What would Jesus really eat? A new book answers that question to alleviate Christian guilt about meat-eating in modern society.

Amanda Radke

July 19, 2019

3 Min Read
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What Would Jesus Really Eat?

Animal rights activists have a fundamental goal of ending animal ownership, animal agriculture in particular. To accomplish this goal, these organizations will go to great lengths to undermine meat eating and make people feel guilty about using and consuming animal products.

First, they waged a war on beef and nutrition.

They cry, “Surely, meat will kill you! It will clog your arteries and give you cancer, diabetes, heart disease, childhood obesity!”

Next, they tugged on our heartstrings and played up extreme cases of animal cruelty.

They scream, “Look at this sad puppy! Give us some donations, and we’ll save every last animal from their abusive owners!”

Then, they went with environmental concerns.

“The world is ending, and the cow farts are to blame,” they proclaim! “Don’t eat meat or you’ll destroy the planet and steal our natural resources from our children and grandchildren!”

While these tactics have become standard warfare material for these activists, there’s one last battlefield these organizations are aiming their sightes at.

It’s your faith.

“The last barrier for animal rights groups is to win the war on religion,” said Wes Jamison, PhD, associate professor of public relations at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “Christians believe that we were created in the image of God, and animals are not. Activists understand this, so they are taking a philosophical call to arms against Christians to change the way we view animals and people. They want to try to influence people that eating animals is somehow morally wrong.”

Related:Who’s winning? Us or the anti-beef activists?

Remember the “Jesus was a vegetarian” campaign from PETA years ago? That was just the beginning.

On July 17, Jamison released his newly published book titled, “What Would Jesus Really Eat? The Biblical Case For Eating Meat.”

Written with Paul Copan, PhD, Palm Beach Atlantic University professor and Pledger Family chair of philosophy and ethics, the book is written to refute these claims and alleviate some of the guilt Christians may feel about consuming meat in their diets.

“It’s not a question of consciousness if you choose to eat veal, pork, lobster, steak, chicken or turkey,” said Jamison. “You not only have permission, but a blessing, to eat these animals, and the source of these animals isn’t addressed in scripture.”

Jamison said his new book is an “approachable read” for Christians and church-goers who want to know the philosophical and theological reasons behind eating meat.

“This book is a resource for those Christians who seek a defense of their freedom to raise, slaughter and consume animals, while worshipping God and giving thanks for his bountiful provision,” Jamison writes in the book.

Related:How animal rights activists use politically correct social justice law to achieve their goals

I had the opportunity to read a review copy of the book prior to the release, and it’s a quick read filled with incredible information for the Christian meat eater.

Frankly, the Bible is often used against you or taken out of context to promote a “less cruel” plant-based diet. However, this book really evaluates scripture and shows how meat-eating is a gift from God.

An excerpt from the book reads, “It cannot be overemphasized that animal rights groups are dedicated to redefining and co-opting Christian support for animal use. The HSUS founded its ‘religion and animals’ campaign (later to become its ‘faith outreach program’) to empower theology that opposes the exploitation of animals.”

The book explains not only activist strategies but also shows a troubling shift in cultural values where animals are valued more highly than people. The fast-page turner dives into our God-given right to have dominion over animals, our human exceptionalism, and how we, as Christians, can respond to the growing cry to go meatless.

I devoured this book in a weekend, and I encourage you to check it out if you have a chance. It’s an easily digested read on a very complicated topic, and I’ll definitely be using this as a resource in the years to come!

Books can be purchased from the Animal Agriculture Alliance for $15. Click here to order.

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Farm Progress.

 

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