Myth # 12 : " Veganism is a cult ." ( also heard as " You vegans are in a religion that brainwashes people ")
Myth # 12 : " Veganism is a cult ." ( also heard as " You vegans are in a religion that brainwashes people ")
For the record , there is no " vegan theology " and there is no " vegan church ". Veganism is a practical , ethics-based life philosophy founded by Donald Watson in 1944 – essentially stating that veganism is “ the doctrine that mankind should live without exploiting animals ”. As such , veganism is simply a way of life that is open to any person who does not want to participate in the exploitation of other sentient beings , and anyone who wants to add themselves to a powerful social justice movement that is taking root and flowering all over the world …
Essentially , veganism has nothing to do with religion at all . Indeed , when we look at the basic characteristics of both veganism & religion in general , we can readily see that believing veganism to be religion or calling it a “ cult ” couldn ' t be further from the truth … Consider the following :
* Religion is based on mental & emotional faith ; while veganism is based on material , tangible facts ( with the animal suffering caused exclusively by non-vegans being very , very , very real ) …
* Religion is a theological response to spiritual matters ( most often related to the creation , nature &/ or purpose of the Universe ); while veganism is a practical , ethical response to a witnessable social injustice ...
* Religion worships a celestial godhead ( s ) who resides elsewhere ( often in " Heaven above "); while veganism cherishes justice and equality and kindness for all beings right here & now on Earth ...
* Religion is generally closed to all but those who accept its particular tenants ; while veganism is a way of cruelty-free & compassion-filled living that is completely open to people of every age , every race , every gender , every nationality -- and indeed – every religion .
Current status of this Myth : Demystified Justification it provides for eating animals : NONE
“ To live as a vegan is not to subscribe to a rigid belief system ; it is rather to eradicate previously held , often dogmatic belief systems by replacing them with opinions and behaviors that are grounded in facts that can be scientifically & morally substantiated .” ~ anonymous
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