Christian Vegetarian Association Blog


	CVA BLOG

Healing the Planet
May 13, 2013

Welcome to the weekly CVA blog! In it you will find famous quotes, news and commentaries.

Factory Farming Needs to End

Famous Quote: Anthony Douglass Williams

Addressing Climate Change with Vegan Diet

Bible verse: Romans 14:1-2

Why Have Christians Not Embraced Environmentalism?

This Week’s Video: Chomping Climate Change

1. Factory Farming Needs to End

This is a short, clear and concise article about why people should stop supporting the factory farming industry. It’s simple. Animal-based agriculture is bad for us, bad for the animals and bad for the environment. Make sure you check out the slide show as well!

Please visit Why Everyone Should be Angry About Factory Farming:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anjali-sareen/factory-farming_b_2904891.html

Anger is a very primal emotion, than if channeled accordingly, can help us make changes that would benefit to all of God’s Creation. After all, even the Bible relates that Jesus was angry when he expelled dealers from the temple (Matthew 21:12).

2. This Week’s Famous Quote

One of the first things we teach children is animal sounds. Hopefully they get to hear them before they are forever silent.

~ Anthony Douglass Williams, Inside the Divine Pattern

3. Addressing Climate Change with Vegan Diet

Paul Mahony, one of the founders of Melbourne Pig Save, speaks in this interview about the urgency to address climate change effectively. He emphasizes the huge amount of greenhouse gasses produced by the livestock industry, the need to use land and resources effectively, and how to end hunger.

Please visit Protecting global climate with Vegan Challenge: Interview with Paul Mahony:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/anita-krajnc/2013/04/protecting-global-climate-vegan-challenge-interview-paul-mahony

It’s imperative we recognize that growing food to feed God’s farmed animals and then eat them creates serious harm to the whole planet. Only when we recognize the devastation we cause everywhere when we abuse and eat other creatures, will we start participating in the healing and restoration of God’s Creation. Until then, continuing to raise God’s animals for food results in the desensitization of our hearts leading to a sad, unfulfilled and empty existence.

4. This Week’s Bible Verse

(RSV) Romans 14:1-2

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables.

Paul wrote to the Romans that “the weak man eats only vegetables” (14:2). At that time, Jews were banned from Rome, and a kosher butcher would have been arrested. Unable to obtain kosher meat, many Jews abstained from meat altogether, for fear of eating meat that had been offered to a pagan god. Paul maintained that eating meat, even if offered to idols, was not a spiritual concern, because the pagan gods didn’t exist. Only the “weak in faith” failed to appreciate that sacrifices to fictitious gods were meaningless. Paul said that meat-eaters should not condemn those who abstain, and vice versa (14:3). It appears that Paul wrote this to the Romans because Paul was concerned about differences on diet dividing the church. Paul was not justifying meat-eating per se, and this passage certainly does not endorse factory farming.

5. Why Have Christians Not Embraced Environmentalism?

According to Stephen Mattson, contributor for Relevant Magazine and the Burnside Writer's Collective, Christians have failed to protect the environment for mainly 5 reasons: the environmental movement’s political affiliations, evolution, what he calls “the victimless crime syndrome”, our short attention spans and the fact that we view environmentalists as self-righteous and judgmental.

Please visit 5 (Stupid) Reasons Christians Reject Environmentalism:
http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/04/22/5-stupid-reasons-christians-reject-environmentalism

We are called to be good stewards of God’s Creation but we seem to be failing miserably at it. It’s time we realize that ignoring the perils the planet suffers is to dishonor God and to symbolically throw at His/her face the privilege and responsibility we’ve lovingly been entrusted with. Eating plant-based foods; showing love and compassion to all beings; reusing, recycling and reducing the amount of resources we use; and helping others embrace these choices is what shows true love for God’s Creation.

6. This Weeks Video: Chomping Climate Change

"Chomping Climate Change" is a short video that explains how climate change can be almost fully achieved by replacing 25% of today’s least eco-friendly food products with better alternatives – quickly and inexpensively.

Please visit Chomping Climate Change:
http://www.chompingclimatechange.org/the-video.html

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