Weekly Newsletter - May 31, 2017
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. On Faith, part 10, conclusion
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman
  4. Vegan Christian T-shirts

1. Activist Feedback

Gracia Fay Robert, Arnie, and Judy tabled at the San Diego EarthFair on April 23. They distributed several hundred pieces of literature, many being the CVA booklet “Joyful, Compassionate Eating.” Gracia Fay summarized:

Overall, we felt it was about as successful as usual.There was only one naysayer, who wasn't hostile exactly but made it clear we weren't being Christian in our stance.The others were amiable, and some were enthusiastic.

2. On Faith, part 10, conclusion

People tend to be attracted to those religious beliefs that meet their psychological needs. We tend to hold tightly those beliefs that meet our greatest desires, such as desire of self-esteem, and to assuage our greatest fears, such as fear of death. Certainty, as I’ve said before, is a state of mind. It is not necessarily a state of knowledge.

There are many people who are convinced that God put animals on earth for humans to eat. I regard this conviction is as unsound scripturally and biologically; I think that animals live on earth for reasons other than human culinary pleasure. However, I am would not say that I know I am right and they are wrong. I am saying that they should be skeptical of their view, since it is 1) harmful to innocent individuals and 2) self-serving.

I am doubtful that a scholar looking at truth claims of different religions would find Christianity much more or much less believable than many other faiths. Meanwhile, Christians can parse the Bible to find excuses for any crime, from slavery to animal abuse. Those who endorse mistreatment of others might call themselves “Christian,” but their position does not lend support for the claim that Christianity is a better or more valid religion than any other. Indeed, as United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis recently said, “Toward animals, humans are ISIS.”

I think that one thing that makes Christianity distinctive (but not necessarily unique) is that its spiritual leader called for compassion, love, kindness, and mercy. A consistent theme of the New Testament is that those who aim to follow Jesus are called to service, not self-indulgence. As Sam Keen said, if we stay on the path of compassion, we will not stray far from the truth.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Life versus Death

4. Vegan Christian T-shirts

CVA member Allie Gadziemski writes:

My vegan kids and I have launched a Christian Vegan t-shirt business. It blossomed out of a lack of options out there combining Christ and veganism at inexpensive prices.

The website is 6thCommandmentVegan.com.

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