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.
In a word, yes. 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.
Many Coptic Christians today observe fasts imposing a vegan diet for two-thirds of the year. The practice of not eating animal products can be understood as part of a penitential practice that redirects one's focus away from selfish pleasure and towards God.
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.
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).
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.
Responding to the question on what Islam says about vegetarianism, the Islam Online Archive said: “So, Muslims are not vegetarians. However, if someone prefers to eat vegetables, then he is allowed to do so. Allah has given us permission to eat meat of slaughtered animals, but He has not made it obligatory upon us.”
Therefore, during the Buddha's time, people consumed milk in five ways: as milk, cheese (curds), whey, butter, and cream. These are common food staples and well-needed nutrients, so they are not forbidden to Buddhists.
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.
Jewish vegetarians often cite Jewish principles regarding animal welfare, environmental ethics, moral character, and health as reasons for adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.
The practice of vegetarianism is strongly linked with a number of religious traditions worldwide. These include religions that originated in India, such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
People of many faiths, including Hindus, Buddhists, Rastafarians, Seventh Day Adventists and Jains, observe vegetarian or vegan diets.
Therefore, consuming animal products involves the participation in and incentivizing of unnecessary harm to sentient beings. This violates the teaching of the Catholic Church (CCC 2418) which states that "It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly."
In summary, there is no contradiction between Judaism (and its dietary laws) and veganism. In fact, as argued above, veganism appears to be the diet most consistent with the highest Jewish values.
One of the earliest known vegans was the Arab poet al-Maʿarri, famous for his poem "I No Longer Steal From Nature". (c. 973 – c. 1057).
He has only forbidden you what dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that of) Allah has been invoked; but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, no sin shall be upon him; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
In Sikhism, only lacto-vegetarian food is served in the Gurdwara (Sikh temple) but Sikhs aren't bound to be meat-free. The general consensus is that Sikhs are free to choose whether to adopt a meat diet or not.
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.
Israel: This country's capital city, Tel Aviv, is titled the “vegan capital of the world”. Apart from Tel Aviv, you'll find vegan alternatives and markets in lots of different small towns of Israel serving superb vegan fare.
Veganism—a term first coined in 1944 by British woodworker Donald Watson—has exploded over the last decade. With the rise of social media, the vegan lifestyle crashed into the mainstream and brands were quick to catch on to the trend to make a quick buck.
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.
"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."
Tofu is not in the Bible.