As I began researching this issue, I discovered that there has been a heated debate for many years. The debate is essentially the argument on whether you should not eat but protect the animals, or that they are part of the cycle of life and they contribute by providing us food. I am not pagan, but I would agree with the latter. I found a site in which the blogger does a good job of breaking it down and even provides references for the opinions of both sides and where they stem from.
https://www.geocities.com/Athens/2962/bos/lore/meat.html
I could go off on this topic for DAYS . . . .
But I'll save myself some time and you a lot of eyestrain by giving you this cop-out answer instead.
Offtopic but, Paganism is NOT a religion. Paganism, by definition, is any set of beliefs that does not fit into any organized religion. Organized religions include all those with a canon (for example, the Bible or the Quran) and a Church (not a building you worship at, but an agency that interprets the canon, such as the Vatican). By some dictionaries, Paganism is any religion or belief that is not Judeo-Christian, I.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This means Hindi and Buddhism would be pagan as well. Paganism is often used interchangeably with Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidism, Shamanism, and a whole bunch of other stuff--people always seem to associate it with faiths of Celtic descent--but none of this is technically correct. Technically, it shouldn't even be capitalized (Pagan vs. pagan), unless you're using it in the "Pagan vs. Judeo-Christian" sense. |
Message Edited! Persephone: Please use the Offtopic Tags - See our Constructive Posting policy |
I grew up being mostly a vegetarian so it is easy for me to live the lifestyle that others find so difficult. I did not know that those who follow Paganism are having difficulty deciding this. I figured their earth centered beliefs would probably make them vegans.
If you "Do What Thou Wilt but Harm None", do Animals Count?
I have had this Argument many times with Pagans of all sorts. To me being Vegetarian is not a Pagan life choice. As a Pagan to me it does not matter.
I can give the example of Geronimo - He was one of the most Famous Pagans that ever lived and he ate Raw Meat!