Bible passage

May 13, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for a little help. (I admit that I know very, very little

about the bible.) I have a friend who likes to quote the bible as a

reason for eating meat. While I can find answers to most of the

passages that she refers to, she recently sent me an email with just

one line referring to

Deuteronomy 14:4.

I looked the passage up and see that it refers to Clean vs. Unclean

animals and which ones people are allowed to eat.

Do any of you know the context of this passage?

I have found so many excellent websites that explain certain passages,

but I really don't know about this one.

I realize that it seems futile to try to argue points with someone, but

we do it good naturedly. Sometimes she can be very annoying though.

Thanks!

May 13, 2008

Good Question: Vegetarians in Paradise

Based on Isaiah 11:6-7 and 65:25, will we be vegetarians in the new heaven and

earth as Adam and Eve were before the Fall?

Answered by Bill T. Arnold| posted 10/01/2004 12:00AM

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The reference to Adam and Eve invites us to start with the book of Genesis.

God allowed Adam and Eve to eat plants and herbs, a privilege he granted also to

the animals (Gen. 1:29-30). And humans and animals enjoyed a peaceful and

friendly relationship in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:19-20).

It

was only after the Flood that permission was granted to eat animal

flesh, and only then under the condition that the blood was drained out

of the meat (Gen. 9:3-4).

We may take this as indication that meat-eating was not ideal, although

God certainly blessed the eating of meat in other times and places (Lev.

6:24-29Acts 10:9-16).

The

Bible's description of the new earth and new heaven uses categories

that hark back to the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life will bear 12

different types of fruit year-round, one for each month, and its leaves

will heal the nations (Rev. 22:2).

There will be no need for temple or sacrifices, sun or moon, because

God's presence will provide all that is needed. The Bible ends as it

began, with a luscious garden in which God rules supreme and his people

enjoy him forever.

A vegetarian diet appears to be the ideal

before the fall of Adam and Eve, and our lives in the New Jerusalem

will reflect that paradise in many ways. How do Isaiah 11 and 65 fit

in? They identify the new world order established by a king from the

line of David (11:1-5). This new order will be one of peace and tranquility.

Since it also brings peace to predator and prey (11:6-9), perhaps this means we

will not eat meat in the fulfilled kingdom.

On

the other hand, Isaiah's portrait of the messianic age is making a

different point. The prophet is stating that when the Messiah's reign

fully arrives, peace will permeate everything; there will be no room

for destruction or death. In this light, the Isaiah passages are not

necessarily implying anything specific about our dietary practices in

the age to come.

Also, before asking whether we will be eating

meat in the new heaven and the new earth, we might ask: Is it certain

we will be eating anything at all? Even though the risen, glorified

Jesus ate this world's fish, to this question we must answer: Who

knows?

We should remember that when the Bible describes our

blissful existence in the age of the new earth, it consistently uses

metaphorical language; indeed, it must because the next life can only

be seen through a glass darkly, even for the inspired authors (1 Cor. 13:12).

So most descriptions of streets of gold and pearly gates are metaphors

for a life that is beyond our abilities to comprehend.

Through

such figurative language, the Bible teaches that our life in eternity

will be one of peaceful (re)union with God, where we will enjoy him

forever. Not all the language of the coming age is figurative, however,

and the Bible also speaks of existence in heaven in very physical ways.

Heaven is not some sort of shadowy, disembodied existence.

Rather,

it is the transformation of life as we know it today; a genuinely

renewed creation, in which our resurrected bodies and this renewed

earth enjoy peace and bliss eternally. The great Creator of heaven and

earth will not abandon his material creation but transform it.

Jerry L. Walls, in his Heaven: The Logic of Eternal Joy (Oxford University

Press, 2002), suggests that everyday, joyful

experiences are a reflection of our longing for God. A beautiful

sunset—and, yes, perhaps a well-seasoned salad—are glimpses of our

blissful enjoyment of him forever. As far as we know, the pleasures of

this life are not obliterated by union with, and enjoyment of, God in

heaven. Rather, it seems likely that all such pleasurable experiences

are enjoyed in heaven in a holy way that acknowledges God as their

source.

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jillben2008 <jillben2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:21:44 PM

Bible passage

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for a little help. (I admit that I know very, very little

about the bible.) I have a friend who likes to quote the bible as a

reason for eating meat. While I can find answers to most of the

passages that she refers to, she recently sent me an email with just

one line referring to

Deuteronomy 14:4.

I looked the passage up and see that it refers to Clean vs. Unclean

animals and which ones people are allowed to eat.

Do any of you know the context of this passage?

I have found so many excellent websites that explain certain passages,

but I really don't know about this one.

I realize that it seems futile to try to argue points with someone, but

we do it good naturedly. Sometimes she can be very annoying though.

Thanks!

May 13, 2008

God apparently allowed eating animal flesh after the Flood, due to the

scarcity of plant life. This was NOT the ideal diet he intended for us,

as outlined in Genesis 1:29--it was an EXCEPTION,in special

circumstances.

Hallelujah Acres (www.hacres.com) and the Christian Vegetarian

Association (http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/)have better explanations

on their websites. HTH! Marilyn

May 13, 2008

I am not very well versed in Bible/Quran/Vedas myself. Also, the religious

discussion always turns controversial.

However, something on these lines came up when we were in college and one of the

students said it well:

None of the religious writings mention about let's say *penguins*. The writings

mostly talk about animals based on

habitat and condition during that time. On a broader level, although most things

make perfect sense in this age and time,

some dont!!! That's simply the way it is. Fortunately, with availability and

accessibility to variety of vegetarian food, we can make a choice to

be vegetarians. There is no reason to quote Bible or other scriptures to justify

eating animals =).

jillben2008 <jillben2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:21:44 PM

Bible passage

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for a little help. (I admit that I know very, very little

about the bible.) I have a friend who likes to quote the bible as a

reason for eating meat. While I can find answers to most of the

passages that she refers to, she recently sent me an email with just

one line referring to

Deuteronomy 14:4.

I looked the passage up and see that it refers to Clean vs. Unclean

animals and which ones people are allowed to eat.

Do any of you know the context of this passage?

I have found so many excellent websites that explain certain passages,

but I really don't know about this one.

I realize that it seems futile to try to argue points with someone, but

we do it good naturedly. Sometimes she can be very annoying though.

Thanks!

May 13, 2008

I actually do believe that the Bible condones eating meat.

Here's a link that sums up my thoughts

http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=167

However, the Bible does not say we have to eat meat, nor does it condone

cruelty. If

anyone says " God wants you to eat meat " , there is nothing

in the Bible making it a requirement.

I personally quit eating meat because animals are horribly

treated on factory farms, as well as the health implications

from meat overconsumption, and illnesses spread through

meat. The Bible doesn't touch on those issues, since factory

farms didn't exist when the Bible was written. Shepherds and goatherds

weren't raising animals by the thousands, every animal was important.

There is a parable about a shepherd leaving 99 sheep to find one lost sheep

(describing how God is searching everyone), which shepherds could relate to at

that time. They had an incentive to

treat their animals humanely.

There is a verse in Proverbs about wisdom in treating animals kindly. I don't

think

God condones the way animals are treated today.

If you have any more questions about scripture verses, I'm free to

chat more.

Hope this helps. I have heard many people say that the Bible says " Thou

shalt not kill " , but Jesus (who was sinless) ate fish, fed people fish, the Jews

ate Lamb at Passover, and

God commanded animal sacrifices until Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our

sins.

Thou shalt not kill refers to humans killing each other (though there is more

scripture about wars, the death penalty, etc).

jillben2008 <jillben2008 wrote: Hi

Everyone,

Just looking for a little help. (I admit that I know very, very little

about the bible.) I have a friend who likes to quote the bible as a

reason for eating meat. While I can find answers to most of the

passages that she refers to, she recently sent me an email with just

one line referring to

Deuteronomy 14:4.

I looked the passage up and see that it refers to Clean vs. Unclean

animals and which ones people are allowed to eat.

Do any of you know the context of this passage?

I have found so many excellent websites that explain certain passages,

but I really don't know about this one.

I realize that it seems futile to try to argue points with someone, but

we do it good naturedly. Sometimes she can be very annoying though.

Thanks!

May 13, 2008

There is a wonderful video called A Sacred Duty that explains environmentalism

and vegetarianism from a biblical perspective. I am certain that you will get

great ideas from this.

Remember, the bible also has a prohibition on wearing cotton and linen at the

same time; the bible was used to justify the Inquisition (I could go on, but

this is sufficient).

jillben2008 <jillben2008 wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for a little help. (I admit that I know very, very little

about the bible.) I have a friend who likes to quote the bible as a

reason for eating meat. While I can find answers to most of the

passages that she refers to, she recently sent me an email with just

one line referring to

Deuteronomy 14:4.

I looked the passage up and see that it refers to Clean vs. Unclean

animals and which ones people are allowed to eat.

Do any of you know the context of this passage?

I have found so many excellent websites that explain certain passages,

but I really don't know about this one.

I realize that it seems futile to try to argue points with someone, but

we do it good naturedly. Sometimes she can be very annoying though.

Thanks!

May 13, 2008

it seems to me a slippery slope if one is going to take the bible at its

word (haha!), especially the old testament. shall we start stoning people

as well? is a bat really a bird? and so forth. it's very sad when one

looks to none other than a religious reference to justify something they

probably know isn't good or right for them. sounds to me like your friend

has some serious issues of self-doubt. ignore it and allow her to come to

the truth in her own time. take the high road.

chandelle

May 14, 2008

The Bible also forbids charging/earning interest and requires killing children

that hit or curse their parents.

May 14, 2008

i can sympathize with you in this situation with your friend. my

mother is constantly using the bible to condemn my family's vegan

lifestyle, while i am using it to defend being vegan back to her.

i think this website is very helpful.

http://www.thenazareneway.com/index_vegetarian.htm

i agree with the person who mentioned the sticker " what would jesus

eat...today. "

whether or not jesus intended for people to eat meat, i do not think

it was his intention for animals to be treated like machines and

killed so systematically like in the slaughterhouses of today. the

bible does advocate caring for animals that were to be killed. jesus

taught compassion for the smallest animal. so i try to encourage my

mother to really look where her food comes from. however, she is in

denial about slaughterhouses and even whenen i present her with facts

about slaughterhouses, she doesn't believe it. she says that " may go

on in one or two places, but not all of them are like that. "

it is a constant struggle to defend something you feel so strongly

about to someone who is using religion to come against you.

when i show my mother websites of christians who are opposed to

eating meat she is amazed. i've found that for her and i to be able

to communicate about veganism i have to show her that there are

people out there who have her same basis of christian beliefs, but

who can " think out of the box " . it's about opening her eyes to a new

way of living that still fits in with what she has always believed.

allison

May 14, 2008

My mother is similar- in denial. She doesn't quote the bible, as she is not

that religious (church on holidays). But when I do defend my choices with

factual and shocking stats and info, she cuts me off and says she doesn't want

to hear it.

The fact that she eats not only animal products but also tons of processed

foods, and is constantly battling bladder infections and other female organ

issues makes me want to " wring her neck " ! J/K

Cassie

oh_my_deer <oh_my_deer wrote: i can

sympathize with you in this situation with your friend. my