Episode 60 God’s Paradise and Veganism

Welcome to Healthy Vegan Living!

Welcome to Faithful Living!

Today, we are exploring the differences between God's Paradise and Veganism.

You’ve got John and Gary.

Hey, I’m John, your biblical guide.

And I’m Gary, your vegan enthusiast.

Together we will explain the differences between the gospel and veganism. What does God's paradise have to do with Veganism?

God's paradise often depicts a state of harmony and peace without suffering or death. This concept is closely linked in several ways:

1. Original Diet: In the biblical narrative, particularly in Genesis, the original diet prescribed by God for humans was plant-based. Genesis 1:29 states, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree with fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." This suggests that in God's initial design, humans consumed a diet that did not involve killing or harming animals.

2. Restoration of Peace: The prophetic visions of a restored paradise, such as those found in Isaiah, describe a world where the lion will eat straw like the ox, and the wolf and the lamb will live together in peace (Isaiah 11:6-9). This imagery of a peaceful coexistence without predation reflects the principles of veganism, where harm to other living beings is minimized

3. Spiritual and Ethical Alignment: Many people who adopt a vegan lifestyle do so not only for health or environmental reasons but also for ethical and spiritual reasons. They believe that causing less harm to other beings aligns with higher spiritual principles of compassion and non-violence, which are often emphasized in descriptions of paradise or an ideal world

4. Eschatological Visions: In Christian eschatology, the vision of a new heaven and earth often includes elements where the natural order is restored to peace and harmony, similar to the Edenic state. This can be interpreted as an encouragement towards a lifestyle that respects and preserves life, aligning with vegan principles

5. Practical Implications for Faith: For many believers, striving towards the ideal peace and harmony in God's paradise involves making choices that reflect this vision in the present world. Choosing a vegan diet can be seen as a way to live out the values of compassion and stewardship, which are central to many religious teachings about paradise.

In summary, the concept of God's paradise is connected to veganism through the themes of an original plant-based diet, the prophetic vision of a harmonious world without animal suffering, and the ethical and spiritual motivations that guide individuals to seek less violent and more compassionate ways of living. These connections are often discussed in religious and spiritual contexts as reasons why a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle can be seen as a reflection of divine principles, and hopes.

How does God's Ark preventing animal cruelty lend itself to Veganism? God's stance against animal cruelty aligns with the principles of veganism, which advocates for a lifestyle that avoids harm to animals. This connection is established:

1. Diet and Compassion: The original diet given by God in Genesis was plant-based, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and seeds. This Edenic ideal reflects a harmonious existence between humans and animals, free from cruelty and killing

Furthermore, biblical passages that describe a future peaceable kingdom, where predators and prey live together without violence (Isaiah 11:7), suggest a return to this harmonious state, reinforcing the idea that a lifestyle avoiding animal harm aligns with divine principles.

2. Stewardship and Care: Many religious teachings emphasize humanity's role as earth stewards tasked with caring for all creatures. This stewardship implies a responsibility to protect animals from suffering and exploitation, a core tenet of veganism. The notion that animals belong to God and are not merely resources for human consumption supports the argument for treating them with kindness and respect

3. The Sin of Cruelty: The view that cruelty to animals is sinful and contrary to God's compassionate nature further strengthens the link between religious teachings and veganism. If causing unnecessary suffering to animals is seen as morally wrong, then adopting a lifestyle that minimizes harm—such as veganism—becomes a way to live in accordance with divine compassion

4. Health and Well-being: The health benefits associated with a plant-based diet, as advocated in "The Engine 2 Diet" and supported by the findings of "The China Study," align with the desire for a life of vitality and wellness, which can be seen as a gift from God. Choosing a diet that promotes health and reduces the risk of diseases may also be viewed as respecting the body as a temple and honoring the life God has given

5. Ethical Consistency: The argument that veganism is closer to God's original design for humanity, before the fall, and what is envisioned for the new creation, where there is no death or suffering, provides a solid ethical foundation for veganism. It suggests that living a life that avoids contributing to animal suffering is not only an expression of compassion but also a pursuit of a world more aligned with divine intentions.

In summary, the prevention of animal cruelty, as advocated by various religious teachings, lends itself to veganism by aligning with the principles of compassion, stewardship, and the pursuit of a harmonious existence free from harm to all creatures. This connection between divine teachings and veganism offers a moral and ethical framework for choosing a lifestyle that respects and protects animal welfare.

Did the people in God's paradise eat a Vegan meal, and what happened when the Fall of Man happened?

In the biblical narrative of God's paradise, specifically in the Garden of Eden, the original diet prescribed by God for Adam and Eve was indeed plant-based. Genesis 1:29 states: "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'" This suggests that the initial diet intended for humans was vegan, consisting of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts, and did not include animal products.

However, the narrative changes with the fall of man, described in Genesis 3. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree, several consequences followed, affecting humans and the natural world. The scriptures do not explicitly detail a change in diet at the exact point of the fall, but later passages indicate that animal products became part of human diets. For example, in Genesis 4:4, Abel, a shepherd, offers an animal sacrifice to God, suggesting using animals for at least some purposes.

The explicit mention of meat consumption begins post-flood in Genesis 9:3, where God tells Noah, "Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." This marks an explicit permission for meat consumption, which is a significant shift from the original plant-based diet.

Thus, while the initial diet in God's paradise was vegan, the consumption of animal products was introduced later, particularly highlighted after significant events like the fall and the flood, reflecting a shift in human living conditions and practices.

What is the fall of men compared to Veganism today? Does Veganism emphasize that God's plans might be the best choice than eating animals for sustenance?

The concept of the "fall of man" in religious texts, particularly in the context of the Garden of Eden, is often compared to the state of human diets and ethical considerations in modern times, including the practice of veganism. In the Genesis account, the fall represents a departure from an initial state of harmony and obedience to God's commands, which included a diet that was exclusively plant-based (Genesis 1:29). This diet can be seen as God's ideal provision for humanity, involving no harm or death to animals.

Comparison to Modern Veganism:

Veganism today can be viewed as an attempt to return to a diet and lifestyle that minimizes harm to all living beings, aligning with the principles of the Edenic diet. This perspective suggests that a plant-based diet is healthier and more ethical, reducing the suffering and exploitation of animals. The narrative of the fall, where humans moved away from the initial idea, parallels the modern shift towards diets heavily reliant on animal products, which some argue has led to numerous health and environmental issues.

Veganism and Divine Plan:

Veganism emphasizes returning to a more natural, plant-based diet, which many believe aligns with the original dietary guidelines given by God in Paradise. This viewpoint argues that such a diet is about personal health and stewarding creation responsibly and compassionately. By adopting a vegan diet, individuals may feel they are choosing a path closer to what was intended for humanity — a life that respects all creation and causes minimal harm to other living beings.

In summary, the fall of man, which introduced broader moral and physical deteriorations into the world, is sometimes compared to the departure from a plant-based diet, presumably God's initial plan for human nutrition. Veganism, in this context, is seen as an effort to realign with that original plan, emphasizing that a diet free from animal products could be the healthiest and most ethical choice, potentially restoring some aspects of the harmony and health that existed before the fall.

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