Is God a Vegetarian?: Christianity, Vegetarianism, and Animal Rights - Softcover

Young, Richard Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0812693930 ISBN 13: 9780812693935

Publisher: Open Court, 1998

Synopsis

Is God a Vegetarian? is one of the most complete explorations of vegetarianism in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Young, a linguistics and New Testament scholar, attempts to answer the question being asked with greater and greater frequency: "Are Christians morally obligated to be vegetarians?"
Many people are confused about the apparent mixed messages within the Bible. On the one hand, God prescribes a vegetarian diet in the Garden of Eden and the apocalyptic visions of Isaiah and John imply the restoration of a vegetarian diet. However, it is also clear that God permits, Jesus partakes in, and Paul sanctions the eating of flesh. Does the Bible give any clear guidance?

Close readings of key biblical texts pertaining to dietary customs, vegetarianism, and animal rights make up the substance of the book. Rather than ignoring or offering a literal, twentieth-century interpretation of the passages, the author analyzes the voices of these conflicting dietary motifs within their own social contexts. Interwoven throughout these readings are discussions of contemporary issues, such as animal testing and experimentation, the fur industry, raising animals in factories, and the effects of meat-eating on human health.

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Alan young, professor of New Testament Studies at Temple Baptist Seminary, is the author of HEALING THE EARTH: A THEOCENTRIC PERSPECTIVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS and INTERMEDIATE NEW TESTAMENT GREEK. He is the founder of EarthCare, a nonprofit ecumenical environmental organization.

Review:

". . . a clear-headed and well-balanced survey of the Biblical evidence for God's attitude to vegetarians and vegetarianism, concluding that a God who hates nothing that He has made, and who promises, through His prophets, a time when nothing will be hurt or destroyed, is bound to prefer us to try to abide by the practices of that Peaceable Kingdom." -- Stephen Clark, University of Liverpool

"Guided by a theological vision of the peaceable kingdom initiated by Christ, Richard Young refuses to shame us with moralisms about animal rights; instead he invites us to consider the whole of the Christian message of repentance, justice; and concern for all of God's creatures as it might lead us to vegetarianism.

The clear and simple language of the book masks its theological sophistication. Young is aware of and deftly uses important current theological and philosophical trends such as narrative theology, virtue ethics and a revitalized ecclesiology. Like those by Andrew Linzey, Richard Young's book shows us how vegetarianism can be defended without sacrificing theological integrity or orthodoxy. The thoughtful Christian cannot leave "Is God a Vegetarian?" without feeling deeply challenged in her daily habits of life and mind." -- Charles Pinches, Co-Author of GOOD NEWS FOR ANIMALS

"Richard Young has combined a bold thesis-that a morally responsible Christianity demands serious consideration of vegetarianism as a way of honoring creation in all its richness-with a nuanced reading of the Bible and the tradition that respects the complexity of the issues involved. And he has managed to do this in a lively and attractive prose. Plus he offeres recipes! He may not change your way of eating, but he will certainly change your way of thinking about what you are eating." -- Luke Timothy Johnson, Candler School of Theology

"This book is a lively, clearly-written exploration of the relationship between Christianity and vegetarianism/animal rights. The reader should not be fooled, however, by the provocative title and chapter headings: there is much sober, fair-minded scholarship here that deserves careful attention." -- Daniel A. Dombrowski, Seattle University

As a proponent of a narrative ethic of virtues, [Young] portrays the main biblical story as one of moving from the nonviolent peace of creation to the Peaceable Kingdom at the end with, in between, a divine permission of meat eating and sacrifices as a concession to human limitations and existing customs. He invites his readers to enter this story, he provides vegetarian recipes with each chapter and an epilogue on how to achieve a healthful vegetarian diet, and he answers the typical arguments of meat-eating biblical Christians. A valuable addition to any collection that deals with vegetarianism or Biblical studies. -- Choice, 4/99

About this edition

• Publisher: Open Court
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0812693930
• ISBN 13: 9780812693935
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208