animals were created for a purpose?

^ Where do i start here?

* It's true, there are many amazing Christian followers who give their lives to causes and love and serve the suffering. They deserve respect for sifting through the bible and finding the LOVE and discarding the hate. I am a believer in Jesus, I love him greatly. I believe that human error exists in the Bible, however, there is much imperfection. So we need to sift out the human error and strive for the divine, what Jesus thought, spoke and believed.

** How do you feel about the radical Muslim believers who feel that Allah has called them to kill all non-believers? Weren't you horrified on 9/11 when the terrorists attacked America in the name of Allah? These radicals have misinterpreted their holy book, and in doing so have disgraced Allah. They simply interpret their holy book in a way which allows for great terror and cruelty, however the Muslims who interpret the battle as one within themselves are some of the nicest people on earth.

*** Some christians are down to earth people who are exceptionally nice and Christlike. However, a fair number of them are just toxic. They are just abusive, cruel, self-important people who shove their religion in the faces of the world. They literally enjoy pointing out wrong-doings and speaking of bad people and "the damned".

***** Christians used to say that babies who were not baptized automatically were damned. They speak out against homosexuality, denying wonderful and loving relationships to be recognized as marriage, they used to/still do treat women as lower beings and they used to support slavery with the Bible.

now look at the ills of society- how many are there because of these toxic christians? Homophobia- thank the christians, Women as subordinate to men (women are still paid less than men)- thank the christians. Black people are still treated poorly by racists (especially in the south) and many of them are still exceptionally poor thanks to the lingering effects of slavery- thanks to christians. Sex is seen as taboo and immoral- thanks to christians. Face it, christians have polluted the beauty of equality!

Now if you consider yourself a good christian, i'd like you to do me a favor. READ 1 Timothy in the New Testament of the bible, and tell me here and now if you agree with the claims made. Do you feel that women are below men?

If yes- WOW, if no...well the bible says that women are lower than men, so shouldn't you feel this way? If you still wont admit that women are subordinate then your EXCUSE to eat meat because the bible says we can is nullified. You will hopefully recognize that you shouldn't base your moral decisions on your religion, but rather your religion on your moral compass.


Just to quote some really horrible segments from the bible:
1) “Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness.” (1 Timothy, verse 11)- Do you agree with this?
2)“I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men. She is to keep silent.” (1 Timothy, Verse 12)- Do you agree?

Meat is murder. It doesn't take a religion to tell you that, or to tell you it isn't. Just simply look into the eye of a dying cow, a hanging pig, a skinned mink or a suffocating fish. Look into the eyes and you will see pain, death, suffering, anguish. You will witness a being who has been forcefully pushed from life into the depths of a dark death. And the justification for all this horrendous suffering- So some greedy slob can "rip it's flesh from it's bones". Especially in this day and age where tofu, seitan, fruits and vegetables are widely available- meat can not be called essential. Eating meat is simply a luxury which is enjoyed by the slobs who chose out of greed.

All i ask of you is to look into the eye of a suffering animal- perhaps the exact animal which was slaughtered in order to be placed in nicely chopped bits on your plate. Look into the eyes and tell me that you can not see the suffering, anxiety, trauma and defeat that these amazingly intelligent, unique and blessed animals are suffering at your hands. This suffering does not exist in vegetables, beans or fruit. There is no brain there, no family, no love, no emotions, no eyes which look up and see when it's night or day. Knowing this, how could you go on eating meat, causing this great suffering simply because of the pleasure it brings to your pallet.

 

oops double post.

 

I agree with Ship 100%! great post.
arty:

 

I wanted to help in Africa, and when I was looking for a good orginazation, there where tons of Christian ones. Im not a Christian, but I was ok with an orginazation founded as a Christian one. But...I was surprised that most of the money you send to that organization goes--not to feed the kids or give them clothes, etc.--but to build churches and give out bibles. No offense, but I dont think its right to pretty much say "oh ill give you food as long as you accept our lord as your savior". Now, im not saying that all christians are like that, but all the christian organizations that I found are like that.

But anyway, I dont think that you should act like all Christians are wonderfull people who help out all the time, and hippies are all lazy bums who dont. Im pretty sure that alot of times, its the other way around...

 

Wow--this is a totally new one for me! I've heard many Christians say that parts of the Bible apply to us today and parts don't--but I've never heard anyone say they were only paying attention to the books of the Bible with Christ's words! I am assuming you mean only the 4 gospels? That really seems to limit the good messages to be found--like the passages about love in Corinthians, or the poetry in the Old Testament, for example.


It's also interesting to see that you eat meat because you are following what Jesus did. You might just as easily say you should wear only sandals or recline when you eat, because of his example. Aren't all those things just parts of his culture? If he lived in another part of the world, he would have eaten rice and vegetables.

I'm just interested because I've never heard these arguments before.