Vegetarianism, Veganism and Religious Rules on Eating Animals
Vegetarianism, veganism and religious rules on eating animals cover religious teaching on eating animals, including whether Christianity and Islam permit, restrict or discourage it. The topic covers the Christian idea of dominion and stewardship over animals, minority Christian vegetarian traditions and Lenten fasting, and Islamic halal dietary law, including the requirements of dhabihah (Islamic slaughter) and the case some make that vegetarianism or veganism fits Islamic environmental stewardship even though it is not obligatory.
Before you start
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Method
- Learn the two key Genesis texts often set side by side: Genesis 1:29, an original, plant-based diet given to Adam and Eve, and Genesis 9:3, God's later permission after the flood to eat 'everything that lives and moves'.
- Learn that most mainstream Christians treat this as permission to eat meat within responsible stewardship, guided by texts such as Proverbs 12:10 ('the righteous care for the needs of their animals'), while a minority of Christians, e.g. some Seventh-day Adventists, favour vegetarianism as closer to the original created order.
- Learn that Orthodox Christian tradition requires strict fasting from meat and dairy on many days of the year, including Lent, a genuine and widely practised form of Christian dietary restriction distinct from full vegetarianism.
- Learn the core Islamic distinction between halal (permitted) and haram (forbidden) foods, and that Qur'an 5:3 lists specific forbidden foods, including carrion, blood and pork.
- Learn the requirements of dhabihah, Islamic slaughter: Allah's name is invoked (Qur'an 6:118-121), and hadith instruct that the blade be sharp and suffering minimised, reflecting a duty of kindness even within permitted killing.
- Learn that Qur'an 6:141 warns against waste ('eat of their fruit... but waste not by excess'), which some Muslim scholars use to argue that reducing meat consumption fits Islamic environmental stewardship (khalifah), even though vegetarianism is not a religious obligation in Islam.
- Practise stating clearly whether a given religious teaching permits, restricts or forbids something, since exam questions reward precision over vague statements like 'religion says be kind to animals'.
Worked example
Explain two religious teachings that might lead a believer to eat less meat, without becoming fully vegetarian.
- Identify a first teaching: stewardship, the belief that humans are responsible for caring for creation rather than exploiting it, can lead a believer to eat meat more sparingly and avoid waste.
- Develop it with a reference: Proverbs 12:10 teaches that 'the righteous care for the needs of their animals', suggesting animal welfare should shape food choices even where meat-eating itself is permitted.
- Identify a second teaching: Islamic teaching against waste can lead a Muslim to reduce meat consumption as part of responsible stewardship, without treating meat-eating itself as wrong.
- Develop it with a reference: Qur'an 6:141 instructs believers to 'eat of their fruit... but waste not by excess'.
- Combine both points into a complete answer: a Christian might eat less meat out of stewardship and animal welfare, guided by Proverbs 12:10, and a Muslim might do the same to avoid waste, guided by Qur'an 6:141, without either believing meat-eating itself is forbidden.
Practice questions
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Q1According to Genesis 9:3, what permission does God give humanity after the flood?Show answer
Answer: Permission to eat meat: 'everything that lives and moves about will be food for you.'
Q2Name one Christian tradition that follows a mainly or fully vegetarian diet as a matter of religious conviction.Show answer
Answer: Seventh-day Adventists (or other examples such as some monastic orders).
Q3What does the Islamic term dhabihah refer to?Show answer
Answer: The Islamic method of slaughtering an animal, so that its meat is halal (permitted).
Q4Give two foods listed as forbidden (haram) in Qur'an 5:3.Show answer
Answer: Any two of: carrion (an animal that has died naturally), blood, and pork.
Q5Which Christian tradition requires strict fasting from meat and dairy on many days of the year, including Lent?Show answer
Answer: Orthodox Christianity.
Q6According to Qur'an 6:141, what should Muslims avoid when eating?Show answer
Answer: Waste ('waste not by excess').
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Religious Studies exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Explain two Islamic teachings about eating meat.
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'Religious believers who eat meat are not taking their faith's teaching on animals seriously enough.' Evaluate this statement, referring to religious teaching and reaching a justified conclusion.
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Free printable worksheet
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