I’m vegan, have been almost my entire adult life. There are many other atheist vegans out there, by the way, although admittedly we are a minority in a minority. And I’m not here to argue animal rights. I really don’t care what you eat, so long as I’m not being forced to eat it. But when we look to the gospels we see a major ethical conundrum. Follow Jesus’ laws and stop being a vegan/vegetarian, or don’t enter god’s kingdom, which probably means go to hell. Off to examine the gospels, shall we?
Jesus lays down in the strictest and sternest terms exactly what we must do to enter god’s kingdom in Matthew 5:17-20.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The laws of the Pharisees to which Jesus refers is called the Mitzvot. It’s a list of 613 hoops through which every Christian must jump (because Jesus didn’t “come to abolish the law…but to fulfill” it). Actually, not everyone must follow all of them, because many are gender-based, but you catch my drift. These laws can be found here. Some are pretty easy to follow. Number 25 says “Not to lay down a stone for worship.” Easy enough. Some are just plain silly. Number 127 says “To count forty-nine days from the time of the cutting of the Omer.” But others ask vegans and vegetarians to violate their ethical standards against harming animals. There’s an entire section dedicated solely to animal sacrifices (#459 – 560).
For example, numbers 460 and 461 require that we slaughter and eat lamb for Passover, as commanded in Exodus 12:6-8. Number 473 requires that if we sin we must slaughter an animal and eat part of it (Exodus 29:33). 475 commands us to make burnt offerings (Lev. 1:3). In 537 we must kill two lambs every sabbath (Num. 28:9). There are tons of Mitzvot commandments to slaughter, burn, and eat animals.
In other words, if I were to suddenly convert to Christianity, I would also have to give up my veganism, build an altar, and start slicing animals up left and right. If I don’t then I’ve offended Jesus’ commandment in Matthew 5:17-20. And if I’ve offended his commandment he’s pretty clear: I will never see god’s kingdom.
Of course I implore you to check out the list yourself in the link above. It’s pretty thorough, and I’d be willing to bet that no one — not even the strictest Jews — follows this list to the letter. It’s unlikely that anyone will enter god’s kingdom.
The Atheist Papers 
Jesus reduced divine law to, “Love God with your whole heart, soul, body and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
That’s what Jesus said, not me.
The orthodox Jews constantly complained about Jesus’ lax eating habits. And Jesus responded, I eat and drink, you complain. I don’t eat and drink and you complain.
Genesis makes it clear that mankind is at the top of the food chain and so, can eat whatever he wants.
That’s the natural law which is a subset of the divine law.
The Bible makes it crystal clear that all the eating and worship regulations put on the Jews by God were for the Jews alone.
The Apostles, especially Saint Paul, made it clear that Jewish dietary regulations, circumcision, etc., were unnecessary for Christian spirituality.
You make excellent points but I can hear the mental gymnastics now. They will say it’s unnecessary; Jesus changed the rules etc.
In fact, I’m reading the comment above and it’s basically what you’d expect.
Yeah, I’ve never understood why Christians throw the Matthew verses out the window when Jesus was pretty clear. He didn’t change anything.
Rayan,
You are thinking like the Jews who arrange for Jesus’ execution.
That is, your interpretation of Scripture is completely out there.
If the Jews knew the true meaning of Scripture they would have treated Jesus as the King of Kings.
Instead they killed him just like atheists do everyday.
Hey, I find that offensive. I haven’t killed Jesus for at least a week! Maybe longer.
Rayan,
You haven’t killed Jesus for at least a week?
I think you underestimate yourself.
Well, ok. But let’s be fair. Jesus has a three day respawn time. So I can’t really kill him every day. I need to wait at least three days after I kill him before he respawns so I can kill him again.
Rayan,
Jesus only respawned one, for all time.
Yet man keep killing him daily and by the minute.
Consequently, the need for the sacraments healing, among them Reconciliation.
som,
You’re such a little nihilist.
If it is possible to kill a zombie, I’d do it. And if you really think that we are committing the death of Jesus, then he has no real power. Thus, he never actually died for anything, and saved, nothing.
Wow som, I congratulate you in be coming an atheist. Just warm my heart.
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