"If people could stop arguing about who or what created our earth and spent more time focusing on taking care of it, we would all be living better lives in harmony with all beings."
- Paraphrased from an unknown author

Religion is a very important and often controversial subject to many people. Whether we choose to follow an organized religion, seek our own spirituality, or self-associate as agnostic or atheist, our belief systems are strongly tied in with our ethics and our subsequent actions. But what does religion have to do with a vegan lifestyle?

This page is dedicated to examining how the major world religions view the use of animals by humans and to some degree what our optimal diet would consist of. Many people following these faiths claim that the scriptures and values defining their beliefs support the idea that animals don't have souls, that humans have dominion over animals, and they we should be eating and otherwise using animals for our benefit.

However, a few crazy vegans have done a little bit of research about what the teachings of these religions actually say. Below is a list of some of the world religions and how their teachings would relate to the idea of kindness and compassionate living towards animals.

Christianity - Islam - Buddhism - Hinduism - Judaism - Jainism

Christianity
Christianity is the world's largest religion, with approximately 31% of the population (2.2 billion people) subscribing to one of the several denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, etc.). People practicing this faith follow one or more versions the Holy Bible, i.e., King James version.

Many followers of Christianity justify the acts of eating or using animals based on a verse, "and God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." The Hebrew word for "dominion' meat caretaker and guardian. This means that the bible is actually referring to humans as the guardians and stewards of the animal kingdom. Since we have the technology and ability to dominate virtually every species of animal on this earth, it is, therefore, our duty to extend the utmost care and oversight to all other beings.

Additionally, a few other verses in the scripture refer to how we should treat animals and what we should be eating. For example:

Islam
Islam is the world's second largest religion, followed by approximately 1.6 billion people, or 23% of the population. The Holy Quran is the scripture of this faith with Allah as their figure of God. Islam is a religion of peace, kindness, and compassion to all living creatures, including animals.

Islam supports equality between humans and animals, and frequently highlight their rights to have a peaceful life. The Quran states ”Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also? ” He [Allah] said, ”A reward is given in connection with every living creature .” Islam also shuns the idea of killing animals for sport: “Who has done this? Allah has cursed him who does this. Verily Allah’s Messenger invoked a curse upon one who made a live thing the target (of one’s marksmanship)”.

While the Quran, unfortunately, refers to meat as a source of food, an emphasis is placed on fruits and vegetables, and there are strict guidelines as to how to treat and slaughter animals with the least harm possible.

Regarding eating lawfully and wholesomely, the Quran 2:168 states: “O mankind, eat from the earth what is halal (lawful) and tayyib (good/wholesome)…”

The Quran mentions that animals must be raised humanely and wholesomely, receive food and water before slaughter, be free of stress, abuse or mistreatment and that they should not witness another animal being killed. This is a far cry from how the majority of animal farms operate these days, even those who label their products as “halal.” The Quran would, therefore, disallow the consumption of virtually all meat currently available on the open market.

The Prophet Mohammed taught that animals should be treated with the utmost mercy, compassion, and kindness. So there seems to be a major difference between Islam’s views on love for the animal and the unethical conditions that billions of farm animals experience every day.

The Quran 6:151 says, “and do not kill a soul that God has made sacrosanct, save lawfully,” and 5:53 says, “… Whoso kills a soul unless it is for murder or for wreaking corruption in the land, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and he who saves a life, it shall be as if he had given life to all mankind.” These verses are similar to the bible's "Thou shall not kill," and since it doesn't specify that it only refers to humans, we can deduce that animals should not be killed as well.

The Prophet Mohammed is also quoted in several Hadith scriptures on the importance of compassion towards animals: “A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being”, “He who takes pity [even] on a sparrow and spares its life, Allah will be merciful on him on the Day of Judgment”, and “Allah (God) will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." He also condemned the beating, striking, and branding of animals, and was known to speak out against those who abuse animals and praise those who showed them compassion.

Islam is also supportive of protecting the environment. For example the Quran 7:56 states: “Do not pollute the earth after it has been (so) wholesomely (set in order) ….” Since we know that animal agriculture wreaks havoc on the environment, it would again go against the religion to support this earth-destroying industry.

Consuming animals is not a religious obligation for Muslims, they are not rewarded for eating them, and Islam does not consider it a sin to refrain from consuming them. Based on the teachings of the Quran and Prophet Mohammed, a vegan lifestyle would be the most compatible way for a Muslim to love with respect to the animals and the environment.

Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion focused on spiritual development through the understanding of cause and effect to develop insight and wisdom, with approximately 535 million adherents.

There are 4 Noble Truths that Buddhism adheres to:
1. The truth of suffering
2. The truth of the cause of suffering
3. The truth of the end of suffering
4. The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering

The truth about animal farming and agriculture is that it cannot be done without some form of suffering. Whether it is simple confinement of space or any of the other horrendous practices involved with creating animal products, animal farms are the cause of suffering for the unwilling participants.

The truth of the end of suffering is for the factory farms not to exist in the first place so the animals can be free and live in harmony. The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering is for everyone to live as vegans. Especially Buddhists, but if we all adopted these 4 Noble Truths the world would be a kinder, gentler and more loving place for all beings to live.

The Five Precepts: (pañca-sila)
1. I observe, refraining from harming or killing any living beings.
2. I observe, refraining from taking what the owner does not give freely.
3. I observe, refraining from committing, sexual misconduct.
4. I observe, refraining from telling lies.
5. I observe, refraining from taking intoxicating drinks and drugs.

Hinduism
Hinduism is considered a "way of life," or "dharma" with approximately 90 million followers originating primarily from South Asia and derived from the Vedic religion. The followers believe in Brahman as their "God" or world soul and adhere to Nine Beliefs of Hinduism, two of which are directly aligned with a vegan lifestyle:

Belief #4: Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words, and deeds.

To believe in karma is to hold the faith that "what goes around comes around," or that whatever we put out is returned to us in an accordingly positive or negative way. To participate in cruelty to animals by eating, wearing, or otherwise using them, one would be sending negative vibrations to the universe. For a believer in karma, taking any of these actions would mean that some bad news is on the way.

Belief #8: Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, non-injury, in thought, word and deed.

Need we say more? If all life is sacred and to be loved, then surely anyone who considers themselves a Hindu would be in breach of this covenant by supporting animal agriculture. Even thinking about a hamburger would be a violation of this belief, so a vegan lifestyle would be the most obvious choice for any Hindu to stay authentic.

Judaism
Judaism is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion with an estimated 14-17 million Jews worldwide following the scripture is known as the Torah.

The basic Jewish teachings are to protect our health, act with kindness and compassion to animals, protect the environment, and seek and pursue peace. These values all fall perfectly in line with a vegan lifestyle.

The Torah repeatedly guides people to show kindness and compassion for the comfort and well-being of animals. For example in Genesis 1:29, in the very first conversation with Adam and Eve, God tells them that plant foods are theirs to eat. The Torah also describes meat eating as deriving from human lust rather than from the divine will in both Numbers 11:34 and Deuteronomy 12:20. Animals are even afforded a day of rest on the Sabbath as mentioned in Exodus 20:9. The several verses in the Torah related to the treatment of animals are referred to as tza’ar baalei chayim, the forbidding of causing animals to suffer.

The Jewish dietary guidelines, known as the "kashrut" or "kosher" laws are very important in Judaism. The principles of Kashrut include that people should be vegetarians (Genesis 1:29), and permission was later given for people to eat meat only as a concession to human weakness (Genesis 9:2-5). In Genesis 9:4 God also stated, "flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."

The Torah places a higher emphasis on vegan foods, as consuming flesh is often referred to with aversion and reference to lust (lack of control over one's appetite for meat). In the Song of Songs, the divine bounty is mentioned in terms of fruits, vegetables, grapes, and nuts.

According to the Shulchan Aruch (the authoritative, sixteenth-century codification of Jewish law), humans are disallowed from causing any discomfort to animals as well as tasked with liberating them from suffering.

Since 90 percent of kosher meat originates from factory farms who fail to follow the values of Judaism, those products would be considered non-kosher, as the animals are not treated in accordance with Jewish law.

Since there doesn't appear to be any conflict between Judaism and veganism, and it seems that the easiest way to ensure a kosher life is to adopt a vegan lifestyle. It only makes sense that followers of this faith would adhere to the teachings and follow a life of kindness and compassion to animals and the earth.

Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, the revered founder of America’s Modern Orthodox movement, wrote, “There is a distinct reluctance, almost an unwillingness on the part of Torah, to grant man the privilege to consume meat.”

Commentary by Rockstar Rabbis:

The Rambam, famous medieval physician, rabbi, states in Guide for the Perplexed that the human subjugation of the animal world is descriptive, but not prescriptive (we are not supposed to subjugate animals just because we can) and that animals have their own purpose and have been created for their own sake. He also argues that there is no difference between the love that a human mother feels for her child and the love that an animal mother feels for her young.

Rabbi Soloveitchik, the founder of Modern Orthodoxy, taught people that humans are made for “majesty and humility” meaning that we have human limitations in a world that God created and controls, but can still use our capacities and responsibilities as we see fit.

Jainism
Jainism is a nontheistic religion originating from India with approximately 4.2 million followers teaching liberation and spiritual purity through the Sanskrit term "ahimsa," which means harmlessness, non-violence or non-injury.

Lacto-vegetarianism is mandatory in Jainism. As more Jains become aware of the cruelty associated with dairy, more are awakening to veganism. The path to liberation and spiritual growth excludes the participation in the unjust use and killing of animals.

Conclusion
Regardless of our beliefs or religion, we can all learn valuable lessons from all of these teachings. The common theme of love, kindness, and compassion reigns throughout all of these ways of life and can lead us towards a peaceful and loving world if we all took a few notes.