"Mr. Gorilla" > wrote in message ...
> > wrote:
> > > Veganism is NOT religion, or even *a* religion.
>
> "usual suspect" > wrote:
> > Yes, it is.
> ===============
> I have seen the light, brother! You guys are right about this. According to
> the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary definition of religion;
>
> # "4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and
> faith"
>
> And furthermore, the definition of faith:
> # "3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction"
>
> It's obvious that veganism falls under that definition (ie: a cause held
> onto with adore and believed with strong conviction). So do a lot of other
> things that I wouldn't normally consider to be "religions".
'Religion' is generally understood to mean something else, as you know.
For the (secular) _ethical_ vegan, what is "held to" is humanity itself..
'hu·man·i·ty ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hy-mn-t)
n. pl. hu·man·i·ties
1. Humans considered as a group; the human race.
2. The condition or quality of being human.
3. The quality of being humane; benevolence.*
4. A humane characteristic, attribute, or act.*
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=humanity
'hu·mane ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hy-mn)
adj.
1. Characterized by kindness, mercy, or compassion: ... **
2. Marked by an emphasis on humanistic values and concerns: ..
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=humane
They are compassionate because-- that's how we are.
-Lack of empathy- is a trait of severe personality disorder..
'Psychopathy is a concept subject to much debate, but is usually
defined as a constellation of affective, interpersonal, and behavioral
characteristics including egocentricity; impulsivity; irresponsibility;
shallow emotions; lack of empathy, guilt, or remorse; pathological
lying; manipulativeness; and the persistent violation of social norms
and expectations (Cleckley 1976; Hare 1993). The crimes of
psychopaths are usually stone-cold, remorseless killings for no
apparent reason. They cold-bloodedly take what they want and do
as they please without the slightest sense of guilt or regret. In many
ways, they are natural-born intraspecies predators who satisfy their
lust for power and control by charm, manipulation, intimidation, and
violence.
....'
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/428/428lect16.htm
> But anyway, what I wanna know is, can I attain spiritual salvation if I go
> vegan, brother? Can I bow down before the Lettuce Lord, and nibble my way to
> Nirvana? Can spiritual awakening/enlightenment be achieved through (this)
> diet alone? If so, then I would consider veganism to be a religion. But if
> there's no "spiritual salvation" in it (and I certainly don't think there
> is), then to me veganism is not a religion. But that's just my opinion FWIW,
It can be a fundamental aspect of religion, for sure, even a requirement;
'9. And some of the people said, This man careth for all creatures,
are they his brothers and sisters that he should love them ? And he
said unto them, Verily these are your fellow creatures of the great
Household of God, yea, they are your brethren and sisters, having
the same breath of life in the Eternal.
10. And whosoever careth for one of the least of these, and giveth
it to eat and drink in its need, the same doeth it unto me, and whoso
willingly suffereth one of these to be in want, and defendeth it not
when evilly entreated, suffereth the evil as done unto me; for as ye
have done in this life, so shall it be done unto you in the life to come.'
http://www.essene.com/NazareneGospel...12_4.html#gn34
"For of the fruits of the trees and the seeds of the herbs alone do I
partake, and these are changed by the Spirit into my flesh and my
blood. Of these alone and their like shall ye eat who believe in me,
and are my disciples, for of these, in the Spirit come life and health
and healing unto man. "
http://www.essene.com/NazareneGospel/Holy_12_4.html