Vegetarianism in America
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The first domesticated species to become too expensive as a source of meat was the pig. The Old Testament tells us that the Israelites were enjoined against eating pork. I've always been amazed at the number of people who preach against eating pork. They believe that it's for health reasons, but in fact, the laws against eating pork have their roots in economics and in the use of religion and religious sanctions to control a community's eating behavior. Cultures imposed supernatural prohibitions on an animal species when its consumption as food threatened the survival of the communities' food supply. The taboo on eating pork came about after the once-forested lands had become dry and arid because they'd been cleared for farming. The pig needs moisture; without natural forage, pigs had to be fed grains.
Therefore, the pig became a direct competitor to human beings for the existing food supply of grains. As a result, pig-raising led to increased costs that posed a threat to the entire subsistence system in the hot, semi-arid lands of the ancient Middle East. By forbidding the consumption of pork on religious grounds, it was hoped that the production of pork would decrease. Perversely enough, however, the prohibition against raising pigs actually led to an increased cultivation of grains and other less costly protein sources substituting for the much-relished pigs. In about 2,000 B. C., the Egyptians put an end to this sort of escalation by identifying pigs with Set, the god of evil. As a result, Egyptians have never lost their prejudice against pork. The complete substructure of both government and religion, in short, was recruited to discourage the consumption of animal proteins. In India, Northerners became functional vegetarians, whereas the Hindu upper castes -- the most vociferous advocates of meatless diets -- dined with gusto on beef and other kinds of meat. Both Buddhism and Jainism pressed people to commune with the spiritual essence of the universe by means of contemplation rather than animal sacrifice.
Christianity condemns violence, war, and cruelty. In these systems, and others, the ritual sacrifice of animals by priests led to condemnation of these priests, in effect, relegating them to status equal to that of murderers. The Jainists condemned the killing of all animals, insisting on a pure vegetarian diet. The end of animal sacrifice occurred simultaneously with the growth of universal, spiritual religions. The political success of Buddhism caused the Hindus to borrow some of its sacraments, including its opposition to animal sacrifice that was premised on its doctrine that all of Life is Sacred.
The Brahmans, century-long animal eaters and animal sacrificers, gradually began to take it upon themselves, as a sacred duty, to prevent the slaughtering and eating of any domestic animals, especially cows and oxen. Read more at: http://www.byebyecarbs.com
The first domesticated species to become too expensive as a source of meat was the pig. The Old Testament tells us that the Israelites were enjoined against eating pork. I've always been amazed at the number of people who preach against eating pork. They believe that it's for health reasons, but in fact, the laws against eating pork have their roots in economics and in the use of religion and religious sanctions to control a community's eating behavior. Cultures imposed supernatural prohibitions on an animal species when its consumption as food threatened the survival of the communities' food supply. The taboo on eating pork came about after the once-forested lands had become dry and arid because they'd been cleared for farming. The pig needs moisture; without natural forage, pigs had to be fed grains.
Therefore, the pig became a direct competitor to human beings for the existing food supply of grains. As a result, pig-raising led to increased costs that posed a threat to the entire subsistence system in the hot, semi-arid lands of the ancient Middle East. By forbidding the consumption of pork on religious grounds, it was hoped that the production of pork would decrease. Perversely enough, however, the prohibition against raising pigs actually led to an increased cultivation of grains and other less costly protein sources substituting for the much-relished pigs. In about 2,000 B. C., the Egyptians put an end to this sort of escalation by identifying pigs with Set, the god of evil. As a result, Egyptians have never lost their prejudice against pork. The complete substructure of both government and religion, in short, was recruited to discourage the consumption of animal proteins. In India, Northerners became functional vegetarians, whereas the Hindu upper castes -- the most vociferous advocates of meatless diets -- dined with gusto on beef and other kinds of meat. Both Buddhism and Jainism pressed people to commune with the spiritual essence of the universe by means of contemplation rather than animal sacrifice.
Christianity condemns violence, war, and cruelty. In these systems, and others, the ritual sacrifice of animals by priests led to condemnation of these priests, in effect, relegating them to status equal to that of murderers. The Jainists condemned the killing of all animals, insisting on a pure vegetarian diet. The end of animal sacrifice occurred simultaneously with the growth of universal, spiritual religions. The political success of Buddhism caused the Hindus to borrow some of its sacraments, including its opposition to animal sacrifice that was premised on its doctrine that all of Life is Sacred.
The Brahmans, century-long animal eaters and animal sacrificers, gradually began to take it upon themselves, as a sacred duty, to prevent the slaughtering and eating of any domestic animals, especially cows and oxen. Read more at: http://www.byebyecarbs.com
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