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Flesh as Food
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In many places fish become so contaminated by the filth on
which they feed as to be a cause of disease. This is especially the
case where the fish come in contact with the sewage of
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against
the soul.”
1 Peter 2:11
.
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large cities. The fish that are fed on the contents of the drains may
pass into distant waters and may be caught where the water is pure
and fresh. Thus when used as food they bring disease and death on
those who do not suspect the danger.
The effects of a flesh diet may not be immediately realized; but
this is no evidence that it is not harmful. Few can be made to believe
that it is the meat they have eaten which has poisoned their blood
and caused their suffering. Many die of diseases wholly due to meat
eating, while the real cause is not suspected by themselves or by
others.
The moral evils of a flesh diet are not less marked than are the
physical ills. Flesh food is injurious to health, and whatever affects
the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and the soul. Think
of the cruelty to animals that meat eating involves, and its effect
on those who inflict and those who behold it. How it destroys the
tenderness with which we should regard these creatures of God!
The intelligence displayed by many dumb animals approaches
so closely to human intelligence that it is a mystery. The animals see
and hear and love and fear and suffer. They use their organs far more
faithfully than many human beings use theirs. They manifest sym-
pathy and tenderness toward their companions in suffering. Many
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animals show an affection for those who have charge of them, far su-
perior to the affection shown by some of the human race. They form
attachments for man which are not broken without great suffering to
them.
What man with a human heart, who has ever cared for domestic
animals, could look into their eyes, so full of confidence and affec-
tion, and willingly give them over to the butcher’s knife? How could
he devour their flesh as a sweet morsel?