December 25, 2009, Newsletter Issue #288: Religion and Meat-Eating...and Sarah Palin

Tip of the Week

In Sarah Palin's recent book "Going Rogue," she writes:


"If any vegans came over for dinner, I could whip them up a salad, then explain my philosophy on being a carnivore...If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?...I love meat...I eat pork chops, thick bacon burgers, and the seared fatty edges of a medium-well-done steak. But I especially love moose and caribou. I always remind people from outside our state that there's plenty of room for all Alaska's animals -- right next to the mashed potatoes." 


If former governor and presidential candidate Palin wants to bring God into the discussion, I think it's important to take a look at "the good book," which says in Genesis 1:29: "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." 


In my LifeTips book I addressed this "touchy" subject. I discovered there is a growing movement of Christian vegetarians (and, of course, other groups like Seventh Day Adventists, Buddhists, and Hindus) who abstain from meat-eating for religious reasons. For example, Rev. George Malkmus created an entire diet based on Genesis 1:29 and now runs a Christian wellness center based on it called Hallelujah Acres.


According to the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV), there are many reasons why vegetarianism is in sync with the principles of most religions:


1. Most religions teach compassion


2. Most religions honor the body as a temple


3. Most religions advocate community service


4. Most religions strive to honor nature


5. Most religions promote peace and stability


I'd be curious to know if Sarah Palin thinks her current diet honors her Christianity in these ways.

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