Vegetarianism per se is not a topic the Bible addresses, but when you look at incidences of meat-eating in the scriptures, you notice funny things. Take Genesis 1-11, the Bible's history of creation and our eponymous ancestors. In Genesis 1 God authorizes human beings and animals to eat plants. After the flood, Noah offers a burnt offering to the Lord, and the smell of meat on the grill pleases the Lord. So, God permits meat-eating, but forbids eating rare meat, since the life of all living creatures is in its blood, and to consume blood would be to dishonor life. Even when taking life is permitted, one must do so in a way that honors life, a contradiction perhaps. Certainly it points to the, at best, ambiguous nature of killing.
Isaiah's vision of the eschaton contains vegetarian predators, the wolf and the lamb lying down together, and the lion grazing on straw like the ox. Paul affirms that the last enemy of all to be destroyed is death itself. Put these two together and there seems to be a vision of a transformed creation in which there is no predation. So the benefits of the resurrection and the kingdom coming extend everywhere in creation, even into the animal kingdom.
The Resurrected Jesus eating fish with his disciples seems to mitigate this, but I think that gesture is a concession to his frightened companions, to assure them that he's not a disembodied spirit, but a flesh and blood (albeit resurrected) creature.
So it seems like eating meat may not have been what God intended for us, and it won't be a part of the Kingdom that is to come, but what about here and now? Well, there are lots of aspects of our present creaturely existence that won't survive the Second Coming, but which we indulge in anyway. Marriage, for instance. Or the affairs of the State. How much of the Kingdom is Already and how much is Not Yet is a topic that's fiercely debated on many fronts, beginning at least with Paul's letters to the Corinthians, and one silly blog post about, of all things, vegetarianism, isn't going to settle it.
But it seems like we can say this: In the present age one cannot dismiss eating meat out of hand, but one good rationale for vegetarianism is as a sign of the kingdom to come. Vegetarianism, like a commitment to non-violence, or a vow of celibacy, may be an appropriate witness to the new heavens and new earth that God will one day create.
I don't think this is a silly blog post, as a matter of fact, I think it's down-right good. As I said over at Thinking Reed, John Wesley believed that the animals would be a part of the general resurrection, when all of creation will be renewed. I am inclined to agree. The question is how far do we live into our eschatology. Barth rejected vegetarianism because he said that it was "wanton anticipation" of the eschatological kingdom of God (a kind of impatience?). If that were true, pacifism might be too. I don't want to go that way, so I am inclined to agree with you.
Posted by: Jonathan Marlowe | 26 January 2007 at 10:07 AM
Guys... as an Animal Science graduate and former ANSI 101 assistant instructor at Oklahoma State University... and as a son of a large-animal practice D.M.V - well...you're not about to lose me as an avid reader, but I am thinking seriously about dropping you both off my ribs-n-burgers grill-out invitation list.
Seriously though, I don't think there is an ambigous nature to killing animals. I really think that humans kill-it and eat-it quite simply as a mode of survival (part of this created universe). Maybe its outmoded and we can strive to move beyond basic instincts... but they remain "natural inclinations" just the same.
Everything dies. God puts each of us through quite a bit too I figure... but I don't find his "livin' me, then killing me" with a final lightning bolt or cancer has anything to do with his intent for my life up to then. I find God is OK with hunting, raising, killing and eating animals so long as we raise them with the honor due all of creation and allow them to live thier allotted lives in respectful and healthful environments. Every decent farmer knows a cow allowed to roam a beautiful pasture with plenty of space, food, shelter and yes, even companionship makes for the very best steaks. A happy cow is a healthy cow is great steak! (most of the time). This is why 4-H animals -even yellow ribbon ones - get purchased for premium prices most the time. And most of the yellows are not destined for breeding stock.
When the time comes to slaughter... kill 'em quick with the least amount of pain. I hope God has at least that same schedule for my life and for my end as well. I've never condoned killing an animal for cruel entertainment nor for letting one waste away and slowely die of starvation or disease. And I hope society won't make me linger and waste away slowly at my end any more than I'd do that to my dog or pig. Let me live with some self respect and good companionship in the time I've got and then let me finally die quick, expidite that final period of pain, hopeful that my life and maybe even my death have had a purpose.
I guess for me, that's just about as good as it gets.
I'll let you guys cover the purpose part.
Posted by: sky bison | 26 January 2007 at 06:41 PM
Re-read my own comment...day later... think I'm catching a hint of William Wallace/Mel from Braveheart in there?
"Every man dies, not every man really lives..."?
It might be time to leave that movie on the shelf for awhile...
Just a bit off the topic track... sorry.
...and I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear what Mel has to say about vegetarians.
Posted by: sky bison | 28 January 2007 at 01:43 AM