I am also vegetarian, mainly because I feel the mind and sentient life is incredible, special, and has "value." I value human life over all others and if there is no choice (trapped on an island with limited food options) I would ofcourse favor eating meat. However, I personally feel killing creatures with functional minds by choice rather than necessity is wrong (at least for me and my conscience).
My line is generally if it has a brain, then killing it should be necessary not optional. The ability to make moral judgement is one of the major characteristics that seperate us from most if not all other animals and therefore (and I'm speculating about a future retort based on past experience) extending this thought process to a lion in the jungle is ridiculous.
We live in a world of caloric excess (at least in the USA) in which a healthy and complete diet can easily be achieved without killing conscience creatures and I try to make my choices accordingly.
{Please note I am not trying to extrapolate my view to you nor do I advocate forcing others to conform to my viewpoint - I am only advocating my own position}
My line is generally if it has a brain, then killing it should be necessary not optional. The ability to make moral judgement is one of the major characteristics that seperate us from most if not all other animals and therefore (and I'm speculating about a future retort based on past experience) extending this thought process to a lion in the jungle is ridiculous.
We live in a world of caloric excess (at least in the USA) in which a healthy and complete diet can easily be achieved without killing conscience creatures and I try to make my choices accordingly.
{Please note I am not trying to extrapolate my view to you nor do I advocate forcing others to conform to my viewpoint - I am only advocating my own position}
