Preface - by Isaac Bashevis Singer
(Nobel Prize for Literature recipient)
http://www.ivu.org/history/northam20b/singer.html

From Food for the Spirit:
Vegetarianism and the World Religions, by Steven Rosen (Bala Books, 1987,
ISBN 0-89647-021-0). From International Vegetarian Union - http://www.ivu.org

"Vegetarianism is my religion. I became a consistent vegetarian some
twenty-three years ago. Before that, I would try over and over again. But it
was sporadic. Finally, in the mid-1960s, I made up my mind. And I've been a
vegetarian ever since.

When a human kills an animal for food, he is neglecting his own hunger for
justice. Man prays for mercy, but is unwilling to extend it to others. Why
should man then expect mercy from God? It's unfair to expect something that
you are not willing to give. It is inconsistent.

I can never accept inconsistency or injustice. Even if it comes from God. If
there would come a voice from God saying, "I'm against vegetarianism!" I
would say, "Well, I am for it!" This is how strongly I feel in this regard.

In orthodox religious circles, this would be considered heretical. Still, I
consider myself a religious man. I'm not against organized religion, but I
don't take part in it. Especially when they interpret their religious books
as being in favor of meat-eating. Sometimes they say He wants sacrifice and
the killing of animals. If this is true, then I would never be able to
comply. But I think God is wiser and more merciful than that. And there are
interpretations of religious scriptures which support this, saying that
vegetarianism is a very high ideal.

Whether the mass of people accept the vegetarian interpretation of religion
or not really doesn't matter. At least not in my life. I accept it
implicitly. Of course, it would be wonderful if the world adopted
vegetarianism, on religious grounds or any other. But this is not likely. I
am a skeptic, it's true, but I'm also realistic. In any event, what the
people in general do will not affect me. I will continue to be a vegetarian
even if the whole world started to eat meat.

This is my protest against the conduct of the world. To be a vegetarian is to
disagree -- to disagree with the course of things today. Nuclear power,
starvation, cruelty -- we must make a statement against these things.
Vegetarianism is my statement. And I think it's a strong one.

Author Steven Rosen makes a similar statement in his book. And although I do
not necessarily agree with everything he says, point for point, I do find his
work fascinating and convincing. He correctly points out that various
philosophers and religious leaders have tried to convince their following
that animals are nothing more than machines, put on earth for our pleasure,
with no purpose of their own. Mr. Rosen smashes this idea, however, and every
reader who is predisposed to the vegetarian ideal will enjoy his logic and
reason in doing this. "

(1986) Isaac Bashevis Singer


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