In regards to eating meat

[Diana]

No I can't, it would require extra effort to do more than I do. And if I am buying and cooking meat for my family it is not causing any more harm, they are already eating it, me eating some of it changes nothing.

I don't want to belabor this point, or single you out, but I want to clarify this.

How would you not eating meat cause you any more effort than what you are putting out now?

You eating the meat does mean something, no matter what you tell your family members: that your actions are in agreement with meat-eating. Out of love for your family, you might cook meat for them; but when they see you abstain from eating the meat (hypothetically), they will know that you are also standing up for what you believe in for yourself. That would have an effect.

Again, it isn't my intention to dissect you, but to make these points in general.

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I think rational thought is best used to look at where we want to be in the future as compared to where we are now.

Then- what is the purpose of telling people others how they feel, or how they should feel, as regards this issue? Do you think this helps or hinders us in getting where we want to be?

I agree with Pickle's statement.

But Tenet, why do you think anyone is telling anyone what they should feel? Becoming aware of the ramifications of eating meat might involve feelings, if one opened their heart to the animals. I think the advocates of a plant-based diet here are just trying to bring awareness.

Then look at what steps actually need to be taken to get from here to there.

What do you see as the next step?

Move to a plant-based diet.

I think we are evolving beyond our animal nature. The older parts of our brains don't serve us as they used to and are causing problems in modern-day society (fight-or-flight response to stress, for instance).

In the animal world, it is predator/prey. As humans evolve, it seems natural to move away from instinctive animal behavior, in favor of higher consciousness behavior. It is more conscious to honor the sacrifice of an animal for food than not to honor it. But it is still in the cycle of predator/prey.

Caveat: I am not saying that I have higher consciousness because I am vegetarian. I do think that moving past predator/prey participation can facilitate evolution of consciousness.