Is Eating Meat Hedonistic?

[codebilly]

First thanks for the very thoughtful response - I am curious to know if you still eat meat and if you do, how do you reconcile this with the rest of the information in this post? — I don’t ask this in a challenging tone - would just like to know ----

For me - as I learned about the production of meat in the USA today that is available to the vast majority of consumers (not only in markets but restaurants and fast food) - I can not square it with my faith.

In discussions on these forums I have found many who react very strongly to this stance - I assume they feel challenged by my position in their ‘way of life’ - they produce their own animals for food, or hunt - and this is a tradition for them and their families…

While I concede that people who hunt to feed their family - or those who on the recommendation of a physician eat meat - are not included in this issue - the dilemma of (1) animal welfare - how animals are treated in CAFO settings (2) the pollution created by CAFOs and (3) the resources necessary to produce 1 lb of animal protein vs 1 lb of vegetable protein. — these are among the issues that I find squarely in contrast to my understanding of our roll in God’s creation, and our individual responsibility to ensure that we are not using more than our share of this gift.

I believe it is a challenging topic - it is counter cultural. There are MANY things we do and don’t do - as people of faith - that are counter cultural - so I think we should be leading others to recognize that a diet free of meat is a choice that is in keeping with our Catholic faith.

I would recommend reading the following book:

Embracing earth : Catholic approaches to ecology / edited by Albert J. LaChance, John E. Carroll

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, like it or not, the call to priesthood is the call to make the same vow/covenant as Jesus did at the Last Supper. … to enter into the mystery of His self sacrifice and endless ocean of Mercy and Love.

It cannot be denied that this call requires one to practice austerity and renunciation. Fasting from meat is an ancient tradition of the ascetics, priests, and religious.

Somewhere along the way we collectively have fallen away from this practice.

 

[4elise]

I would recommend reading the following book:

Embracing earth : Catholic approaches to ecology / edited by Albert J. LaChance, John E. Carroll

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, like it or not, the call to priesthood is the call to make the same vow/covenant as Jesus did at the Last Supper. … to enter into the mystery of His self sacrifice and endless ocean of Mercy and Love.

It cannot be denied that this call requires one to practice austerity and renunciation. Fasting from meat is an ancient tradition of the ascetics, priests, and religious.

Somewhere along the way we collectively have fallen away from this practice.

Thank you - I’ll add this book to the resources list on the Catholic Vegetarians / Vegans group - you are welcome to come over and talk a look at this group…

 

[karoleck]

Thank you - I’ll add this book to the resources list on the Catholic Vegetarians / Vegans group - you are welcome to come over and talk a look at this group…

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/15/story-of-how-one-vegetarian-converted-to-farmer-and-meat-eater.aspx

Greetings 4elise!!

I subscribe to the largest world wide natural health free website in the world;Dr.Mercola in the above link warns about the real health issue dangers of some people who do away totally from eating meat.He deals with the "wide eyed dreamers "who think that by not eating meat that they will somehow change the worst of the factory farming practises.He does not think it will make any difference at all.Dr.Mercola suggests that we ,the meat eating public ,should buy our meat/eggs directly from small farmers who are practising good sustainable farming.

It is just a lot of poopy cock to suggest that eating meat is hedonistic—Christ made all food clean–who are we to judge otherwise.Logic would point out that Dr.Mercola’s health approach to eating meat is a hollistic one and vegans would do well to consider the neglect to ones’ health that they might be putting themselves in.He was a like you 4elise, but his own personal experience in the natural health field put an end to his vegan ways.So I would ask you to consider Dr.Mercola’s professional views before you continue to make “followers” whose health you may unwittingly harm in your zeal to follow the “vegan way”.Chow!

 

[Lethe]

I think there are some very good points on here.

The main reason to eat meat is pleasure from eating it: meat eaters have time and time again argued to me about my diet, but the point is that the arguments are usually only their defence for eating meat, not their reason. The reason is the taste.

This is, of course, not applicable to people with health problems or allergies etc which would make a veggie diet very difficult/impossible.

 

[Glorthac]

John 21:1-14:

After this, Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth, and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No.

He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. They cast therefore; and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship, (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. **As soon then as they came to land, they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught. **

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: Come, and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

It’s OK for you to be a vegetarian, but you shouldn’t say it’s immoral to eat meat.

 

[karoleck]

I think there are some very good points on here.

The main reason to eat meat is pleasure from eating it: meat eaters have time and time again argued to me about my diet, but the point is that the arguments are usually only their defence for eating meat, not their reason. The reason is the taste.

This is, of course, not applicable to people with health problems or allergies etc which would make a veggie diet very difficult/impossible.

Glorthac has given out a good Bible based understanding on what Jesus taught regarding meat;I do not wish to go into all the moral reasons why eating the meat of animals is justified,as my views are already stated in another thread.

Even if I accept that eating meat can be a good taste sensation–so what if it is.This fact of itself can be a means of praising The God of Creation who found that the world and all it’s creatures were GOOD.

From my childhood experience,my mother had other reasons for feeding me meat(and not grass!) as I needed meat,fish,eggs & dairy products(as well as cerials,fruit &vegetables–which kids usually are not keen on as a rule) to make me grow “big & strong”.I remember “having to eat” liver,kidneys(which I loved but most of my siblings did not) HOWEVER we “had” to eat it; as it was good for us!! My Chiropractor,also a registered Nursing Graduate,recently gave a series of lectures which I attended;she urged mothers to "hide’ liver in the meals to children;such as adding small quantities to meat rissoles,soups etc.

I for one eat meat;not only because it is necessary to sustain my life;but I also cook it in a way that it pleases my taste buds.I cannot see how this approach could be called Hedonistic.

Bless us,O Lord,and these THY gifts(meat,fish,eggs & dairy products included) which we are about to eat.Amen.

 

[white_sheep]

Vegetarianism is satanic.

 

[Glorthac]

Vegetarianism is satanic.

Don’t be a putz. St. John Chrysostom was a vegetarian.

 

[white_sheep]

Oh, so modern vegetarianism has its roots in ancient ascetic lifestyles then? Hmmm, a true life of penance? No, not at all. Look at all the proponents of vegetarianism in modernity. Who are they? What do they preach? It has nothing to do with self denial or leading an austere life.