It takes a good heart to see the beauty in all creatures, and appreciate what they teach us (even the Arizona diamondback that I encountered on a trail last month, I simply walked way around it — it taught me boundaries and respect). As for consuming any creature, I believe they would willingly give their lives to sustain noble human causes. It is justified (commanded?) by God, but God also taught us to give thanks. Gratitude for their lives and their deaths (for our sustenance) is key, I think.
I once raised a pig as a “pet”, but then discovered it was too big, and required too many resources to sustain as a pet. We butchered it, and ate it. It was the best damn bacon I’ve ever had, and I was so grateful for every bite…and I still love that pig for the bond that we had. So weird, right? But that scenario is so much less weird to me than mindlessly stuffing our faces with Big Macs, washing them down with Diet Cokes and going about our way without even a thought as to what we just ate (which in THAT case is probably a mixture of multiple factory farmed cows and their parts and only God knows what else — so gross).
Gratitude and thoughtfulness for what we eat…that is key. The native Americans were great examples of this. But for God’s sake, if we know that meat protein is good for our brains (and we know it is), then consume it, enjoy it, give thanks for it, and go use that brain power to better the world and fight the damn commies, because if the commies win, we’ll be eating soy and whatever food paste they determine we’re allowed to eat!
It takes a good heart to see the beauty in all creatures, and appreciate what they teach us (even the Arizona diamondback that I encountered on a trail last month, I simply walked way around it — it taught me boundaries and respect). As for consuming any creature, I believe they would willingly give their lives to sustain noble human causes. It is justified (commanded?) by God, but God also taught us to give thanks. Gratitude for their lives and their deaths (for our sustenance) is key, I think.
I once raised a pig as a “pet”, but then discovered it was too big, and required too many resources to sustain as a pet. We butchered it, and ate it. It was the best damn bacon I’ve ever had, and I was so grateful for every bite…and I still love that pig for the bond that we had. So weird, right? But that scenario is so much less weird to me than mindlessly stuffing our faces with Big Macs, washing them down with Diet Cokes and going about our way without even a thought as to what we just ate (which in THAT case is probably a mixture of multiple factory farmed cows and their parts and only God knows what else — so gross).
Gratitude and thoughtfulness for what we eat…that is key. The native Americans were great examples of this. But for God’s sake, if we know that meat protein is good for our brains (and we know it is), then consume it, enjoy it, give thanks for it, and go use that brain power to better the world and fight the damn commies, because if the commies win, we’ll be eating soy and whatever food paste they determine we’re allowed to eat!