great post. I think you are right that vegetarianism is not always the only moral option. I think most of the time it is probably the best option, for those that can do it. If you live in the jungle and need to kill animals to eat or else you starve, that of course seems like a good exception. Or if you are allergic to everything under the sun and need to eat meat to have a reasonable diet. Lots of exceptions that I probably can't think of. I agree, only moral option is a strong way of putting it. Usually the best option, environmentally and in terms of compassion for animals seems more reasonable. Great post :) E
Thanks, E :) I really am concerned about the lack of serious dialog in our denomination about the welfare of animals. And concerned about being able to make a real difference in the treatment of animals. Does a strict "you must be vegetarian" approach sabotage this by alienating the majority of Americans? Is that approach "romanticizing" the idea of never killing an animal - possibly contrary to nature's balance and devaluing indigenous cultures who have lived as part of that balance. Or am I perhaps romanticizing the indigenous cultures? I would hope that our 7th principle would guide us to taking animal welfare seriously.
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