As I mentioned is an earlier post, I was reading The Vegan Sourcebook by Joanne Stepaniak M.S.ED. It’s a truly solid book with lots of information on the many MANY aspects of Veganism. I thought I would publish their definition of the word Vegan on my blog for all to see.
“Veganism is an ethic that is committed to reverence and respect for all life and the planet that sustains it. Veganism brings with it the joy of living with peace of spirit, and the comfort of knowing that one’s thoughts, feelings, words and actions have a strong benevolent effect on the world.”
The book also includes a code of Vegan ethics which covers, but is not limited to, being sensitive to suffering (this includes human and non-human), valuing the uniqueness of ALL life forms (in my opinion living and non-living). Therefore Vegans shouldn’t disregard the exploitation of resources going towards over-consumerism.
It is also included in the code to never use violence (and I think throwing red paint on people qualifies as violence), withholding support from companies/people who treat animals poorly, choosing clothes and any other products that do not compromise the life or quality of life of living creatures, and advocate against testing and the using of animals as experimental or educational materials.
I, myself, think that being Vegan is about living in harmony with the earth. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. I don’t believe that animals are created for us to eat, wear, sit on and beat on. I think every creation of God is a miracle and has a purpose other than to be preyed upon by humans.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve were given seed bearing plants to be their food and even after they sinned, God didn’t give them loin cloths to cover their nakedness but rather fig leaves. I think that eating and exploiting animals has become a concession to our sins (much like divorce). I know many Christians don’t see it that way but the Holy Spirit (commonly known as a conscience) tells ME (me…not everyone as a whole) that eating animals and the cruelty that they endure in their life and death is wrong or, dare I say it, a sin?
The Vegan Sourcebook talks about the five different kinds of compassion. Here they are in brief.
1. Linear Compassion: How we react to those who are close to us. Your sibling, spouse, parent, friend etc.
2. Parallel Compassion: How we react to people like us. Based on a similar interest like religion, race, colour, hobbies etc.
3. Perpendicular Compassion: How we react towards another species that is close to you (mostly cultural). Feeling bad for a beaten dog or a dead cat even if they aren’t your own.
4. Circular Compassion: How we react to species that we have no contact with. For example, feeling bad about battered chickens or lobotomized monkeys.
5. Spherical Compassion: Feeling compassion towards ALL people and species. Those connected to us and those that aren’t. “This is the essence of Veganism.”
