' And it was so. In these verses, God institutes a plant-based diet for both humans and non-human animals alike. God, in other words, created the world vegan. And it is this vegan world which God proceeds to declare very good (Genesis 1:31).
Many biblical scholars believe that Jesus was a vegetarian. Jesus' message is one of love and compassion, and there is nothing loving or compassionate about factory farms and slaughterhouses, where billions of animals live miserable lives and die violent, bloody deaths.
Many Christians give up eating meat, eggs and dairy foods, which makes Lent the perfect time to celebrate life and go vegan. As Jesus People for Animals points out, the Bible is chock-full of reasons why we should all be vegan.
Plant-based eating is deeply rooted in three of the prominent religions practiced in India – Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. All these religions believe in the concept of Ahimsa, which means kindness and non-violence towards all living things.
Jainism. Jainism is a nontheistic religion based in India that embodies the ahimsa principles of non-violence, so some strict Jains follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
If a Muslim decides to become a vegetarian for personal reasons, such as not liking the taste, or having compassion for animals, with the understanding that only Allah (SWT) can prohibit or permit it, then vegetarianism and veganism sit comfortably within Islam.
"The requirement in Islam is that what you eat must be halal and tayyub (Arabic for wholesome and pure). A vegan diet is both of those things."
India is thought to have the most vegetarians globally, with up to 42% of the population avoiding meat products.
Some Muslims think that it's un-Islamic to be vegetarian or vegan. The fear of taking something which is halal (allowed), and making it haram (forbidden), makes many Muslims hesitant to forego animal products.
All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.
The short answer: a lot of bread. Bread was a staple in the typical daily diet in the first-century Greco-Roman world, supplemented with limited amounts of local fruits and vegetables, oil, and salt. Bread in first-century Galilee would have been made with wheat or barley flour.
Vegetarianism and veganism have frequently been associated with spirituality. Veganism and vegetarianism are either inherent in certain essential spiritual beliefs or deeply embedded in some religious traditions.
Mark 7 – Jesus declares all foods clean
Most Christians maintain that Jesus's teaching in Mark 7 demonstrates that Christians can eat whatever they want, that dietary choices are a matter of "Christian liberty", and that therefore vegetarianism or veganism could never be obligatory for Christians.
The most popular meat was pork, especially sausages. Beef was uncommon in ancient Rome, yet more common in ancient Greece. Jesus was a Jew and Jews ate a variety of meats except for what they considered unclean animals (pork, snake, shellfish, etc.). Jesus was not an exception.
A long passage in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra shows the Buddha speaking out very forcefully against meat consumption and unequivocally in favor of vegetarianism, since the eating of the flesh of fellow sentient beings is said by him to be incompatible with the compassion that a Bodhisattva should strive to cultivate.
For the vast majority of urbanised middle-class Chinese, sourcing vegan products will not be a problem in major cities. So, one could argue that China is vegan friendly with the exception of the deeply rural areas.
Chinese cuisine is not reliant on dairy, making the leap to a completely plant-based diet very accessible after giving up meat. Soy milk, tofu, bamboo shoots, cabbage along with street snacks such as sweet potato and corn, are all staples in China.
Vegetarianism and veganism are growing trends in China. Public Radio International estimated in 2013 that 4-5% of China's population was vegetarian, representing over 50 million people.
Veganism preaches to reduce the suffering that we cause, and reminds us that animals are sentient creatures. In this regard, it is compatible with Islamic teachings of mercy towards animals. However, Islam allows the killing of animals for food, and seems to assume that animals are created for humans to benefit from.
Summary of answer
It is not haram to be vegan by not eating animal products as long as you do not think that these things are haram or that it is better to abstain from these foods.
According to some, vegetarianism is consistent with the sacred teachings and highest ideals of Judaism, including compassion, health, life, conservation of resources, tzedakah, kashrut, peace, and justice.
Unlike many other forms of livestock, pigs are omnivorous scavengers, eating virtually anything they come across, including carrion and refuse, which was deemed unclean. Furthermore, a Middle Eastern society keeping large stocks of pigs could destroy their ecosystem.
The Prophet Muhammad himself rarely ate meat, and many of his most prominent companions did not perform the animal sacrifice, known by the Arabic words “qurbani” or “udhiya.” The Prophet was also known for his compassion toward animals. It's not surprising, then, that some Muslims do shun meat.
Vegan food is almost always Halal with the exception of certain ingredients that contain alcohol. If the ingredients contain alcohol, the next question you may ask is "will it get me drunk?" and the answer is no.