Atheism and vegetarianism

[Minimalist]

Eating fish is NO different to eating meat!!! Fish is meat!

Dammit. I hate having to agree with Frodo.

Curse all you vegetarians who brought me to this state!

[theVOID]

There seems to me to be a clear connection between non-belief and vegetarianism. Once we get rid of the religious notion that man is a higher creation, with a soul, it's harder to justify badly treating other animals then painfully slaughtering them for our meals. Also, those who question religion are more likely to question the prevailing attitude towards our diets. It'd be interesting to see a study on whether there's a correlation. I myself am a pescetarian (I eat seafood, but no meat). Now, I'm not condemning anyone who isn't vegetarian; I'd just like to get people's thoughts on the matter.

Fuck that, i like meat, we evolved to digest meat, therefore i eat meat.

I couldn't give a shit what happens to these 'bread-to-die' animals.

[lrh9]

'bred to die'

FIFY

[Minimalist]

Breaded veal cutlets sauteed in olive oil with diced onions, green pepper and garlic.

Magnifico!

[theVOID]

lmao

[Eilonnwy]

I don't think atheism naturally leads to vegetarianism. I'm a pescetarian for many reasons, and for all my reasons, I'd never claim my lack of belief in god has anything to do with.

[theVOID]

I don't know how you can do it Eil, i would live solely on red meat if i could do so healthily (and financially)

[Edwardo Piet]

I can't see the difference between killing a cow for the purpose of consuming it flesh, and killing a fish, crab or whatever for the same purpose.

Fish have a less sophisticated nervous system.

Then morality is an unnecessary variable.

Well morality is not about necessity it's about what ought to be.

[lrh9]

I can't see the difference between killing a cow for the purpose of consuming it flesh, and killing a fish, crab or whatever for the same purpose.

Fish have a less sophisticated nervous system.

Then morality is an unnecessary variable.

Well morality is not about necessity it's about what ought to be.

Let me rephrase my statement.

Then morality is a nonexistent variable.

[The Omnissiunt One]

So you eat rice and broccoli? That stuff that just gets in the way of the meat? Insanity! I don't understand why a person wouldn't eat pigs , cows, deer etc., but would eat fish. I can't see the difference between killing a cow for the purpose of consuming it flesh, and killing a fish, crab or whatever for the same purpose.

As EvF says, fish have a less developed nervous system. Also, most fish are taken from their natural environment, unlike, say, battery farmed chickens. I don't pretend pesecetarianism is totally morally justifiable, but it is more justifiable than a totally omnivorous diet.

Fuck that, i like meat, we evolved to digest meat, therefore i eat meat.

I couldn't give a shit what happens to these 'bread-to-die' animals.

Charming. Of course, if you deny any moral values whatsoever, then it'd be very hard to persuade you that this is wrong. If, however, you'd be disgusted if we battery farmed babies or the mentally disabled, then you inevitably have to take the same attitude towards other animals of a similar mental capacity. Otherwise, the moral distinction is arbitrary.

As for killing per se, I don't have any particular problem with the killing of fish, chickens, ducks, and maybe cows. Some animals, like dolphins, chimps and maybe pigs, I would say have what the ethicist Peter Singer calls 'personhood'. They recognise themselves as existing over time and can to some extent plan for the future, so killing them violates their interests.