Quote of the Day: Vegetarian Philosophy

 

“But here’s my question. Why do the companies that sell ‘not meat’ — Frankenfoods made from plant cells and/or vegetable cocktails — spend millions of dollars to make it look exactly like meat? Wouldn’t that be a contradiction in vegetarian philosophy? ‘I’ve decided to chew leaves the rest of my life, but I want all the leaves to look like hot dogs.'” – Joe Bob Briggs

I am a vegan this week – and next. Voluntarily, although I hate it. Why? Because I believe God expects it from me. I am an Orthodox Christian. As @skipsul can explain, Orthodox are in the middle of the two-week Dormition Fast, observing the death of Mary, mother of Jesus. It is one of four fast periods for the devout Orthodox observer, where we forgo meat and dairy (and usually fish).

It is not fun, especially for me. It is not intended to be fun. Fasts are intend to make those participating focus on God. To remind us of Him and to remind those fasting that ultimately we return to Him. It is kind of a day-long poking at you.

What makes it worse (at least for me) is that it is voluntary. I could have that cheeseburger if I want to. And yet, despite desperately wanting to, I abstain. Why? Because I was asked to. According to the teachings of my church, because God has asked me to. I guess I cannot turn down a polite request like that.

Yet, I generally avoid the Frankenfoods Joe Bob Briggs calls out. Sure, I will order a veggieburger when I travel and cannot find another substitute. At home, I generally have food that is vegetarian – beans, tofu, soup, pasta with tomato sauce and textured-vegetable protein. Except near the end of a fast I try to avoid meat-tasting stuff. It never tastes very good. (It makes me appreciate meat more when I go back to it.)

I suspect the intermittent veganism is good for me. I definitely lose weight during fasts (mainly because I like the food I eat a whole lot less than during non-fast periods). It keeps me away from too much meat and dairy. But I see no particular virtue in avoiding meat and dairy for the sake of avoiding meat and dairy. (Or forcing others to. If I have guests over for meals during fast periods I generally have meat and dairy on hand for them.)

In fact, most fasts are preceded and followed by a fast-free week where meat and dairy can be eaten every day. According to Orthodox tradition, these weeks serve as a foretaste of heaven. If meat is good enough for the table in heaven, it has to be here as well.

And yet Briggs is right. Many secular vegetarians crave meat-tasting stuff. I wonder why that is?

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  1. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member
    Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw
    @MattBalzer

    Stad (View Comment):
    It’s the butter and the eggs that generally cause me to break down at least once during the six weeks. Which is part of why my pre-fast feasting doesn’t involve traditional Mardi Gras foods like pancakes, but egg drop soup, cheesecake, and brioche.

    When I have pancakes there’s usually a generous portion of butter involved.

    • #31
  2. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Had a nice Philly cheesesteak today. 

    Not so much into denial of meat. I don’t think God is asking that of me. In fact, best I can tell, God told me to love others as much as myself. That is much, much harder. I do that.

    Not, of course, that it results in any great outcomes for me, other than I can live with myself.

    That is an underrated outcome. 

    • #32
  3. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    CarolJoy, Above Top Secret (View Comment):

    For some reason, when I fast, I am obsessed with the idea of eating hot dogs. Or grilled bratwursts.

    This is so weird, as I normally don’t care for hot dogs.

    Anyway, Seawriter, I hope the fast increases your faith in yourself and has you feeling closer to God. (As well as helping your clothes fit more loosely.)

    Do you come into contact with hot dogs or brats? I ask because I am on an Atkins-esque regimen and the most quotidian carbohydrates smell amazing to me; the stomach wants what the stomach wants. 

    • #33
  4. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    My usual response to people who declare themselves vegan in the often self-righteous way is to point out that God made us omnivores for a reason, and the vegan lifestyle is against nature.

    This is the first time I have heard of this Orthodox practice. Thanks to @seawriter for the explanation.

    “Oh you poor thing, that kind of eating disorder can really mess with your health!” 

    • #34
  5. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    It’s the butter and the eggs that generally cause me to break down at least once during the six weeks. Which is part of why my pre-fast feasting doesn’t involve traditional Mardi Gras foods like pancakes, but egg drop soup, cheesecake, and brioche.

    When I have pancakes there’s usually a generous portion of butter involved.

    For the record, this is not my comment that was quoted.  I think it’s Amy’s.  Sometimes, the site word processing mechanics don’t show the real source.

    • #35
  6. Amy Schley Coolidge
    Amy Schley
    @AmySchley

    Stad (View Comment):

    Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    It’s the butter and the eggs that generally cause me to break down at least once during the six weeks. Which is part of why my pre-fast feasting doesn’t involve traditional Mardi Gras foods like pancakes, but egg drop soup, cheesecake, and brioche.

    When I have pancakes there’s usually a generous portion of butter involved.

    For the record, this is not my comment that was quoted. I think it’s Amy’s. Sometimes, the site word processing mechanics don’t show the real source.

    What happens is that one person’s comment is highlighted, but they click the Reply button for another comment.

    • #36
  7. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Amy Schley (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    It’s the butter and the eggs that generally cause me to break down at least once during the six weeks. Which is part of why my pre-fast feasting doesn’t involve traditional Mardi Gras foods like pancakes, but egg drop soup, cheesecake, and brioche.

    When I have pancakes there’s usually a generous portion of butter involved.

    For the record, this is not my comment that was quoted. I think it’s Amy’s. Sometimes, the site word processing mechanics don’t show the real source.

    What happens is that one person’s comment is highlighted, but they click the Reply button for another comment.

    I’ve had that happen before.

    • #37
  8. Shauna Hunt Inactive
    Shauna Hunt
    @ShaunaHunt

    My daughter was looking up recipes for Chik-Fil-A’s chicken nuggets. One of the recipes was from a vegan lady who had never actually eaten at the restaurant! Mostly because she doesn’t agree with their politics. Talk about a self-righteous vegan! It made me laugh.

    • #38
  9. Shauna Hunt Inactive
    Shauna Hunt
    @ShaunaHunt

    Seawriter (View Comment):

    Shauna Hunt (View Comment):
    Vegans can be obnoxious.

    It’s the not eating meat and dairy. I know I get more obnoxious and cranky during fasts. I have to watch myself lest the innocent suffer. (I think that is part of the reason for it.)

    True! Of course, if fasting were easy, we would do it without complaint. I think adjusting to a different diet makes people cranky because their bodies are not used to it. Fasting without a purpose can also make one cranky. 

    I appreciate the education I get here on Ricochet about different faiths. It actually strengthens mine. We actually have more commonality than differences. Thank you for sharing your faith.

    • #39
  10. Shauna Hunt Inactive
    Shauna Hunt
    @ShaunaHunt

    SkipSul (View Comment):

    If you like to cook, then it’s quite possible to make quite a number of very tasty meat free dishes. Tonight I made a rice and lentil stew that was quite hearty. Take 2-3 cups of dry lentils and toss them into about 2 qts of boiling water, along with an entire onion (diced and caramelized), 3-4 chopped carrots, and 20 or so new potatoes (whole). The rest is in the seasonings, in my case those being turmeric, cumin, celery seed, mustard powder, paprika, minced garlic, chopped parsley, hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Let cook up for an hour or so, adjusting the seasonings to taste as you go. I also added already-cooked basmati rice near the end. It’s cheap, filling, and has a very complex flavor about it.

    That sounds delicious! I do enjoy vegetarian dishes. We try to go once or twice a week without meat. It’s easy during the summer. I go to a farm stand that is down the street and buy cheap, fresh fruits and vegetables. I can get a good sized box for $20.00 or less. It’s picked fresh every morning.

    • #40
  11. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    I’m amazed at how many people who are Eastern Orthodox are on Ricochet. Nationwide it can’t be more than 1%. So how did so many show up here?

    • #41
  12. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Manny (View Comment):

    I’m amazed at how many people who are Eastern Orthodox are on Ricochet. Nationwide it can’t be more than 1%. So how did so many show up here?

    Political tendencies? 

    • #42
  13. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    TBA (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    I’m amazed at how many people who are Eastern Orthodox are on Ricochet. Nationwide it can’t be more than 1%. So how did so many show up here?

    Political tendencies?

    I’ve found the politics of the Orthodox to be rather eclectic and not really easy to pin down.  

    But it is funny here on Rico – of the eds and mods, 2 of us mods are converts (myself and James), and 2 are very Orthodox-familiar and friendly, and now our Editor Jon is on the path to conversion too.

    • #43
  14. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    SkipSul (View Comment):

    TBA (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    I’m amazed at how many people who are Eastern Orthodox are on Ricochet. Nationwide it can’t be more than 1%. So how did so many show up here?

    Political tendencies?

    I’ve found the politics of the Orthodox to be rather eclectic and not really easy to pin down.

    But it is funny here on Rico – of the eds and mods, 2 of us mods are converts (myself and James), and 2 are very Orthodox-familiar and friendly, and now our Editor Jon is on the path to conversion too.

    I’m less interested in converting Ricos to Orthodox than I am in recruiting Orthos for Ricochet. 

    • #44
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    TBA (View Comment):

    SkipSul (View Comment):

    TBA (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    I’m amazed at how many people who are Eastern Orthodox are on Ricochet. Nationwide it can’t be more than 1%. So how did so many show up here?

    Political tendencies?

    I’ve found the politics of the Orthodox to be rather eclectic and not really easy to pin down.

    But it is funny here on Rico – of the eds and mods, 2 of us mods are converts (myself and James), and 2 are very Orthodox-familiar and friendly, and now our Editor Jon is on the path to conversion too.

    I’m less interested in converting Ricos to Orthodox than I am in recruiting Orthos for Ricochet.

    Would it be weird for Ricochet to take out ads in church bulletins, Elks Lodge monthlies and the like? School newspapers? I know we already write out website on bricks and toss them through windows, but I can’t help but think we could do more. 

    • #45
  16. Marjorie Reynolds Coolidge
    Marjorie Reynolds
    @MarjorieReynolds

    Manny (View Comment):

    God bless Seawriter. That’s so hard to do. We Catholics only have single days where we have to fast from meat. I do try as a personal discipline to fast from meat every Friday but that’s a personal decision and still only a single day at a time. I love how the Orthodox honor the Blessed Mother. Not that we Catholics don’t honor her, but a two week period of sacrifice leading to her Assumption Day is way more than our single day.

    I don’t know much about the Orthodox tradition but last year I went to Georgia (not your Georgia) and I think every  restaurant I visited had a fasting menu which was delicious.

    • #46
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