Does God care if I'm a vegetarian?

[Cpl_Ferro]

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years now out of outrage over the inhuman practises of factory farms. Most people around me probably get a little chuckle out of it as they indifferently consume meat products. Does God care one way or another?

 

[ConallCernach]

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years now out of outrage over the inhuman practises of factory farms. Most people around me probably get a little chuckle out of it as they indifferently consume meat products. Does God care one way or another?

Well, God will infinitely love you regardless of who you are (not comparing anyone with Satan, but God truly loves Satan, but hates the sin that Satan has built himself upon). I don’t think that it is a sin to eat meat, or a sin to not eat meat. God will love you infinitely either way, and since neither are immoral, they shouldn’t lead you to sin. So to me it’s like saying does God care if I paint my fingernails?

Just make sure that if you are going to continue the vegetarian life, to take of yourself and to be charitable to others should conflicts arise, and use it as a form of offering up something to God.

This is at least what I can see on the matter.

Pax

 

[Trishie]

I don’t think God would take you to task for your active compassion for the welfare of the creatures He created!

 

[Cpl_Ferro]

So, are you saying that God considers the suffering of animals at the hands of humans to be of as little consequence as the painting of one’s fingernails? My original post was intended on their behalf.

 

[ConallCernach]

So, are you saying that God considers the suffering of animals at the hands of humans to be of as little consequence as the painting of one’s fingernails?

It’s more or less an analogy. Does everybody who eat meat eat meat of suffering animals? Does being a vegetarian make you a better person than those that eat meat?

God loves all His creation, but we are as inconsequential to Him as paint to a fingernail, but I’m not saying that He doesn’t care.

Pax

 

[Cpl_Ferro]

And, if eating meat contributed to the massive suffering of animals, is God of no opinion on a person’s eating habits?

Let me try to make it plainer: If eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken meant eating chickens that were fried alive, with no humane slaughter whatsoever, is God one about that? It’s perfectly cool with him that a person eats there?

 

[ConallCernach]

And, if eating meat contributed to the massive suffering of animals, is God of no opinion on a person’s eating habits?

Let me try to make it plainer: If eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken meant eating chickens that were fried alive, with no humane slaughter whatsoever, is God one about that? It’s perfectly cool with him that a person eats there?

I’m doubtful that chicken would be fried alive. It would have to make getting the Colonel’s secret recipe on the inside of the chicken breast a bit more difficult should the chicken not be slaughtered prior to being deep fried. Some conditions are abhorrent, but that one is a bit… well whack.

Pax

 

[Cpl_Ferro]

Please don’t be obtuse, it was a hypothetical question reaching for a straight answer.

Does God care enough about animal suffering to implicate human behaviour or does he not?

 

[Trishie]

God is merciful. He would not condone cruelty to any of His creatures. I find it distressing too, that animals are mistreated in any way. If people were graphically aware of much that happens regarding animals, more would make the choice that you have.

 

[Cpl_Ferro]

If that is God’s opinion, might it then behoove his Church to make a statement to that effect? Or, perhaps, has it already done so (to, apparently, no effect)?

 

[ConallCernach]

If that is God’s opinion, might it then behoove his Church to make a statement to that effect? Or, perhaps, has it already done so (to, apparently, no effect)?

As I understand, the Church speaks out against unnecessary torture of animals. Yet it does not necessarily encourage the vegetarian way of life.

 

[Catholic90]

God does not care if you are a vegetarian.

He does care that we take care of His creation and not cause undue suffering.

A faithful Catholic can both eat meat AND be a faithful Catholic. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Being a vegetarian is a choice some people make for their personal reasons (health, taste, ethical, political, etc.). However, being a vegetarian does not make that person better or worse than one who eats meat.

 

[Chaldean_Rite]

Well, God will infinitely love you regardless of who you are (not comparing anyone with Satan, but God truly loves Satan, but hates the sin that Satan has built himself upon).

God does not love Satan. God loves each one according to how lovable that person or angelic being is. Since Satan is the paradigm of hate, charity is not within him and hence God cannot love him.

 

[ConallCernach]

God does not love Satan. God loves each one according to how lovable that person or angelic being is. Since Satan is the paradigm of hate, charity is not within him and hence God cannot love him.

Not a Thomist are you XD

 

[Todd_Easton]

Please don’t be obtuse, it was a hypothetical question reaching for a straight answer.

Does God care enough about animal suffering to implicate human behaviour or does he not?

The following paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church seem to touch on this subject:

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existance they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Asisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spen money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.

 

[wasmit]

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years now out of outrage over the inhuman practises of factory farms. Most people around me probably get a little chuckle out of it as they indifferently consume meat products. Does God care one way or another?

no, God does not care.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

I’ve been a vegetarian for many years now out of outrage over the inhuman practises of factory farms. Most people around me probably get a little chuckle out of it as they indifferently consume meat products. Does God care one way or another?

I think it depends on the reason someone chooses to become a vegetarian as to whether or not God cares - remember He judges our heart.

example, if you are avoiding meat because you think that meat is bad for your body this would be wrong because God has made it clear through the vision to St. Peter the Apostle that ALL meat is good for human consumption.

example, if your reason is like the one you mentioned above, due to the terrible practices of factory farms where animals are horribly mistreated - animals are creatures of God created for our pleasure and consumption. People ought to respect and treat animals well during their lives before they are justly slaughtered for our consumption. A person would be justified in this situation if they refrained from eating meat which came from farms where the animals were mistreated before being slaughtered and they would have the right to either avoid meat all together or find meat which comes from farms where the farmers treat the animals as what they are, creatures of God.

BTW: I would never use the word “inhumane” in regards to treatment of animals since of course animals are to be treated as animals and not as humans - animals are in no way our equals. There are some people out there who actually think that animals should be treated the same as humans and that humans are mere animals; that humans are not made in the image and likeness of God - this idea is not only bizzare, but is against the teachings of our Faith as given to us by the Church through the Bible.

 

[mlchance]

example, if you are avoiding meat because you think that meat is bad for your body this would be wrong because God has made it clear through the vision to St. Peter the Apostle that ALL meat is good for human consumption.

Not as a rule individually applicable to all people, but only as a general rule against denoting foods (and the people who eat them) as unclean. There are valid health reasons to decrease or avoid consumption of meat.

BTW: I would never use the word “inhumane” in regards to treatment of animals since of course animals are to be treated as animals and not as humans…

“Inhumane” is appropriate insofar as my actions dehumanize me even if they don’t dehumanize the target of those actions.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Zooey]

The following paragraphs from the Catechism of the Catholic Church seem to touch on this subject:

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existance they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Asisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.
2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spen money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.

Thank you!!

Cpl Ferro, you ask if God cares if you are a vegetarian; it seems to me that, if you are being led of Our Lord to refrain from eating meat, that clearly God cares very much that you be a vegetarian.
I don’t think that He asks the same of all of us. But I would never presume to tell anyone that he/she is not called to a vegetarian diet.

 

[ricko]

“A man of sound faith knows he can eat anything…” Rom 14:2

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking…” Rom 14:17

“Now food does not bring us closer to God. We suffer no los through failing to eat, and we gain no favor by eating.” 1Cor 8:8

“Eat whatever is sold in the market…eat whatever is placed before you.” 1Cor 10:25

'Everything created by God is good and nothing is forbidden." Sorry don’t remember the verse #

You are free to eat anything you want. Not all animals are raised in bad conditions. Whether you want to base your eating habits on that or not is up to you though I would say that most of the animals for human consumption are raised in good conditions based on the laws.