Slavery and eating animals

[Darkstar]

If killing and eating animals was evil, wouldn't god have made every animal a vegetarian?

Of course. Don't you know? All animals were vegetarians before the fall. /sarcasm


"Just because an animal has sharp teeth doesn't mean it's a meat eater. It just means what?...of course--it has sharp teeth!" - Ken Ham

[Esquilax]

I eat animals because I understand my own nature as an evolved organism that is an omnivore, with a physical requirement that I do so. Since morality must take into account the physical realities of the parties involved, there can be nothing immoral about eating animals because of this.

This is contrasted with slavery, where our evolved nature as socially grouped organisms is directly contradicted by the effects of slavery. The two concepts aren't so alike as the OP would like us to believe.

[Lek]

I eat animals because I understand my own nature as an evolved organism that is an omnivore, with a physical requirement that I do so. Since morality must take into account the physical realities of the parties involved, there can be nothing immoral about eating animals because of this.

This is contrasted with slavery, where our evolved nature as socially grouped organisms is directly contradicted by the effects of slavery. The two concepts aren't so alike as the OP would like us to believe.

I actually agree with you on something Esquilax. Especially from the atheist perspective that we're just more highly evolved animals, people eating animals is just as natural as animals eating each other. As far as slavery goes, "love your neighbor as you love yourself" pretty much sums up Jesus' opinion on slavery.

[robvalue]

I don't see how you can say there is a physical requirement to eat animals. If there were, I'd have died at age 12.

[Natachan]

My bet is that you have to take dietary supplements though. Humans need nutrients that are only found in animal products.

[robvalue]

Sure, I take supplements.

[Natachan]

Then you're offsetting that need. So long as you get those nutrients you don't need meat, but to get them through your diet you do need meat.

[Alex K]

I do just fine without supplements as a non meat eater, and it's not particularly difficult. Being vegan is a different matter

[Natachan]

So long as you're getting enough creatine, DHEA, B-12, and D3 you shouldn't have an issue. But the easiest way to get those are from meat.

[Faith No More]

I eat animals because I understand my own nature as an evolved organism that is an omnivore, with a physical requirement that I do so. Since morality must take into account the physical realities of the parties involved, there can be nothing immoral about eating animals because of this.

Doesn't that line of reasoning run into the natural fallacy, though? Because physically, you can survive without eating meat. It just takes extra work.

I think the whole debate boils down to what exactly can an animal feel, because morality must heavily take into account the experiences of those involved.