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What Would Jesus REALLY Eat?: The Biblical Case for Eating Meat
Until relatively recently, vegetarianism was considered a positive dietary alternative for Christians. Often considered a preference for those seeking better spiritual awareness for a season, biblical tradition still acknowledged that a plant-based diet wasn’t any more spiritual or moral than eating meat, therefore meat-eating was considered legitimate for humans; not prohibited and was even blessed by God.
But, increasingly, and especially in light of the current Green movement that wants to at least limit the eating of meat, alongside the relentless calls by other secular organizations and activists to end meat-eating altogether, it is now more important than ever for people to know what the Bible and biblical tradition have to say about the subject.
Within Christian circles, well-meaning people have been pressuring fellow Christians to turn from eating meat- a practice once historically understood as a Christian freedom- and are now asking them to embrace abstinence, but what many are calling “just a new bondage.” Christian leaders are warning the Christian community not to adopt a false commandment that is mostly based on secular activist’s personal convictions. Familiar choruses are now resonating throughout Christian communities:
“Meat-eating isn’t compassionate.” “Animals have rights too.” “Aren’t you concerned about animal suffering?” “We should include animals into the moral community.” “Would you kill and eat your dog Lassie?”
In response to this clamor, Castle Quay Books has brought together a broad group of scholars who have applied their expertise in a wide range of fields including biblical studies, theology, philosophy, resource management, communication, and generational animal farming, to write an accessible response for all Christians.
Contributors to the discussion cover both sides of the debate with their host of important views. Writers include well known authors such as Dr. Walter Kaiser, Dr. Wes Jamison, and Dr. Paul Copan, as well as other well-known authors.
But, increasingly, and especially in light of the current Green movement that wants to at least limit the eating of meat, alongside the relentless calls by other secular organizations and activists to end meat-eating altogether, it is now more important than ever for people to know what the Bible and biblical tradition have to say about the subject.
Within Christian circles, well-meaning people have been pressuring fellow Christians to turn from eating meat- a practice once historically understood as a Christian freedom- and are now asking them to embrace abstinence, but what many are calling “just a new bondage.” Christian leaders are warning the Christian community not to adopt a false commandment that is mostly based on secular activist’s personal convictions. Familiar choruses are now resonating throughout Christian communities:
“Meat-eating isn’t compassionate.” “Animals have rights too.” “Aren’t you concerned about animal suffering?” “We should include animals into the moral community.” “Would you kill and eat your dog Lassie?”
In response to this clamor, Castle Quay Books has brought together a broad group of scholars who have applied their expertise in a wide range of fields including biblical studies, theology, philosophy, resource management, communication, and generational animal farming, to write an accessible response for all Christians.
Contributors to the discussion cover both sides of the debate with their host of important views. Writers include well known authors such as Dr. Walter Kaiser, Dr. Wes Jamison, and Dr. Paul Copan, as well as other well-known authors.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2019
6 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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April 20, 2025
I tried to have an open mind about this book, but wasn't left with much to chew on (pun intended). Wes Jamison is very upset that secular organizations like PETA and the Humane Society embrace religious arguments to persuade people of their convictions, but doesn't see the irony in editing a book defending meat-eating that is sponsored by the (secular) Animal Agricultural Alliance!
A lot was said, but very little shown or deeply argued for. Besides one or two footnotes, the authors ignored the big players among Christian ethicists arguing for animal rights/liberation/welfare such as Andrew Linzey, David Clough, Stephen Webb etc. Rather they opposed radical secular philosophers that many pro-animal Christian ethicists would also disagree with. Timothy Hsaio's two philosophical chapters on the morality of meat-eating and human exceptionalism took a natural law approach, completely ignoring the Bible...hardly a "biblical case for eating meat" then. Hsaio re-hashed tired arguments that animals can't be objects of moral concern because they aren't rational. Most of the authors produced a lot of straw-men and ad hominem attacks which was disappointing.
My biggest critique though was that a number of the authors agree that humans need to "consider the needs of the animal" (Jamison) and "[humanity's] unique status doesn't entail permission to abuse animals" (Copan) because "God's creatures are not junk" (Kaiser). However, not once do the authors consider that contemporary CAFO/Factory farming and the industrial agricultural systems of our time might be cruel! They--astoundingly--never connect the dots with where the bacon (that Jesus declares clean) comes from! That is, except for the final chapter --written by pig farmers-- who try to convince us that pigs are actually living happier and better lives in factory farms ("they have accommodations that are superior to millions of humans") than the pigs of a hundred years ago who actually got to feel the sunshine and walk on grass before becoming bacon.
Ultimately this is not a serious work of Christian ethics, but a paid piece of propaganda brought to you by Animal Agricultural Alliance.
A lot was said, but very little shown or deeply argued for. Besides one or two footnotes, the authors ignored the big players among Christian ethicists arguing for animal rights/liberation/welfare such as Andrew Linzey, David Clough, Stephen Webb etc. Rather they opposed radical secular philosophers that many pro-animal Christian ethicists would also disagree with. Timothy Hsaio's two philosophical chapters on the morality of meat-eating and human exceptionalism took a natural law approach, completely ignoring the Bible...hardly a "biblical case for eating meat" then. Hsaio re-hashed tired arguments that animals can't be objects of moral concern because they aren't rational. Most of the authors produced a lot of straw-men and ad hominem attacks which was disappointing.
My biggest critique though was that a number of the authors agree that humans need to "consider the needs of the animal" (Jamison) and "[humanity's] unique status doesn't entail permission to abuse animals" (Copan) because "God's creatures are not junk" (Kaiser). However, not once do the authors consider that contemporary CAFO/Factory farming and the industrial agricultural systems of our time might be cruel! They--astoundingly--never connect the dots with where the bacon (that Jesus declares clean) comes from! That is, except for the final chapter --written by pig farmers-- who try to convince us that pigs are actually living happier and better lives in factory farms ("they have accommodations that are superior to millions of humans") than the pigs of a hundred years ago who actually got to feel the sunshine and walk on grass before becoming bacon.
Ultimately this is not a serious work of Christian ethics, but a paid piece of propaganda brought to you by Animal Agricultural Alliance.
Displaying 1 of 1 review