Product Description
In IS GOD A VEGETARIAN?, a linguist and New Testament scholarattempts to answer the question being asked with greater and greaterfrequency: "Are Christians morally obligated to be vegetarians?"

Richard Alan Young examines key biblical texts pertaining to dietarycustoms, vegetarianism, and animal rights, placing the passages in socialcontext. He then provides readers with an in-depth exploration of theethical dilemmas that Christians face when deciding whether they should bevegetarians. Young also addresses animal testing and experimentation, thefur industry, animal factories, and the effects of meat-eating on humanhealth. Two vegetarian recipes are included at the end of each chapter andan epilogue comprises guidelines for becoming a vegetarian and arecommended reading list. Insightful and challenging, IS GOD A VEGETARIAN?poses provocative questions for vegetarians, Christians, and anyonereflecting upon his personal choices and ethical role in our world today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Clear, thoughtful and well-balanced
Clear, thoughtful and well-balanced animal theology by a professor of New Testament studies. "The choice," the author writes, "is between a meat-eating diet that celebrates a fallen world or a vegetarian diet that celebrates new life through the risen Christ." The foreword is written by Carol J. Adams, a proponent of the feminist ethics of care.

Could have been great, but author's thesis is misfocused.
I agree with the author's overarching view of biblical hermeneutics -- searching for "directional markers" that build an internally consistent perspective, rather than (non-contextual) "proof texting," a generally paroxysmal and frivolous approach to scriptural study and application. But it seems unfortunate that, given this broadly impacting issue of meat production and consumption, Young has 'hung his hat' so specifically on the concept of 'cruelty' against animals, and of their 'rights', as these issues are, at best, an aside to the far larger moral/ethical, logical, economic, ecological, health related, theological, and human stewardship considerations attached to flesh-foundering. The real ethical questions cannot be reduced sloppily to 'was Jesus a vegetarian?' or 'did Noah eat meat?' (Young sees this much). The deeper ethical issues of today relate to the 21st century world we live in, and should not be reduced to 'muskrat love', they are larger than that, and ask to be considered with 'the wisdom of serpents' (Matt 10:16).

Many in wealthy western culture, uneducated in the science and ethics of meat, think most easily of vegetarians as being equally soft hearted and soft headed; that vegetarians are teary-eyed cow huggers. But the 'animal rights' approach to the meat market culture is the least relevant and persuasive tack toward dealing with the truer, larger picture. In terms of Christian ethics urging the world toward a proactive "peaceable kingdom" (I have no argument against this), the 'animal rights' focus is rather like 'the tail wagging the dog.' More significant moral/ethical issues, relative to vegetarianism, are:

1.) Environmental degradation concomitant to the modern animal-based diet may be the most significant (and popularly overlooked) global assault on nature; an assault featuring deforestation for the production of commercial livestock, loss of biodiversity (plant and animal, terrestrial and aquatic), unnecessary burning of fossil fuels, air and water pollution, loss of topsoil and arable land, desertification, the list goes on. A single east coast factory hog farm constantly produces more raw sewage than the city of Los Angeles, sewage containing harmful bacteria and disease that is simply introduced to ground water (the related ecological and public health problems were briefly presented on the television news magazine 60 Minutes). Neither laws demanding nicer treatment of little piggies nor regulations on the treatment of pig pee are going to alleviate the problem. The only solution is for Americans to rethink their diet of bacon double cheeseburgers and pork sausage. The ecological issues of modern meat are far too large to discuss adequately here, they stretch from the factory farm to the open ocean to the upper atmosphere.

2.) The moral/ethical problems of meat eating are not only environmental, they are economic. Pandering to the palette of the wealthy beefeater demands [anti-human] misdirection of economic assets. Generally speaking, it takes 16 pounds of vegetable protein to produce 1 pound of animal protein. With that comes much more than 16 times the water and fuel! At the height of the 1984-85 Ethiopian famine, while more than a million people were dying of hunger, European meat producers were buying feed grains from -- Ethiopia! Will humanity's natural, agricultural, and economic assets serve humanity, or will they serve the gluttony of the wealthy? Along these same lines, the respected Christian author Richard J Foster touched very briefly on important aspects of the meat focused diet in his book Freedom of Simplicity (1981): "A million hogs in Indiana have superior housing to a billion humans on this planet." And those "million hogs" are degrading ground water, proliferating disease and ultimately creating cancers and premature human deaths (see below). Lest you think there'd be a net deficit of jobs if we eliminated meat packers and cowboys' livelihoods in favor of a plant based diet, assuredly that is not the case. No industry provides fewer jobs per unit of land used than does cattle ranching; a nation with a vegetable based diet would have the potential to create more net jobs while actually reducing costs for the consumer. That may sound contradictory, but federal meat industry subsidies prop up this meat-mad system. Here's one maddening example of these subsidies: If I go for a hike in nearby Cleveland National Forest, I won't see any of the once native pronghorn antelope, instead I'll probably see cows, ranching long ago extirpated the antelope. And guess who pays for these cattle grazing on public lands. As an American taxpayer, I do! The US government builds access roads, digs wells, pipes water, and provides other products and services for the cattle industry that uses public lands. Ranchers theoretically "lease" these land accesses, but the "leases" are laughable, do not cover the public expenditure that underwrites them, and amount to government giveaways. I may not eat beef, but as a US taxpayer, I pay for wealthy beefeaters to eat beef!

3.) The animal based diet is finally a disease and death centered diet. Billions of Chinese have a long tradition of a vegetable based diet, and they have virtually no incidence of obesity, heart disease, GI tract cancers, osteoporosis, or scores of other meat-related maladies -- UNLESS they move to the west and take up the animal based diet. Several excellent medical studies make the point clearly, meat kills (not just cute little lambs, meat kills people!). The health-related issues of the animal based diet are obviously bound to the economic issues as well (for example, health care asset allocation). Will we feed starving people or spend our economic assets first supplementing, and then trying to wrestle with, the self-inflicted meat-based sicknesses of the blissfully foolish? The human health issue looms as large as the ecological and economic issues, and is too great to be treated adequately here. These are all highly moral and ethical Christian stewardship questions. How can Christians turn a blind eye?

There are still other ethical issues tied to the animal based diet, and "animal rights" MAY be one of them. But this is not so clear. Is it rational or meaningful to suggest that because animals sense pain that they have any sense of "cruelty"? That they have any sense of their "rights" being violated or of some "injustice" being imposed on them? These are surly sentient concepts well beyond the ken of the animal mind, whatever it may be. The "animal rights" approach to the question of meat appeals to 'warm fuzzy' ideas but what is needed is a serious, hardheaded treatment (by the way, if we begin to do the right things, for the right reasons, the "animal rights" question will begin to go away!). Most Christians--there are and have been exceptions--have been sadly silent on the matter of meat-mongering (some have even embarrassed themselves with goofy "proof texting" attempts to define vegetarianism as a biblical heresy!).

Young's thesis aspires to a robust view of biblical hermeneutics, which is a good thing. It aspires to treat an important topic. But the "animal rights" focus is misplaced. An outstanding book on the moral/ethical and health issues surrounding the animal based diet is Howard F. Lyman's 'Mad Cowboy'. Christians should have been publishing books like Lyman's decades ago; being shining beacons of conscience in the material darkness, not hiding in that darkness in blissful ignorance and self-indulgence. It's not too late to start doing the right thing.

Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat

Clear, Concise, and Compelling
Young's purpose in "Is God a Vegetarian?" is simple: to explore the biblical foundations for Christian vegetarianism.Young chooses to listen to "the entire story" of Scripture to make a case for Christian vegetarianism rather than relying on certain "proof-texts".

The core of Young's argument is that the story of Scripture reveals that God is moving humans and animals towards a "peaceable kingdom" where they live together in harmony.Considering this, Christians should structure their lives and daily practices (including their diet) in such a way that it reflects this ultimate destiny.

As a Christian who is exploring the theological and ethical issues of vegetarianism, I found this book to be extremely helpful and informative.Young manages to be balanced, and not biased; simple, and yet not simplistic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for more information on the biblical basis for Christian vegetarianism.

Excellent Treatise on the Basis for Christian Vegetarianism
I must say that I was initially put off by the title of this book. I assumed from the title that this must be another one of "those" Christian arguments for vegetarianism--you know, the ones that use out of context prooftexts to argue that Jesus really was a vegetarian.However, one of my colleagues did his Ph.D. work with Richard Alan Young, and he told me that Young was not only an excellent scholar, but a person who lived his convictions.So I decided to give the book a try, in spite of the title.

I am so glad I did.Young deals with the major issues and texts which arise when the question of vegetarianism is posed.Each chapter heading is a question which leads the author into a discussion of the relevant texts and historical background.He addresses questions like "Was Jesus a Vegetarian?" "Didn't God Permit Us to Eat Meat?" and "Didn't Paul Condemn Vegetarianism as Heresy?" with honesty and theological integrity.He does not try to force intepretations out of the texts, but lets them speak for themselves, offering a balanced and evenhanded treatment.

Most importantly, Young offers one of the best arguments for Christian vegetarianism I've read to date.He does not resort to prooftexting or spurious arguments based on scant biblical evidence.Instead he builds the case for vegetarianism upon a much broader biblical perspective--the peaceable kingdom.In sum, Genesis 1 and 2 offer the ideal view of human existence: humans and animals are vegetarians, humans are the caregivers of God's creation, the world and all creation are at peace. Unfortunately, all that is shattered in Genesis 3.However, the biblical material looks forward to a reinstatement of that original harmony.Examining the prophets vision of the peaceable kingdom, Young concludes that the role of Christians is to do God's will on earth as it is in heaven.In other words, Jesus' vision of the kingdom of heaven is a here and now concept, not a concept that will occur only in heaven."The peaceable kingdom encompasses the full range of human moral aspirations, depicts peaceful coexistence between humans and nonhumans, and represents the goal toward which God is guiding history" (150).

Our job as Christians is to envision the peaceable kingdom and work to bring it about.Christ's act on the cross was an act of restoration, not just between humans and God, but between humans and other humans, and humans and all creation.Thus, Christians are to be actively involved in that restorative vision.If the peaceable kingdom is to be established, one fundamental step toward that outcome is refraining from eating meat. There can be no peace between animals and humans if we continue consuming animals.

Additional touches set this book apart as well: each chapter concludes with a wholesome vegetarian recipe; the last chapter offers a basic discussion of how to "go vegetarian;" and Young provides a bibliography for further reading.

Don't be put off by the title of the book--I found out that the publisher insisted upon it to make the book more "provocative."This book is a must read for any Christian who desires to investigate Christianity's relationship to animal rights and vegetarianism. It is well written, thoroughly researched, and easily accessible to anyone interested in the subject.

Excellent book, not what I expected
The title of this book scared me.I thought it would be one of those fanatic books about how Jesus could possibly be a vegetarian, etc.However once I started reading this book I found myself laughing at the chapter titles: "Was God the First Tanner", "will there be slaughterhouses in heaven."

Young thoroughly answers questions that vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike grapple with in using the Bible as guide for life.While at times I felt he took passages out of context, the overall meaning behind his words seemed to speak the biblical truth.Young concludes that vegetarianism cannot be a universal moral truth, yet it is closer to God's vision.I highly reccomend this book for those questioning how Christians are to respond to todays treatment of animals. ... Read more

Product Description

For the first time, this influential study by Ludwig Alsdorf is made available to an English speaking audience, translated by Bal Patil. It focuses on two of the most pertinent issues in Indian religion, the history of vegetarianism and cow-veneration, and its historical approach remains relevant to this day.

With reference to significant brahminical texts, such as key chapters of the Book of Manu, the book centres on the author’s analysis of the role of Jinism in the history of vegetarianism. The author explores the history of meat-eating in India and its relationship to religious thought and custom, and searches for solutions to the problem of cattle veneration. Besides a comprehensive translation of the original German manuscript "Beiträge zur Geschichte von Vegetarismus und Rinderverehrung in Indien", four important articles directly related to Alsdorf’s work by Kapadia, Heesterman and Schmidt are made available in this new edition.

These additional contributions and careful notes by the editor Willem Bollée add a modern perspective to a study that remains a key reference for students and scholars of Religious Studies, Asian Studies and History.

Product Description

Product Description
“Magnificently detailed andwide-ranging.”—StevenShapin, TheNew YorkerHailed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, The Bloodless Revolution is a comprehensivehistoryof vegetarianism, “draw[ing] the different strands of the subject togetherin a way that has never beendone before” (KeithThomas,author of Man and the Natural World). . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good, could be better
Readers, take note of a few things -
Though the author comes up eventually in favor of cutting back on meat products for ecological reasons, it is my impression is not generally sympathetic to vegetarians.The book largely focuses on the hacks and crazies that adopted vegetarianism between 1600-1800.Gandhi gets a scarce few pages.
Second, this is A cultural history of vegetarianism, specifically the relationship between western europe and India.His thesis is that India was largely responsible for transplanting many strands of vegetarianism into Europe, specifically England and a few French philosophers.This very well may be true, but a more expansive survey would have made for a more interesting book.I got very bogged down in the first few chapters.
All these negatives included, it is a well researched, reasonably well written book on a narrow topic.

A banquet for the mind
C.S. Lewis once delightedly insisted that he couldn't be offered "a mug of tea that was too big or a book that was too long."Being less stalwart than he, my heart sank when I saw the size of the wonderfully named Tristram Stuart's The Bloodless Revolution.But I was quickly captivated by Stuart's enjoyable style, his astounding erudition, the sheer interest of his subject matter, and the exquisite illustrations, in both color and black-and-white.

Stuart writes intellectual history in the old-fashioned graceful way of a Basil Wiley, Keith Thomas, or Carolyn Merchant.He excels at showing the cultural, economic, moral, and religious influences from Francis Bacon through the nineteenth century romantic period on attitudes towards a meatless diet.I was especially intrigued to discover that some of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century utilitarians and economists regarded vegetarianism as a means of overcoming the Malthusian disparity between population and resources--a very forward-looking strategy indeed.Stuart's epilogue, in which he discusses the early twentieth-century's "post-Rousseauist" back-to-nature movement that inspired folks as diverse as Gandhi and Hitler, is fascinating.I hope that it serves as the seed for Stuart's next book.

All in all, highly recommended for those interested in the history and culture of vegetarianism as well as those interested in modern British intellectual history.For collections of some of the primary sources referred to by Stuart, the reader may wish to consult Ethical Vegetarianism from Pythagoras to Peter Singer and Religious Vegetarianism from Hesiod to the Dalai Lama.

A classic!
This is one of the most informative and important books that I have ever read. I have worked for a half century in the diet and health research and policy arena and have reluctantly but most assuredly because convinced of the health superiority of a diet comprised of plant-based foods. Along the way I also have become very much aware of the difficulty of communicating this message to the professional and public communities. Although serious interest in this topic is emerging in the last few years, even last few months, I am also aware of a visceral sometimes very hostile reaction against this view from a relatively small but sometimes influential group of people. The gap between the believers and non-believers in this way of eating could hardly be more contentious. Thus I have frequently wondered about the question of whatever happened to rational, civil discourse on a topic such as this, especially at a time when we are getting so much empirical data to support the use of a plant-based diet and so much demand for health care solutions.

This book comes as close as any to providing the explanation that I have sought. Although I am not a professional historian or philosopher, I have long had an avid interest in these disciplines. I strongly believe in that age-old adage that those who ignore history are bound to repeat it. However limited my perspective may be, I nonetheless find this book by Tristram Stuart to be an incredible presentation of some events and ideas that really go a long way to help provide an answer to my question.

I am still awed by the depth and sophistication of knowledge that existed among leading scholars and medical people in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries concerning the use of a plant-based diet. I am sure that it is possible to quibble about Stuart's selection and interpretation of references, as is true of almost any historical account. Nonetheless, I am impressed with these references, not only because of their number, but also because of Stuart's liberal use of direct quotations--these can be easily confirmed, if necessary. But, more to the point, I found that so many of the views of these early writers, who had limited access to empirical data, to be remarkably well confirmed with the highly technical findings gathered in recent years. With my son, Tom, we write about these findings in our own book, "The China Study. Startling Implications of Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health".

There are many other impressive and largely unknown findings told in this book. I especially enjoyed the views on diet and health of these writers that were at the core of philosophical discussions that were to shape Renaissance thinking, especially on matters that led to political reform.

I highly recommend this book--it is full of enormously impressive content that says so much about what we are now experiencing in this field. Tristram Stuart is a remarkably capable young writer and I very much hope that he will continue writing more such material!

In the meanwhile, we now desperately need some of the courage and creativity of these early writers--a revolution in health could hardly be more needed. Thank you, Tristram Stuart, for sharing your thoughts.

Boring.
I've been a vegetarian for 25 years and was excited to get this book, which would give me insight into the history of 'my people'. Unfortunately, it's a snooze - dry, with references to all kinds of historical figures that I know nothing about, jumping from here to there, with nothing compelling to keep me adrift on a sea of historical mumbo-jumbo. I gave up after less than 100 pages. Sorry - it's obviously well-intentioned, but just not compelling or gripping reading - even for someone who is the core target audience!

Exhaustive, detailed, but sometimes narrow, history
There is no doubt that Tristram Stuart has conducted a great deal of research in order to write The Bloodless Revolution. He has a astute eye for minute details unique personalities. Doctors, cranks, religious fanatics, scientists, and others, some famous and some obscure, are rendered with thorough and loving detail. If nothing else, the sheer scope of Stuart's work is illustrative of how broad and diverse a movement vegetarianism is.

Yet sometimes I feel that Stuart was in some ways blinded by his own hypotheses and unwilling to look at alternative views. Stuart believes that European vegetarianism is rooted in Indian culture. This is not an indefensible view, but his case for it would have been stronger if he had answered some potential objections to such assertions, rather than ignoring them. Furthermore, literally all of European history between Pythagoras and English Revolution is simply missing. It is perfectly reasonable for Mr. Stuart to focus on a particular era, but readers with some preestablished famniliarity with vegetarian history -- a group likely to comprise a significant portion of The Bloodless Revolution's readers -- are likely to ask questions. For instance, why does St. Francis of Assisi not appear once in the entire book? Why is Leonardo da Vinci only mentioned in a quote comparing him to the Indians? Should the Cathars be ignored? It is one thing to focus on a specific era of history -- the English Revolution to the Second World War -- but it is another to leap straight from Pythagoras to Francis Bacon while ignoring virtually all of the intervening millenia. In short, if Stuart wants to emphasis the critical role of Indian influence on European vegetarianism, he should have investigated earlier indigenous European vegetarian movements or ideas and, if the evidence showed them not to be influential, shown us such evidence, rather than ignoring the whole question.

Second, Stuart often magnifies a dichotomy between animal welfare activists who called for less brutal treatment of domesticated animals and vegetarians who opposed meat consumption. While it is certainly true that there were and are numerous animal welfare activists who sought the reform, rather than abolition, of meat consumption (and vegetarians indifferent to animal welfare), Stuart seems to imply that these were each others' chief opponents. There is little mention of the arguments of those who opposed both animal welfarists and vegetarians. From my impression, it seems that Stuart himself happens to be an animal welfarist who has no problems with meat consumption so long as the animals involved are treated humanely. There is nothing wrong with this viewpoint, but sometimes I wonder whether Stuart's emphasis on welfarists as opponents, rather than allies, of vegetarians, is an attempt to defend his own position against worries about the persuasiveness of ethical vegetarian arguments, and whether Stuart ignores most views less sympathetic to animals than welfarism or vegetarianism because he personally finds them so unpersuasive that he feels they needn't be covered.

Lastly, while Stuart has a brilliant eye for detail and color, he has little time for facts or demographics. Such information may be hard to come by, but could there have been more information? For example, could there be some way of estimating the fraction of vegetarians in the British population from 1600 to modern times? Could we find out the average meat consumption per capita over time? I did not pick this up expecting a book heavy on statistics or demographics, but I nonetheless found the absence of even minimal attention to such matters disappointing.

Nonetheless, The Bloodless Revolution is a thoroughly researched, well-written, and original work. It provides a valuable resource to anyone interested in the history of vegetarianism in the modern era. I found it quite an enjoyable read, and the detailed portraits of the individuals, from meticulous scientists to enthusiastic religious cranks, were all a pleasure to read. I took great pleasure in reading it over several weeks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book made me vegetarian
What can I say, this was the book that started it all for me 20 years ago. How could I possibly say anything bad about it? I read it so I could do my 9th grade persuasive speech on vegetarianism. It helped open my eyes to the myriad ways that animals are harmed and mistreated; to how our eating animals is destroying the earth; and how ingesting animals harms my health.

Now I've been vegan for over two decades. Thanks Dudley Giehl for writing this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Second U.S. edition of a highly acclaimed, simple introduction to Jainism, an ancient (more than 2600 years old) but currently relevant religion from India. Written in a clear and friendly style, full of explanations, and a gradual, stepwise presentation of its fundamental principles. For personal or classroom study. Equally interesting for non-Jains of either Indian, non-Indian, or Western origin, and for students and scholars of non-violence, vegetarianism, and ecology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Pretty Good
This is a pretty good intro to Jainism.It is neither too complex nor too simple.It gives enough to start you on the way to understanding the belief system.There are deeper books out there but this assumes you know nothing but the name.It is a good starting point.

Three and a Half Stars - give it four for ease of reading
This is a good introduction to Jainism - I would rate it 3 and ½ stars.The author writes for a young audience, hoping that the children of Jains that are living in the west and estranged from the roots of their tradition will be reconnected with it.The book is very clear and easy to understand, and perhaps the author assumes too much that his young audience will grow impatient.This book could be read by high school or young college students as an introduction to the Jain faith.In addition to a summary of Jain beliefs, it has a valuable (albeit too brief) summary of important and prominent Jains, as well as a bit about the lives of a few of the Tirthankaras.If the author erred it was in the direction of simplicity, and the attempt to make the material as accessible as possible.He succeeds in the latter, and I would recommend this book for young readers, or novices, who are unaware of, but curious about the Jain religion.

An Introduction to Jainism by Dr. Bharat S. Shah
This is an excellent and practical introduction to Jainism especially for young Jains born in the countries other than India. Dr. Shah has emphasized the practice part of Jainism rather than theories. He has covered all the major practices practiced by lay Jains today in India in their daily life. He has kept the discussion at the level that is logically acceptable by a lay person or the one who has no roots in Jainism.

Informative and interesting
Having been reluctant to learn about Jainism my entire life, this book showed me that a book does not have to be boring just because it's about religion. I really like the author's writing style and his simple approach to explaining what I always thought were complicated tenets. I highly recommend this book.

This book is really worth your while
This book is very unique in the world of books on Jainism.My experience has been that most books presume you already have a great deal of understanding of Jainism before you start reading them or that you are veryreligious.While this book ismost likelyinformative for those readers, I do not fall under those categories.This book taught me what Jainismis about without telling me what rituals I must follow and withoutpreaching to me about my shortcomings as a Jain.it is very simply writtenand really teaches the reader about all aspects of the religion, includinginteresting stories about its development.I highly recommend this book toanyone who wants to learn about Jainism. ... Read more

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:PART IV SUMMARY Eat enough Proteid in the best form, that is, in the best form for you ; it may be Milk-proteid (Plasmon) or grain-proteid (e.g. Gluten), or nut-proteid (e.g. nuts ground in a nut-mill). Eat it without hurrying and without worrying. Do not hurry or worry during or just after the meal. Do not drink just before or during or just after the meal.Add the other elements of food, which are easily obtained from such fruits and grains etc. as are best for you individually. Here, as with the Proteid, let personal experience decide what kinds are best for you, and what quantities.Discard those kinds which disagree with you, or at any rate discard them for the time being.Discard and avoid stimulants and narcotics, and any conditions which might tempt you to take these. It is only at the start that you need do this ; when you have once ceased to desire these things, then to go into such conditions will cease to be a temptation. That is the meaning of the words in the Lord's Prayer. We might render them by " Do not let us have a struggle at all " rather than by " Lead us not into temptation." Surely we are on a higher planewhen we are no longer resisting temptation in a severe struggle, and when we find that what was once a temptation has lost its charm for us, when we are victors without effort, when there is no struggle at all, or, rather, when the efforts are moved on to a higher plane. Others may disagree with me here, and say (with President Roosevelt, the embodiment of the strenuous life) that the whole of life must be a terrible strain and struggle, or else it is worth nothing. I used to think so, but I think so no longer.Avoid the stimulants and narcotics, then, and the Flesh-foods, at least avoid them as much as is feasible for you. Begin gradually, ... ... Read more

Product Description
In this fascinating book, learn the spiritual propertiesof different food and beverage groups so that you can make informeddecisions about what to eat and drink. You’ll begin to feel alightness of being, enhanced peace of mind, and inner fulfillment, inaddition to maintaining your ideal weight and emanating radianthealth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Awesome book
This is a very informative book, both spiritually and factually.A must read for anybody who wants to start eating healthier. When it comes to healthy eating I would have to say the must haves are, Eating in the Light by Doreen Virtue and Skinny Bitch (I don't remember the authors of hand).

It's little but It reallly helps me A LOT !!
I've been trying to change my diet to vegetarian diet.And of course,I've hitting some difficulties in the daily life. This book helped me to know more and know how to overcome the situation that I had through out the journey. I am really grateful for Doreen's devotion to this book and her other books which light up my spiritual path brighter than ever.:)

INTRODUCTORY BOOK
Well written and informative but lacks substance.Book does give you good data but leaves you wanting more.I guess I always expect more from Doreen and this book just left me wanting more information.But it is a good start.

perfect
I love the work of Doreen Virtue so I was grateful to read this short but informative book.

No Soapbox
Bought the book with trepidation, because my experience with most veggie authors has been preachy.This was refreshing in that it allows folks to be where they are . . and make gradual choices.Even one story where relationship and connecting at a friends meal was more important than being a purist vegetarian.Refreshing, well written and a great primer for those wanting to know how to eat correctly making the switch. ... Read more

Product Description
Topical issues are tackled through the case studies of four children. Readership level: 9 - 14 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One of the best books on the subject
This is a great book! The author uses a Q-and-A format that is very easy to read, and includes drawings/cartoons that are very humorous.This book answers just about every question anyone, especially those not familiarwith vegetarianism, might have, about every aspect of vegetarianism.Thequestions follow each other much like they might be asked by someonegenuinely curious about vegetarianism.It's also a great book for thosewho think they already know everything there is to know. It's a great bookto have on hand for those pesky questions people like to attack you with.

One of the BEST I've read
This is one of the best books I've read about being vegetarian. I recommend it highly in the Health Niche on our site. This and a few other hard-to-find books like Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet are the mostrequested by our clients! ... Read more

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Combines interviews with vegetarian spiritual leaders from each of the world's religions, essays on vegetarianism and selection of vegetarian recipes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A 'cookbook' for the inquisitive mind!


This book is a remarkable insight into dietary religious morals and philosophy.....it's a 'cookbook' for the inquisitive mind.

If you are a person of faith, this book gives an easy to understand history of how the history of your particular religious faith has been impacted by diet and moral choices of eating habits throughout the ages. Every person of faith restles with matters of principles and moral philosophy....that's why this book is important for you.

If you are not a person of faith but you are intrigued by the issue of a vegan / vegetarian diet and an ethically compassionate life and how this may effect others around you who do follow a religious lifestyle / belief, then it is a very worthwhile book to read and get familiar with. I constantly use this book as a resource in my writing.

Really Good!!!
How much do you know about world religions and veganism? How much do you know about your OWN religion and love of animals? This book will educate you quickly about most religions and the basic tenet of all which is to treat all life as sacred. Quite an interesting read...

A New Look at History
Rynn Berry's Food for the Gods does a remarkable job of tracing the vegetarian link in the major religions of Hindiusm, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam, and Catholicism, but also to the relatively small but intriguingnon-violent religions of India's Jainism and the British Order of theCross.The history of religion will never look the same after reading thisbook. ... Read more

Product Description
Hinduism scholar Steven Rosen explores the world of the Hare Krishna movement, which has been instrumental in raising awareness of vegetarianism and the plight of animals in the United States. Holy Cow begins by introducing the Hare Krishna movement and of its colorful singing and dancing, its book distribution program, and especially its restaurants, sacred food distribution, and delicious vegetarian cuisine.

Rosen returns to the early days of Indian culture, to a time when daily life was based on Vedic principles and scriptural wisdom, and shows how vegetarianism and animal rights were endorsed by the Vedic texts. Rosen reveals how a tension was created by a concomitant endorsement of animal sacrifices in ancient Indian culture, a tension that led in part to the beginnings of Jainism and Buddhism.

Rosen then examines the rise of Vaishnavism—the worship of the god Vishnu, or Krishna—and how Vaishnavites were sympathetic to vegetarianism and animal rights, showing the link between the contemporary Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON), founded in the 1960s, and the ancient Vaishnavaites and all that they have accomplished in between. Rosen looks at the "Food for Life" program, the restaurants and cookbooks, and the various forms of writing about vegetarianism and animal rights. The book also includes recipes for those who wish to taste Krishna.

In conclusion, Rosen illustrates how deeply Hare Krishna devotees have influenced the contemporary vegetarian movement and its call for ahimsa, or nonviolence, toward all living beings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great perspective
If you really want to learn more about the Vaishnava tradition of vegetarianism, this book is for you. It offered a great perspective on the history of vegetarianism in India as well and also compares and contrasts different religions and their thoughts on eating meat. If you're not so much into religion, then this book would also appeal to you as it speaks from the heart on animal kindness and reverence. A great read. ... Read more

Product Description
Challenging the basic assumptions of a meat-eating society, "Deep Vegetarianism" is a spirited and compelling defense of a vegetarian lifestyle. Considering all of the major arguments both for and against vegetarianism and the habits of meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike, Michael Allen Fox addresses vegetarianism's cultural, historical, and philosophical background, details vegetarianism's impact on one's living and thinking, and relates vegetarianism to classical and recent defenses of the moral status of animals. Demonstrating how a vegetarian diet is related to our awareness of the world and our ethical outlook on life, Fox looks at the different kinds of vegetarian commitments people make and their reasons for making them. In chapters that address such issues as the experiences, emotions, and grounds that are part of choosing vegetarianism, Fox discusses not only good health, animal suffering, and the environmental impacts of meat production, but such issues as the meaning of food, world hunger, religion and spirituality, and, significantly, the links shared between vegetarianism and other human rights movements and ideologies, particularly feminism.In an extensive chapter that addresses arguments made by advocates of meat-eating, Fox speaks to claims of humans as natural carnivores, animals as replaceable, and vegetarians as anti-feminist. He also addresses arguments surrounding the eating habits of indigenous peoples, eating free-range animals, and carnivorous behavior among animals. The most complete examination of the vegetarian outlook to date, "Deep Vegetarianism" reveals the broad range of philosophical views that contribute to such a choice. It recognizes, and calls for, a conscious awareness of and an individual responsibility to the issues that exist in the moral, political, and social spheres of our existence. With its lively and controversial discussion, "Deep Vegetarianism" promises to appeal to anyone looking to explore the relationship between dietary choice, lifestyle, the treatment of animals and the environment, and personal ethical responsibility. It will also be particularly useful for students and teachers of moral philosophy, ethics, religion, comparative cultures, ecology, and feminism.Author note: Michael Allen Fox has authored and edited numerous books and is Professor of Philosophy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Once an outspoken advocate for animal experimentation, he has since repudiated that view and has published numerous articles in support of vegetarianism and animal rights. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Thoughtful, intelligent book
This is a terrific book, which examines the philosopohical arguments for and against vegetarianism.

Most vegans and vegetarians find themselves in conversations with omnivores about the merits of vegetarianism, whether they go looking for this discourse or not.

I recommend that vegetarians check this book out, especially if you have friends or family members who think that vegetarianism is a seriously crazy way to live. This book provides a thoughtful analysis of the whole range of arguments made -- from the ancient human diet concept through feminism, replaceable animals, and on and on. Never again will you find yourself standing there speechless as an acquaintance at a party or a cousin at Sunday dinnercomes up with an argument you haven't heard before.

This book is well-written, informative, and thought-provoking.

Review of Michael Allen Fox's Deep Vegetarianism
How would society change if instead of a meat-centered dependency, the world switched to universal vegetarianism?In Deep Vegetarianism, Michael Allen Fox explores the positive benefits if humankind were to become an herbivorous species.Moving to a vegetarian society would help diminish world hunger with better management and use of agricultural land, and would also bring awareness to the unjustifiable way in which the majority of food animals are treated, mainly in factory farm practices.He addresses many arguments for vegetarianism, brings to light opinions against [vegetarianism], as well as relates the vegetarian movement with other political movements and struggles throughout history.
From a vegetarian standpoint this book helps to solidify some aspects that may have previously been murky in making the decision to give up meat. It also introduces many issues that one might not have previously considered before becoming a vegetarian.Deep Vegetarianism may encourage a vegetarian to take their diet a step further to becoming a stricter vegetarian, perhaps by moving to the vegan-type diet (no meat, dairy products, or eggs).Solid arguments for justifying vegetarianism that he explores in depth include: health, animal suffering and death, impartiality or disinterested moral concern, environmental concerns, manipulation of nature, world hunger, interspecies kinship and compassion and universal nonviolence.
When identifying arguments commonly used against vegetarianism Fox includes a list from R.G. Frey's book, Rights, Killing, and Suffering: Moral Vegetarianism and Applied Ethics, that lists significant effects such a shift would have on the world.This list includes: "...collapse of the animal food, leather, and pet food industries; social disruption; and the loss of haute cuisine."He [Fox] takes all of these issues into consideration and comes to the conclusion that, "People would still have to eat, and the opportunities for food production, distribution, processing, packaging, shipping, and sales, as well as commodity trading and new secondary industries, would certainly not evaporate." (p.144)
If one reading this book is a meat-eater he [Fox] strongly encourages the change in dietary habits through becoming a vegetarian or into at least putting more thought into where the food being consumed comes from.He does not directly say that if you eat meat you are a bad person, but rather through informative facts and positive reinforcement about the vegetarian lifestyle, he tries to discourage meat eating as the center of the American as well as world diet.His ultimate idea is for the entire world to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle, but is aware that this could not happen overnight.One issue opposing vegetarianism is, "What would happen to the many millions of animals that had been waiting to be killed and eaten" after universal vegetarianism was accepted by society?He addresses this issue by reiterating the fact that adoption of this idea [universal vegetarianism] would be a gradual process."...meat-eating would gradually decline as vegetarianism gained adherents, with the net effect that as demand for meat declined, so too would the supply." (p. 146) Fox also explores that there are some cultures in the world that cannot survive without the use of animals.He explains that the Inuit of northern Canada, and Russia's Arctic nomads, the Nenets, are two examples of these cultures.He [Fox] quotes a leader of the Nenets on his beliefs and passion towards the main staple of life in their culture, the reindeer." `for us in the tundra, the reindeer are life itself.There is nothing we can do without reindeer.It's our food, our clothing, our transportation and every other necessity.You can't survive without reindeer.A person without reindeer is a nobody' " (p. 160) His response to the unavoidable dependence of animal use in indigenous cultures as these is,"Cases such as this, where the very survival of a culture is at stake, require that an exception be made.This may be justified by the principle that while humans may have no greater right to live than members of any other species, they also have no lesser right to live."(p.160)
Throughout Deep Vegetarianism, Fox strongly reiterates the positive effects that a universal change to vegetarianism would have on the entire world.His voice is that of a strong, passionate, and convincing man who will continue to urge people to change their dependence on animals and encourage them towards a vegetarianism lifestyle.He not only concludes that it [universal vegetarianism] would bring humankind closer to the environment, but that it also would significantly cut down on the rapid destruction of the natural world, which increases as the dependence of meat in human society increases.The end of a meat-centered society would not be the end of flourishing human existence as many anti-vegetarians conclude."...vegetarianism, rather than being confining, is liberating as it frees us from the exploitation of animals, the domination of nature, and the oppression of one another, and frees us to discover ourselves in more positive, life-affirming ways." (p.183) Sometimes his writing style has a `preachy' feel because of his adamant opinion that the only right diet for a flourishing world future is one based on vegetarianism ideals, and this may cause some readers to feel very defensive.
For anyone looking to help solidify unclear positions of their vegetarianism, or to explore new ideas to strengthen their stance of a non-meat based diet, I adamantly recommend this book.For people who have not looked into the positive effects of a vegetarian lifestyle, both individually and universal, I recommend this book to be read with an open mind and eager knowledge, keeping in mind that after its completion you may very well be on your way to vegetarianism."In order to make the transition to sustainable societies and sensible lifestyles, we need not embrace extreme altruism and self-denial, just good sense and a sense of proportion." (p.177)

brilliant
Fox's book is a brilliant synthesis of the compelling philosophical, environmental, health, moral, political, cultural, and spiritual reasons for vegetarianism. The real strength of this broad-based "reader" is its ability to bring these diverse arguments together as a coherent whole, while presenting counter-arguments with a fair and balanced hand. "Deep Vegetarianism" is written in an accessible, non-dogmatic style that is sure to be enjoyed by anyone with a passing interest in the subject. Highly recommended!

Food for thought
Michael Allen Fox has written a calm, reasoned assessment of the arguments for and against vegetarianism.A great merit of the book is that it explores philosophical arguments in a way that makes them accessible to thegeneral public.Fox doesn't preach to his readers, nor does he expect usall to become saints overnight.Rather, he asks us to consider thefar-reaching effects of our dietary choices, and to choose wisely.This isa first-rate book!

Dissapointingly shrill.
I was somewhat disappointed in this book.While it supports those who are considering becoming vegetarians for humane reasons with its many descriptions of the cruelty inflctied upon animals by the meat industry, Ifind that "Modern Meat" by Orville Schell did that just as wellwithout delving into the esoteric garbage that Fox gets into in "DeepVegtarianism".I was turned off by the author's rather weak argumentsagainst eating the meat of free range animals.His circular reasoning thatno one should eat the meat from free range animals because there is such asmall supply of it and therefore, since there isn't enough for everyone, noone should eat it, hurts my brain.Fox insists that raising animals for meatis an ecological disaster.What he fails to mention is that there are manyareas of the world where it is impractical to raise crops, but rather easyto raise grazing animals.Fox also gives short shrift to the healthreasons that many people have for eating meat, such as food allergies, irondeficienies, and absorption problems. ... Read more

Product Description
Paperback: 56 pages Publisher: I. B. S. International (June 1977) Language: English ISBN-10: 0895640414 ISBN-13: 978-0895640413 Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches ... Read more

Product Description
Explore vegetarianism through the Buddhist themes of interconnection, loving kindness and personal responsibility. Bodhipaksa, a trained vet and Buddhist teacher, gives the facts about the meat industry, compares different religious and philosophical views regarding the relationship between people and animals, and answers frequently asked questions about living a modern vegetarian life. Reading Vegetarianism may help you decide to join the 3.5 million people in the UK alone who have chosen the healthy and compassionate alternative to meat-eating.

"A useful book for those wanting to explore the issues involved in meat eating versus vegetarianism."-Here's Health

Also in this series: Living Together, Meditating, Ordination, Principles of Buddhism

Also by this author: Guided Meditations CD, Wildmind ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Uncompromising compassion
I am new to the practice of Buddhist meditation, but a long-time compassionate vegetarian/vegan.One of the first discoveries I made about Buddhism is that many Buddhists find it easy to rationalize flesh-eating.How discouraging.Now, happily, I've found strong grounds for optimism in Bodhipaksa's small, inspiring "Vegetarianism" book.The author is a meditation teacher and former veterinarian.The message is of uncompromising compassion.

The book begins with a "guided tour of the modern farm," in which the gruesomeness is so succinctly summarized that activists will find it a useful resource whether preparing for debates or writing protest letters.Going on to ask "Why are we beastly to farm animals," the author explores the Cartesian-driven view of animals as unfeeling mechanisms, which historically has justified cruelty in Western culture.

Buddhist ethical issues lie at the heart of "Vegetarianism"; Bodhipaksa reminds us that we must strive to take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, whether direct or indirect, "so that our lives result in as little harm as possible."In his words, "there is a chain of causality connecting a consumer's appetite with ... suffering," and moreover, "When we are in touch with our interconnectedness, we do not get other to [kill] for us."

This book maintains a nice balance between the theoretical and the practical.A chapter on "the benefits of vegetarianism" summarizes many down-to-earth reasons for dietary change.These range from world-scale issues (environment, resources) to human health concerns -- including emerging pathogens, overuse of antibiotics, and physiological evidence that we did not evolve to be carnivores.There are also a handful of commonly asked questions, with some of which incipient vegetarians often struggle.("Will I miss having meat in my diet?")Others represent argumentative attitudes that one might encounter, such as "Plants are living too; aren't vegetarians inconsistent?" and "Why should I worry about animals when there is so much human suffering in the world?"Every answer is clear and insightful.

The heart of Bodhipaksa's objective is to demonstrate how Buddhism does indeed support vegetarianism.While unflinchingly stating that the Buddha and his followers probably did eat meat, he also takes great care to place this in the proper socio-cultural and historical context.He also suggest that for those Buddhists who even today live a true mendicant lifestyle -- owning nothing, and eating only what they can beg -- some meat-eating must be permissible, when unavoidable.But the author's key point is that even in the earliest days, Buddhism always strongly encouraged "householders" to become vegetarian -- and clearly, most people today live as householders, not mendicants.

Concise, lucid in style, rational, and compassionate in its tone and arguments, "Vegetarianism" should prove especially accessible for non-vegetarians who are curious but not yet convinced.It is sure also destined to become a treasured addition to many vegetarians' and vegans' bookshelves.

Good Book, A Little Preachy
First off, this was not what I was told it was. I was told that Bodhipaksa was a bit harsher with meat-eaters than I found him to be, which was nice, since compassion is a major part of his faith. The Imaginary Tour through the meat-processing plants was interesting, and a bit grotesque, but that was the point.

My problems with the book were relatively minor, especially since the book is about Buddhism, rather than Vegetarianism per se. (Well, actually it is about why you should be a vegetarian if you are a Buddhist, but you get the picture.) Some of the issues involved were kind of silly, like "Did the Buddha eat meat?" Who cares? Really, it doesn't matter, and the philosophy itself says so, since there is a well-known passage that relates, "If you find the Buddha on the road, kill him." What this intends to convey is the idea that it doesn't matter if the Buddha ate meat or not. You should think about what compassion tells you to do and do that, regardless.

Otherwise, it was a good book, and it was fairly interesting. The writing was a bit blue-collar for philosophy, but, c'est la vie. It was a good little piece of writing, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in vegetarianism and how it relates to Buddhism, or to anyone who is interested in either. Good, short read.
Harkius

Vegetarianism makes a Buddhist case for going veg or vegan
Bodhipaksa, a Buddhist veterinarian and resident of the UK, is the author of a refreshing new text, Vegetarianism, whichseeks to build a case for a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle in light of Buddhist practice and ethics.

At first glance, the 90 page text resembles Zen Roshi Kapleaus book, 'ToCherish All Life: A Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian'. In fact,Bodhipaksa's book resembles Kapleau's text in many capacities, includingdiscussion about food combining, a criticism of the traditionalJudeo-Christian world-view, an account of the anguish of animals which arebread for their products, and an account of the alleged 'meat-eating' ofthe Buddha.Like Kapleau's text, Vegetarianism is written for thenon-scholar and is intended to encoure the adoption of a vegetarian/veganlifestyle by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

Vegetarianismdiffers from Kapleau's text, however, in several important ways:

First, in terms of the Buddhist textual discussion, while using endnotesto substantiate his claims, Bodhipaksa refrains from entering intotechnical discussion about the suttas.This is to his credit as Kapleauhas been often criticized for his handling of this subject.Instead ofusing Kapleau's argument that the Buddhawas a strict vegetarian, which isdifficult to substantiate, Bodhipaksa freely admits that the Buddha and hisfollowers ate meat.The author indicates that this was due to the socialcontext of mendicants

(wandering monks/nuns) of the time and therelative difficulty of being a vegetarian monk/nun in that context. However, the author also provides evidence from the Dhammapada, Asoka'sedicts, and from reasonable postulation about the social context thatvegetarianism would have been held in high regard and that householders(lay Buddhists)would have been encouraged to 'neither kill nor cause tokill.'

Second, being a veterinarian enables Bodhipaksa to lead usthrough a brief but striking tour of a typical mass-production farmingfacility. While admitting that not every farm is devoid of compassion(just as not all are overflowing with it either), the author describes whathe has seen, in his professional opinion, represents the typical experience of farm animals.That picture is stomach turning.

Using his description of the plight of farm animals as a launching point,Bodhipaksa expounds a vegetarian lifestyle from the point of view of mettaor loving-kindness.He explains how this, one of the 'Four Immeasurables',is an importantpoint from which vegetarianism naturally flows.Inaddition, the author explains how the interconnectedness implied byDependent Origination, an early fundamental Buddhist principle, demandsencountering the world and others with the knowledge that actions areentwined with the rest of compounded phenomena.Futhermore, followingBuddhist tradition, the author argues that there is no 'independent'disconnected self to which we can appeal to as a case for uninvolvement bynot practicing metta through vegetarian/vegan choices.Bodhipaksa isconcerned with the present, Western application of these Buddhist conceptsin which readers find themselves, and presents the practice ofvegetarianism/veganism with this in mind.

Finally, Vegetarianismdeals with common questions about vegetarian/veganlifestyle, includingthe fact that many Buddhists outside of the original ancient context of thehistorical Buddha continue to eat meat.Here, the author challengesBuddhist practitioners to live out the first precept, not to kill (and notto cause to kill, from Dhammapada 405) more fully.

Bodhipaksaprovides a fresh examination of vegetarianism from a Buddhist perspective. While keeping the discussion out of the technicalities of academic debate,the author uses powerful arguments from professional and 'personal'experience and a 'back-to-Buddhist-basics'

reasoning to make his case. While Bodhipaksa lacks accounts analogousto those made by Kapleauregarding his experience in far eastern meat-eating monasteries, theauthor's clarity, balance, and fairness compensate adequately.

This book represents an important contribution to this issue forthoseinterested in the practical application of Buddhist vegetarianismin amodern, industrialized context. ... Read more

Product Description
A moral argument based on animal rights, health, global ecology, and world hunger. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Chapter 4: The Argument for Global Ecology
Though I've only read Chapter 4, "The Argument for Global Ecology," for an ecology class, I found it to be very eye-opening. It, and a supportive and like-minded friend, have convinced me to go mostly vegetarian. Hill uses clear writing, sobering facts, and a balanced perspective to make his case for environmental vegetarianism. The reason I gave it only 4 stars is because, while I haven't read the other chapters, I'm not generally convinced by animal rights or health reasons for vegetarianism. However, Chapter 4 alone changed my life.

Life-changing book
This is the book that convinced me to become a vegetarian.The arguments are well-presented and the author addresses many important issues such as myths about vegetarianism.

Well Intentioned But Poorly Executed
I am a vegetarian.I've read the book and found numerous errors.Some are little, some medium, some of the worst are omissions.I have read two reviews of this book that pan it.One in Environmental Ethics, the otherin Ethics.I respect the author's intentions and respect him for them.

an accessible vegetarian defense manual
Mr Hill has written a very accessible and easily read case for vegetarianism. Vegetarians defend those who cannot defend themselves. However, sometimes vegetarians themselves are incapable of defense against carnivores. They should read this book and never be afraid again to debate with carnivoracious opponents. ... Read more