BF2S Forums Should Atheists be Vegetarian?

And they say religous people are touchy.

I cant see any wrong eating meat we are predators top of the food chain it´s natural however we are exploiting the nature resulting in mass extermination on huge amount of species that´s the problem imo there´s no balance.

Vamp some point as well.

I too am an atheist, and I eat meat. I eat meat because I like it, that's it. There are plenty of reasons why eating meat benefits my body, but again that falls second to me liking it.

If I valued an animals life over my own, I'd kill myself. Unlike conventional vegetarianism  I understand that to feed the masses, it requires the slaying of billions of insects, and millions of mice. That's only to produce crops, and I didn't even account for the runoff of nitrogen fertilizer into waterways *more death.* Once more, I can mention that to cultivate crops, intensively or extensively, requires some clearing of local natural habitat. Regarding this, it reduces biodiversity (death) and takes the natural habitat of some living creature.

one more note. Seasonality. I try to be conscious of how much fuel it takes to bring my food to me, and if I only ate veggies I would feel like shiz. In order to have a balanced diet year round eating only veggies and fruits, I'd have to eat things shipped from climates that can grow during my winter months. Yay for more fuel cost

all of these points count be counter argued for vegetarianism. Veganism however is a myth and a joke upheld by the unrealistic, it does not exist in nature, and thus is impossible to create and maintain. Why would one distinguish animal life from plant, or microbial, etc is difficult for me to understand.

I consider myself to be an atheist, and I'm a vegetarian.

ZombieVampire! wrote:

1)  Just because you're an atheist doesn't intrinsically give you a set of morals:  you may not value life at all
2)  Animals are not sentient, providing a further level on which you might consider it reasonable
3)  It is very difficult to be a vegetarian or vegan and get all the nutrients to be fit and healthy.  If everyone were vegetarian/vegan it would probably be impossible.

1) True
2) They may not be 'sentient' but they sure as hell can feel things.  I don't know how many of you own a pet, but there's really not much in terms of cognitive ability that separates cats and dogs from cows and pigs.  Honestly, I'd be mortified if I saw my cat penned up in a cage all of her life, fattened up and then slaughtered just so I can eat.  That's just me though.
3) Complete bullshit.  Vegetarians don't just eat vegetables, I get all of the nutrients I need from all food groups except meat. I bench press 230 lbs, I squat 260 lbs (weak I know but my legs are fucked atm) and I power clean 190 lbs.  I cycle about 10 miles a couple days a week because the weather is absolute shit right now, but when it warms up, I'll be cycling on 30+ mile rides with my meat eating friends.  I haven't eaten meat in over a year and a half.  I'm not doing to shabby to be perfectly honest.

madmurre wrote:

I cant see any wrong eating meat we are predators top of the food chain it´s natural however we are exploiting the nature resulting in mass extermination on huge amount of species that´s the problem imo there´s no balance.

You're not a predator at the top of the food chain.  You don't stalk and kill your food, (unless you hunt.. I guess, but I don't know too many who kill all of the meat they eat) your a decomposer, a saprobe, a scavenger.

This is a little off topic, but one thing that has always confused me about the existence of a Christian God, is why he would make animals that feel pain.  When an animal is shot in the gut, it suffers until it dies.  In nature, when a lion grabs onto a gazelles throat, it suffers until it dies.  If these animals were put on earth for us to eat, then what kind of sick fuck would also give them the ability to feel pain?

CommieChipmunk wrote:

I consider myself to be an atheist, and I'm a vegetarian.

ZombieVampire! wrote:

1)  Just because you're an atheist doesn't intrinsically give you a set of morals:  you may not value life at all
2)  Animals are not sentient, providing a further level on which you might consider it reasonable
3)  It is very difficult to be a vegetarian or vegan and get all the nutrients to be fit and healthy.  If everyone were vegetarian/vegan it would probably be impossible.

1) True
2) They may not be 'sentient' but they sure as hell can feel things.  I don't know how many of you own a pet, but there's really not much in terms of cognitive ability that separates cats and dogs from cows and pigs.  Honestly, I'd be mortified if I saw my cat penned up in a cage all of her life, fattened up and then slaughtered just so I can eat.  That's just me though.
3) Complete bullshit.  Vegetarians don't just eat vegetables, I get all of the nutrients I need from all food groups except meat. I bench press 230 lbs, I squat 260 lbs (weak I know but my legs are fucked atm) and I power clean 190 lbs.  I cycle about 10 miles a couple days a week because the weather is absolute shit right now, but when it warms up, I'll be cycling on 30+ mile rides with my meat eating friends.  I haven't eaten meat in over a year and a half.  I'm not doing to shabby to be perfectly honest.

madmurre wrote:

I cant see any wrong eating meat we are predators top of the food chain it´s natural however we are exploiting the nature resulting in mass extermination on huge amount of species that´s the problem imo there´s no balance.

You're not a predator at the top of the food chain.  You don't stalk and kill your food, (unless you hunt.. I guess, but I don't know too many who kill all of the meat they eat) your a decomposer, a saprobe, a scavenger.

This is a little off topic, but one thing that has always confused me about the existence of a Christian God, is why he would make animals that feel pain.  When an animal is shot in the gut, it suffers until it dies.  In nature, when a lion grabs onto a gazelles throat, it suffers until it dies.  If these animals were put on earth for us to eat, then what kind of sick fuck would also give them the ability to feel pain?

thats stupid commie. if they didn't feel pain they'd be fucked. how would they know to stay off that broken paw? or what about not doing something incredibly stupid like bashing their heads against rocks?

pain is a safety valve for living creatures. it says "hey jackass, you're doing something stupid. quit it!"

CommieChipmunk wrote:

2) They may not be 'sentient' but they sure as hell can feel things.  I don't know how many of you own a pet, but there's really not much in terms of cognitive ability that separates cats and dogs from cows and pigs.  Honestly, I'd be mortified if I saw my cat penned up in a cage all of her life, fattened up and then slaughtered just so I can eat.  That's just me though.

But they have no concept of being imprisoned.

CommieChipmunk wrote:

3) Complete bullshit.  Vegetarians don't just eat vegetables, I get all of the nutrients I need from all food groups except meat. I bench press 230 lbs, I squat 260 lbs (weak I know but my legs are fucked atm) and I power clean 190 lbs.  I cycle about 10 miles a couple days a week because the weather is absolute shit right now, but when it warms up, I'll be cycling on 30+ mile rides with my meat eating friends.  I haven't eaten meat in over a year and a half.  I'm not doing to shabby to be perfectly honest.

All of which proves my statement wrong....................how?

There are exceptions to every rule.  There are people who, for various reasons, pay no attention to their diet and suffer no ill effects.  There are others who have to watch what they eat very carefully to stay healthy.  The fact that you're fine demonstrates nothing.

The fact that I'm fine demonstrates that one can live healthfully on a vegetarian diet with little to no modification -- sure different disorders require one to watch what they eat to stay healthy, and others may be able to eat at McDonalds all their life and stay skinny, but they're the exceptions to the rules.  By not eating meat, the three main nutritional items that are usually thrown out by those who say that not eating meat is unhealthy are protein, iron and zinc all of which you can get by eating other foods.

To be eaten is the only excuse I can think of to kill something/one. So no. We should eat everything. It's a matter of survival. And even if it isn't, I like meat and I'm not prepared to quit eating it just yet...

Humans are omnivores for a reason, you dont just eat meat and you just dont eat vegetables - you eat a mixture.

I'm an agnostic, almost atheist.  I value all animal life forms.  I feel guilty every time I eat meat.  I'm not a vegetarian.  I'll stay hypocrite.

ZombieVampire! wrote:

There are several problems with this:

1)  Just because you're an atheist doesn't intrinsically give you a set of morals:  you may not value life at all

2)  Animals are not sentient, providing a further level on which you might consider it reasonable

3)  It is very difficult to be a vegetarian or vegan and get all the nutrients to be fit and healthy.  If everyone were vegetarian/vegan it would probably be impossible.

4) Meat is fuckin' tasty.

Spider1980 wrote:

I catch and release when I go fishing

I shoot at the legs when I go hunting