it is not necessary to be part of the violence of killing animals. vegetarianism and veganism are healthy options and one can feel at peace knowing one has not contributed to the suffering of innocent creatures. i am eternally grateful that Jesus' sacrifice put an end to ritual sacrifice. i would rather spread his love and peace in the world by treating all creatures with respect.

I grew up on a small farm and learned early in life where our food comes from. There is no "nice" way to put it. And I think you are right, I believe, God has made it so for a purpose. You said:

The violence of eating meat evokes not only the violence that filled the earth before the Flood but also the violence that continues to this day: a persistent passion to hurt and destroy rather than to love one another.

I see that persistence toward violence in my two youngest children already (they are girls age 3 and 5). Just last night I was praying for a way to open their eyes to the power of the Cross during this Easter season. How poignant, and perfect, is the imagery of our very food and how it comes to us.

Yes, farm life certainly can open one's eyes to the violence involved in eating meat--especially given the mass agriculture practices used these days. I live in a chicken farming area of the US, and, when I first married, my husband grew his last few flocks of chickens in our three houses before we quit. Back then, that was around 50,000 birds. Nowadays, chicken houses hold way more. If you've never been in an industrial chicken house, you probably can't imagine what it's like. Chicken houses are foul smelly scary places, the birds so packed in that they too become violent. At the least sound, they peck wildly at you and one another. If one of them is sick, the others peck it to death. My job, as a newlywed utterly unacquainted with farm living and soon pregnant and morning sick, was to gather up dead chickens daily and dispose of them. There usually around a dozen or so. And that's not even the worst of it, according to people I know who work in the slaughtering and processing end of the chicken business. I couldn't eat chicken for a long time after we got out.

The recent expose of mistreatment of downer cattle that led to the big recall of beef was also illustrative of the violence involved in eating meat. I thought it strange that people were so outraged about the inhumaneness of those cows' slaughter, though, when few pay much attention to the violence involved in every single piece of meat we eat and even every egg and every glass of milk. There is no way to make the killing or mass imprisonment of another creature into a nonviolent, nonheinous act.

That said, I continue to eat meat. I wish I could motivate myself to be as consequential as Gail and become a vegetarian. Perhaps someday I will. Until then, I feel doubly called to at least consider the violence I cause in choosing to eat other creatures and learn what may be learned from it. After the flood, God gave us meat for food. What can that mean?

We Americans probably can't comprehend ideas like violence and death because we're largely shielded from seeing these things firsthand. When we do see them on TV or the big screen, we likely develop Hollywoodized views of violence and death--essentially, that they don't feel real (despite cerebrally knowing these are true events that happen everyday).

As a young reporter, I used to cover traffic collisions. Even standing there, it was hard to believe the mangled car was real, as was the blood from the driver's injuries. There's a feeling that, even in real life, such shocking sights must be "staged." Even when I had an car accident myself some years ago, it felt surreal--if I didn't have the evidence of a smashed bumper the next day, I probably would have been convinced I'd seen the whole thing on TV rather than experienced it myself.

Similarly, The Passion movie initially left me stunned, but I couldn't hold on to the shock. I had to keep telling myself, "This is what Jesus suffered for me," even as those violent images seemed unreal in my mind.

I'm on a "TV fast" for Lent, and it's amazing how much more sensitive I am to ideas, especially your words today. Thanks for a compelling illustration, and some deep stuff to contemplate.

I am so grateful for this article. There are so many things we routinely do mindlessly. We all do them. Eating is one of the more obvious metaphors for spiritual life. The method by which we obtain our food is very sanitized in our culture, but we have witnessed the effects. Although the Spirit does not bring everyone to exactly the same convictions, I hope that He reveals Truths to our heart through this article's acknowledgment. Thank you for having the courage and humility to write this.

I want my children to have respect for life, and an understanding of where meat comes from. From an early age they have been told what animal the meat they eat comes from.

We have gone a step further recently. When we eat meat we have a 'moment's silence' for the animal we are about to eat, and then we say something like, "Thank you for the cow that died that we can have meat." We have meat about twice a week.

Interestingly the first time we did this the meat was lamb. We held hands and I said 'Thank you for the lamb.' My husband repeated it and so did our 3 and 5 year old children. It became a profound spiritual moment, as my husband and I were both reminded of the other Lamb - Jesus who died that we might live.

Actually, it was God Himself who killed the first animal, covering Adam and Eve's nakedness with coats of "skins". Where did the skins come from? Apparently the animal that God killed. The sin of Adam required death, but instead of killing him for his transgression, God lovingly chose to kill an animal instead.

That is probably why Abel's sacrifice was accepted and Cain's was not, Abel's included blood. From that point, God required the sacrifice of an animal to push back the sin.

It was God who gave the instructions for the lineage of Aaron to become the priests who would perform this rite in the tabernacle, not just humankind, instructing them what they could eat of it and what He would disallow.

And then God robed Himself in flesh to become the fulfillment of that practice, the Lamb of God, the Ulimate Sacrifice for our sins. Yes, it is violent, but it is for a purpose.

Whether we eat meat or not, we still need His blood applied to our lives. This week is a wonderful commemoration of what God did for us 2000 years ago.

I am a bit suprised to see an editorial on this subject written by a Christian. Not judging, just suprised.
The first thing that comes to mind is 1 Timothy 4 that speaks of people from "latter times" being persuaded by doctrines of evil, etc. that "3) [forbid] to marry, and [comand] to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5)For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
This article also seems to send a mixed message; is it meant to remind us of Christ's sacrifice or persuad us to not eat animals? Not sure. The language is similar to that of an "activist". I am not to familier with publications from this site, but hope the rest are voiced with a different tone.

I agree with Mariah. The comments lead me to think we should all give up meat. Then I wonder what would become of all the animals as they continue to multiply. Would we be like in India where the cows run free and the people starve to death. It seems as though all things were created for a purpose. I agree it is good to be aware of the sacrafice of the animal for our benefit and to keep our consumtion to a reasonable amount. A balance in all things is good. Great subject for thought.
Rinday

I agree with some of the comments in these posts, and I disagree with some.
There is a much bigger issue when it comes to violence, and we are not doing much about it.

There was an article in The Houston Chronicle last Saturday, March 29, 2008, titled “Gay teen’s slaying prompts calls for action at schoolsâ€. To be honest, in the past I may have glanced at it, and moved right on without pausing too much to assess my feelings. This article is one of many reports about students killing students. Naturally, I would have thought how terrible and senseless the tragedy was, been angry at the perpetrators, and I’d pray for the victim’s family. Often, I’d discuss it with others and we’d bemoan the fact that our country is morally declining. We may bring up a few more examples of past acts of violence at high schools in our city, or Columbine, or Virginia Tech. Then the discussion would end with a sigh, and we’d move on. This is a huge problem! It does not “shock†us anymore. Brutal acts of violence flood our news reports. As a nation, we have become desensitized to the horrendous savagery occurring right on American soil. It wasn’t that long ago that reports of children committing homicide were quite rare.
It is horrifying that a boy, Larry King, was killed for his sexual preference! It is horrifying when any human life is taken away. We have character education in our public schools, including the topic of discrimination. The problem is that our “schools†are not alone in teaching our youth. The Church is not alone in teaching our youth. It is time to look through some other lenses, and broaden our focus.
If this is not addressed the death toll will continue to rise. Why aren't we taking, "Thou shalt not murder" seriously?
America’s youth are bullied and harassed regularly. The targets include anyone who is not like the majority (in appearance, religion, values, athletic abilities, I.Q., wealth, etc.). Students have endured emotional abuse at school from the very beginning (most of us know from experience). A black eye or a bloody nose was about the worst physical abuse seen. We’d run home, cry, get some ice, receive some self defense lessons, put our shoulders back, and return to school. Today, our children don’t make it home to get ice packs or hugs. They are whisked away in an ambulance, and possibly end up in a hearse.
America, when will we see?
My fellow Christians, when will we make some noise?
Larry’s name has now been added to a growing list of students who have been killed by a classmate. This disgusting trend must stir us up! May he not be forgotten, and become just another statistic.
There is something we can do to begin turning the tide. It will take a group effort. Some of you are already proactive, but we must increase our numbers.
Detestable human conduct is commonplace, and we often don’t bat an eye. Are humans considered disposable and insignificant? Our misguided children believe so, at least subconsciously. The hurdle we have to jump in order to raise godly young men and women is becoming taller and taller.
If you are reading this post, and are ready and willing to stand with me I will continue with my proposal. Otherwise, my focus needs to be elsewhere.
Lauren

Thank you for the message which provokes a lot of thought. We still don't understand the subtleties of the teachings of Jesus. And we interpret them as it suits us. Thanks for the reminder. Aboriginals were closer to the truth when they took only what they needed and offered thanks as they took. They respected God's gifts and abundance without abuse (so they tell us). As someone mentioned above, it's in moderation that we must live otherwise it becomes greed and cruelty.

I think we become desensitised to violence by constant exposure to it, and our ancient texts like the Bible can be used to justify it- which I don't believe they are meant to. I think we have evolved to eat meat, not daily but in the pattern of our ancestors- for me that is twice monthly or I get anaemia. The rest of the time it's healthy to eat fruit, pulses, nuts, roots and grains. Same with milk- we can get sick by over-exposure to something which we weren't evolved to digest. I don't know if vegetarianism is related to non-violence: I think violence is caused by values of entitlement, greed, poor impulse control, lack of responsibility and immaturity. In the worst cases it is enjoyment of an act of cruelty. But whatever I think we need to express thanks daily, and to be humble and grateful for all we have, to squander nothing and miss no opportunity to do good.

I'm with you entirely, Tracy!

"That said, I continue to eat meat. I wish I could motivate myself to be as consequential as Gail and become a vegetarian. Perhaps someday I will. Until then, I feel doubly called to at least consider the violence I cause in choosing to eat other creatures and learn what may be learned from it. After the flood, God gave us meat for food. What can that mean?"

With the greatest of respect, this is the problem I have with Christianity... it forms a moral net preventing us from having to take responsibility.

Believe in Jesus and pray to Him for salvation, by all means. But it's just a bit too convenient to rely on wistful conjecture "what can that mean" to avoid the action of taking responsibility and continuing in a cruelty which is all too apparent. Why should you be forgiven when you apprehend how wrong and cruel your behaviour is? If you should be forgiven, then why should any other person who is knowingly concerned in the infliction of suffering on others be forgiven?

Believe in Jesus, by all means, but if you want him to believe in you, then show him the respect of making an effort to act on the gift of knowledge and wisdom that you have been given. Like a trapeze artist who performs with integrity disregarding the net below, act as if He will not save you... so that you may just exert the discipline to save others.