Evolving Into Veganism
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Many people find after a lifetime of experiences that they have reached a frame of mind that could be called Vegan. Perhaps being a Vegan was never a goal and perhaps they didn’t even know such a thing existed. Some are raised in a family and community culture which dictated the mores to be advocated and they follow the community standards. Others have had no such structured tutoring or may have elected to be a free thinker about everything.
I have studied most of the major religions of the world and have been a devotee to several also. One thing of value that they all agree upon is that basically love and compassion are positive traits to acquire. As we study different religions and philosophies most of us take a cafeteria approach of picking the points we wish to allow to germinate in our own lives. As we find a value that we cherish, we tend to find ways for implementing that value. Eventually as we grow, selfishness gives way to a caring about the needs of others. We each grow at different speeds in different soils and err if we judge each other’s growth. An apple tree may start from a seed, turn into a sapling, and after a few years resemble a tree, but only after the tree matures does it produce blossoms which later become fruit. Depending upon the climate, soil, etc. it may be only in the 5th-8th year of the trees growth before fruit is borne. This growth period is similar to that of persons who are slowly growing into becoming “compassion minded”. As they have cultivated a love and compassion towards their fellow man they become more receptive to the concept that this circle of compassion could or should extend to every living being. They can do all of this without being linked to any vegan group and yet be strict advocates of unbridled compassion. I doubt that many would become Vegan prior to having first cultivated a compassionate mind set.
Three years ago, thanks to the internet, I found that I was not alone in my caring for little creatures and that such a thing as Vegan existed. Blogs and books enabled to fine tune avenues for my compassion which I otherwise might have overlooked. Although I am grateful for the insights and generally follow all of it, I am first of all a person with a consuming compassion for eliminating exploitation and oppression. Insofar as this has me in alignment with Vegan ideals and practices, fine, but no organization ever actually owns me. This probably describes many within the movement. We all are evolving into being even better in our exercise of compassion and can use the support and encouragement of others who are also evolving, but unfinished products themselves.
I have also studied most major relgions in the world and they all promote and advocate discrimination, victimisation and often the subjugation of women, the exploitation and indeed slaughter of animals. The killing of homosexuals. Only when we evolve away from the need for religion can we truly become at one with nature and the fellow creatures we share this planet with. There is no god! get over it. We are no more or less significant that a flea or a bear or an ant. Religion is a methodology of control invented by man (as opposed to mankind) to further his selfish wants and desires and to acquire lands. The amount of people and animals killed in the name of religion is beyond calculation. There is no god! Why is that so difficult for fragile minds to comprehend. This is our planet. This is our only time on the planet and we must fight for the right of all species to live without torture, exploitation and persecution. Religion is a cop-out. It offers deferred gratification whether heaven, a gaggle of virgins or reincarnation as a butterfly to those without the strength or intellect to accept that this is it. No re-run. No replay. No forgiveness. The acts you commit on this Earth are the acts you are defined by. The atheist is the animals friend. The atheist is the truth. Veganism and atheism and natural bedfellows. I have never met a Christian cat, or a muslim duck, or a hindu bull. Religion only serves to separates us from our animal brethren in an attempt to assert our assumed superiority over them thus justifying exploitation. We must evolve if we are to save our animal cousins from the barbarity they suffer every second of every day.
Your story was really informative, tnahks!