Comment

Comment by Suzanne Cody on 9th mo. 23, 2011 at 9:00am

I felt called to put down meat products about 20 years ago, when other friends in my circle were bringing to light all the issues surrounding consumption and it's effects on the body.

I don't usually talk about it.  I wouldn't want it to hover over other people and influence their feelings towards me - or their choices.  It has a better effect when it is discovered prior to dinner plans, or while out at lunch, etc.  I don't use it as a 'defining badge' which I think people find refreshing.

My family has told me that they enjoy our  largely veg diet.  Still, I did not like the idea of giving them no choice in the matter so, I did try to offer it weekly at dinner for a while.  After many attempts - the family says, no thanks I'll get it outside of the home!

 

This could be my lack of ability to cook it correctly, since I would not taste test, nor do I have any real experience in cooking meats.

Now that we have access to very freshly harvested meats via a co/op type delivery service, I have purchased chicken, bacon, breakfast sausages, from the Farmers.  Those things that require minimal prep (bacon and sausage) are handled by my husband & daughter. 

We've decided that handling chicken parts just grosses me out too much and they don't appreciate eating something that I created while wearing a grimace.

For years, I felt guilty about not supporting farmer economy and even went so far as to become a dues paying member of the PA Farm Bureau to try and offset what I thought my financial contribution to the system would have been. 

I strive towards life balance whenever possible. 

 

Comment by Joseph Stalnaker on 5th mo. 26, 2011 at 10:18pm

Greetings Friends,

I am totally new to the concept of Vegetarianism, but have recently been challenged in my spirit regarding the original diet of humankind, as we were created to be.  My recent health difficulties resultant from spine surgery have propelled me towards serious contemplation and reevaluation of my eating habits.  I am living a far more sedentary lifestyle and have definitely gained a substantial amount of weight, so concern with losing the excess and keeping it off have definitely been a matter of serious  thought.

Though I was raised with a very strong MEAT and potato cultural agenda, I have now opened myself to the thought that since God's original creative design was for our bodies to subsist on vegetation, perhaps that would be wise to consider.

Definitely want to learn more and grow in this....

Comment by Pam on 12th mo. 29, 2010 at 7:25pm

Paula - it's an important part of my spirituality too, though I feel like things are changing in that regard in some ways (I have just realized that it's not possible to be as "pure" and "perfect" as I had hoped).

Joshua - that's great! I have been vegetarian for a really long time, but have ceased periodically "going vegan" which I"m really hoping to get back to (I don't know if I could ever actually be vegan for good - the longest I've lasted was a few months, but I'd love to get to a point where I am vegan all day about half of my days

Comment by Joshua Nichols on 12th mo. 29, 2010 at 7:21pm

I've been a lacto-vegetarian since the 1st of January 2010, but every now and then I go vegan. I think the main 3  reasons why I became a vegetarian was because: 1. I really love animals, 2. I care about the environment and the planet, and 3. I realised that eating meat was interfering with my spirituality.

Comment by Paula Puddephatt on 10th mo. 9, 2010 at 9:31am

I'm glad to discover this group. For me, being vegetarian is very much part of my spirituality. I'm not vegan, but respect those who are. I've been veggie since I was 26 (am now nearly 37).

Comment by Sea on 5th mo. 1, 2010 at 7:46pm

Thank you, Mark,

I, too, prefer not to label myself or others.

I recently purchased a basil plant and found myself cringing and apologizing as I plucked off its leaves, knowing it would die.

We must kill the food we eat, no matter what it is.

While I am largely vegan, and I don't let people bring meat into my kitchen (it grosses me out), I think everyone should be supported in making their own decisions. Having said that, it's great when it's done with information.

I find that most people will ask me why I make the choices that I do (they are pretty obvious if you sit down and eat with me), and will be fairly compelled to try my food when I explain my situation, keeping it in my own perspective and not asking them to join me there.

I share my views as just that, my views, on this only when asked because I believe that personal truths delivered without compassion are another form of violence; they divide rather than unify.

Comment by Phil Lane on 12th mo. 14, 2009 at 10:36pm

I agree with Alison, it is strange that people get so angry at what someone else wants to eat! It's hard to deal with. I guess people feel threatened and condemned over their own choices. It is odd, but I suppose gentleness and grace will win out in the end!

Comment by Dave Trowbridge on 12th mo. 14, 2009 at 2:05pm

I'm not a full vegetarian. My leading is to not eat anything I'm not willing to kill myself. Thus, I'll eat fish (sustainable, etc.), but no other animal flesh. We do eat cheese and eggs, and try to buy such products from humane producers.

My own diet is complicated by the fact that I'm wheat-intolerant (although not celiac), which means that Chinese is usually the only vegetarian food I can find to eat when dining out (I also have some problems with various spices that rule out Indian and SE Asian food). Still, our diet is quite varied and interesting, more so than when we ate meat, and more and more of it comes from our own garden--another advantage of vegetarianism.

Comment by Phil Lane on 12th mo. 14, 2009 at 9:55am

I'm enjoying being part of the Quaker Quaker network. I'm a vegetarian, mainly because after living and working with street children in India and also working on development issues, I think that meat eating is putting pressure on the prices the poor have to pay for vegetables and cereals. It's also a burden on the environment. So, for about six months I've eaten no meat or fish. I feel great, it isn't any burden. It's quite fun really!