Did Animals Eat Meat In The Garden Of Eden

In the Garden of Eden, all creatures, bang-up and small, co-existed peacefully together.

This is what the Bible says.

However in the global "garden" we've now come to inhabit, there is picayune peace for many animals, particularly those who are born and raised on factory farms. Factory farming provides the states with the majority of our meat, eggs, and dairy, but it also results in the deaths of 56 billion animals a twelvemonth—just for human consumption.

The Bible explains God's original will in Genesis 1:29-30:

"Then God said, 'I requite you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole world and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move forth the ground—everything that has the breath of life in information technology—I give every green constitute for food.'"

This offers insight into God's intention for living creatures on Earth to follow a plant-based nutrition.

Additionally, Isaiah 11: 6-9 provides evidence to the argument that God hoped for an equal and compassionate co-existence, stating:

"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie downwards with the caprine animal, the calf, and the lion, and the yearling together…The moo-cow will feed with the carry, their immature volition prevarication down together, and the panthera leo will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra's den, the young child will put its hand into the viper'due south nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on my holy mountain, for the world will be filled with the cognition of the Lord every bit the waters cover the sea."

And even so, we are currently enacting extensive damage—not but to sentient living creatures, simply also to our planet.

Many Christians may counteract these points by determinedly pointing out that the Bible condones the consumption of meat—and it'due south truthful, in some instances, the consumption of meat is specifically addressed. Simply I've heard some go as far to argue that the Biblecommands us to consume meat, which is simply untrue. It's too of import to remember that it was written many years ago, long before the introduction of barbarian factory-farming practices, and well before supermarkets were well-stocked with cruelty-free and meatless alternatives.

It is too worth highlighting that when God declared that man was free to eat animals in Genesis 9:two-3, it was during the time of Noah's Ark and the nifty overflowing, and therefore a menstruation of farthermost agony for both animals and mankind.

Throughout the Bible, there isn't much further insight into whether God hoped man (and all creatures) would return to a plant-based diet once at that place was no longer a demand to devour 1 another's flesh. Still, whether God intended for this or non, we all have the souvenir of discernment and rational judgment, and tin each make moral decisions based on the land of our electric current surroundings—without the prompting from a higher source.

Ironically, many Christians claim they are free to consume the meat of animals considering the Bible permits information technology, yet at the same time, I've heard many declare that they enjoy eating bacon despite the Bible'south forbidding of it. (The Old Testament Leviticus 11:7-8 states, "And the pig, considering information technology parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat whatever of their flesh, and you shall not impact their carcasses; they are unclean to yous.")

Interestingly, the Bible too makes comparisons betwixt killing or harming other creatures in Isaiah 66:3 "He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, similar 1 who breaks a dog's cervix; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These take chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations."

Abominations indeed.

Ultimately, it is personal option as to whether nosotros eat animals knowing the systematic corruption, suffering, and cruelty that is widespread in manufactory farming. The Bible fifty-fifty explains that it is non our identify to judge one another based on the dietary decisions we brand, as stated in Romans xiv:3 "The human who eats everything must not await down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accustomed him."

This, however, can exist difficult—for only every bit each human has the correct to their own nutrient choices, so too do animals have the right to a life gratuitous from captivity, pain, and suffering. Information technology is especially difficult when there are and then many differing views on what is adequate to eat. For case, the majority of Westerners are horrified at the thought of eating dogs, declaring it barbarian, but for many Chinese and other Asian countries, dogs are part of some traditional and native dishes. And and so for most of those who do not consume any animals at all, a domestic dog, grunter, craven, cow, or fish are all viewed as, such that eating a lamb is just every bit barbaric as eating a puppy.

I try not to personally guess anyone for their food choices, as I am aware that much of what we eat is largely due to civilization, combined with more general parental and social conditioning. That existence said, I do ponder why anyone would choose to knowingly support the abuse and murder of billions of animals when, collectively, all it would take is making more humane alternative choices to eliminate the suffering and co-exist with compassion and without cruelty, as I believe was God'south intention.

Author: Alex Myles
Image: Pam loves pie/Flickr
Editor: Callie Rushton
Copy Editor: Catherine Monkman
Social Editor: Nicole Cameron

Source: https://www.elephantjournal.com/2017/09/the-garden-of-eden-was-vegan-so-why-do-christians-believe-god-wanted-us-to-eat-animals/

Posted by: flemingyourejough.blogspot.com