Philosophical Vegan Forum

Hello everyone!

So, not exactly sure how to intro myself, but I found this site through Unnatural Vegan's YouTube channel and suddenly realized how much I wanted to be a part of some broader vegan community. So, I guess here I am!

I haven't lurked around even a little bit yet, but I think, based on the site's name alone, I'm going to have an enjoyable, engaging, and insightful time on this site talking through things and learning!

Some quicky fun facts about me:
- I'm the only vegan in my family of 7 (mom/dad, five siblings)
- I went vegan the day before Thanksgiving two years ago this November (I'd been pescatarian for one year prior that)
- I volunteered at a farm animal sanctuary for ~6 months, loved it
- Due to my parents' work, I've lived throughout Eastern Europe, North-Eastern Africa, and Asia

Thanks for existing! See y'all 'round!

Edit: Okay, so after lurking around and going through the backlog of old posts/threads/discussions, etc., I noticed a vast majority of folks here are non-religious/atheist. That's perfectly okay with me, of course -- I simply fear for my ability to ever say anything w/o ppl presupposing I argue from a religious POV. Have mercy

Welcome VeggieTales.
Are you a fan of the old show by the same name?

The site was originally started by TheVeganAtheist, once forum management was turned over we decided to change the site name to Philosophical Vegan to make it more welcoming for non-atheists and because our focus is on veganism not atheism.

It's true that most members are various types of non-theists, but that's probably unavoidable on a philosophy form; you might see a few deists, but I hope you agree that it's hard to reconcile the validity of any one particular religion with consistent epistemology (it is, after all, a matter of faith).

Thank you for the welcome!

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 3:38 pm Are you a fan of the old show by the same name?

Er, kind of. I enjoyed some of the episodes when I was little, but my parents thought it was silly and confusing, and I rarely watched it.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 3:38 pm The site was originally started by TheVeganAtheist, once forum management was turned over we decided to change the site name to Philosophical Vegan to make it more welcoming for non-atheists and because our focus is on veganism, not atheism.

That's a fascinating tidbit of the site's history, thank you! It was actually one of the Vegan Athiest's videos (101 Reasons to Go Vegan, I think it was called) that set me on the right track.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 3:38 pm It's true that most members are various types of non-theists, but that's probably unavoidable on a philosophy form; you might see a few deists, but I hope you agree that it's hard to reconcile the validity of any one particular religion with consistent epistemology (it is, after all, a matter of faith).

Absolutely, but that's perfectly fine with me. Most vegans I've met IRL haven't been deists either. But because of that, I think I come to non-vegan religious people with an interesting vegan perspective because I have reconciled my faith and my lifestyle, and I promote the same change for them also. Not only do I believe veganism is objectively moral, but it is how pretty much every Christian in the West/anywhere veganism is practicable should live, as it more perfectly aligns with our would-be values.

VeggieTales wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 5:27 pm Most vegans I've met IRL haven't been deists either.

You mean theist? I'm not sure if most vegans are atheists or deists; deist being a non-theist who believes in some kind of non-interventionist cosmic power that may have had a hand in creating the universe but doesn't intervene in human affairs or require worship.

There are of course many Christian Deists who believe in a Deist god (rather than a more active theist one who judges people and intervenes with miracles) but also practice cultural Christianity and follow what they believe to be the moral teachings of Jesus: many of the "founding fathers" of the United States, for instance.

VeggieTales wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2019 5:27 pmBut because of that, I think I come to non-vegan religious people with an interesting vegan perspective because I have reconciled my faith and my lifestyle, and I promote the same change for them also. Not only do I believe veganism is objectively moral, but it is how pretty much every Christian in the West/anywhere veganism is practicable should live, as it more perfectly aligns with our would-be values.

That's great to hear.

Do you use a scriptural approach, or something different?

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:57 pm You mean theist?

Yes, I do! Thanks for the distinction.

brimstoneSalad wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:57 pm Do you use a scriptural approach, or something different?

It generally comes down to the scripture itself because if God is apparently commanding them, through the Bible, to eat meat, there's no amount of scientific evidence I can provide that would convince them otherwise.

VeggieTales wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:05 am It generally comes down to the scripture itself because if God is apparently commanding them, through the Bible, to eat meat, there's no amount of scientific evidence I can provide that would convince them otherwise.

That has been my experience. Fortunately it's pretty easy to show that vegetarianism was God's ideal (in the garden and after the coming of the kingdom), and that man was only permitted to consume certain meats (and not required to) after the flood. It would seem anybody who loved God and was trying to exemplify his kingdom on Earth would be vegan if possible (or as vegan as possible otherwise).