How you eat is a private matter

While I advocate for a largely plant-based diet, I view the modern vegan movement with a nuanced and—at times—critical eye. This perspective stems primarily from yogic philosophy, the nature of the human body, and ecological considerations.

I strongly caution against turning nutrition into a religion, a moral issue, or a rigid philosophy. I advise people not to label themselves as "vegans" or "vegetarians." Eating is a practical necessity for the body. Instead, everyone should experiment and listen to their own body to discover which foods provide them with the most energy, agility, and mental clarity.

Indigenous peoples have eaten meat for millennia; in some regions, it is impossible to survive the winter without consuming meat.

Even Jesus was not a vegetarian or vegan.

According to the New Testament, Jesus ate both fish and meat.

Fish: The Gospels report on several occasions that Jesus ate fish—including after his resurrection (Luke 24:42–43)—and he also multiplied fish and bread for the people (Matthew 14:17–21).

Lamb: As a devout Jew, Jesus participated in the traditional Passover meal, during which the Passover lamb was consumed (Luke 22:8–15).

Dietary laws: The New Testament contains no prohibition against meat. In Mark 7:15, Jesus explained that it is not food that makes a person unclean, but rather what comes from the heart.

Gandhi was not a vegan; he consumed goat's milk during periods of illness. In his earlier years, he consumed cow's milk; he described himself as a vegetarian, but not as a vegan. I view the radical vegan demand to completely end the domestication of cows and cease consuming dairy products as shortsighted and ecologically problematic. Tractors cannot enrich the soil with organic matter. Cows and oxen are essential to the traditional, sustainable cycle because their manure nourishes the soil; historically, milk is merely a by-product of this system.

I subscribe to the fundamental biological principle of a plant-based diet. The human digestive system—specifically the length of the gastrointestinal tract—is biologically designed for plant-based food. Meat remains in the body far too long and induces sluggishness. The more complex the organism (e.g., mammals), the harder it is for the human system to break down its genetic code. Plants have a simple structure and can be processed without leaving residue. I reject the claim that a purely plant-based diet fails to provide sufficient protein; I would point to plant-based powerhouses, as well as the fact that the world's strongest animals are herbivores.

A frequent point of contention between me and the vegan community is the claim regarding plant consciousness. I emphasize that it has been scientifically proven that plants are also sentient (possess consciousness) and react to threats—for instance, by sending warning signals to neighboring trees when being eaten.

Killing a plant is, fundamentally, just as cruel as killing an animal.

However, since humans must eat to survive, they should do so with sensitivity and gratitude, consuming only what is strictly necessary, rather than claiming moral superiority.

Many ostensibly vegan foods contain hidden animal-derived ingredients or were produced using animal-based processing aids.

Wine, juices, and beer: These beverages are often filtered during the clarification process using animal agents such as gelatin (derived from bones), isinglass (fish bladder), casein (milk protein), or egg white. German beer is usually vegan due to the *Reinheitsgebot* (Purity Law), though this is not guaranteed; unfiltered juices or wines are often problematic.

Certain fruits (apples, citrus): The skins are often treated with beeswax (E901) or shellac (E904)—derived from insects—to give them a glossy finish.

Bananas: Many conventionally grown bananas are treated with chitosan (a substance derived from shrimp or crab shells) after harvest to prevent mold.

Baked goods and bread: Many industrial doughs contain L-cysteine ​​(E920)—a flour treatment agent—derived from pig bristles or feathers. Conventional pretzels are also often brushed with lard.

Red foods, jams, and ketchup: The red color often comes from carmine (E120/cochineal)—a dye derived from crushed scale insects.

Chips and snacks containing spice blends or flavorings often include hidden sweet whey powder, lactose, or animal fats (for example, in some paprika-flavored chips).

Vegetable broth and instant soups often contain hidden egg white, milk powder, or beef fat.

The Bible does not fundamentally forbid the consumption of meat and fish, though it regulates it differently throughout the course of salvation history.

Old Testament: Creation, dietary laws, and permission

In the creation narrative (Gen 1:29), the diet is originally envisioned as purely plant-based: "See, I have given you every plant..."

It is only after the Flood (Gen 9:3) that God permits humans to eat meat—"Everything that moves and lives shall serve you as food"—while expressly forbidding the consumption of blood, as life resides in the blood.

Strict rules are introduced in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14). Permitted animals include ruminants with split hooves—such as cattle, sheep, and goats—as well as aquatic creatures with fins and scales. Pigs, camels, and hares, along with shellfish or fish lacking scales, are considered unclean.

In the Old Testament, fish is generally regarded as unproblematic and clean, provided it has fins and scales.

New Testament: Jesus and Christianity

According to the Gospels, Jesus ate fish (e.g., Luke 24:42–43) and, as a Jew, participated in the Passover meal, at which the Passover lamb was traditionally eaten.

The New Testament emphasizes that food does not defile a person before God (Mark 7:19). Through visions—such as the one experienced by Peter in Acts 10—and the teachings of Paul (e.g., Romans 14; 1 Timothy 4:4), it is made clear that all animals are created by God and are clean.

In Romans 14, Paul advises showing consideration for others. Those who choose not to eat meat for reasons of conscience should not be judged; Those who eat meat should do so with gratitude. Abstaining from meat or practicing vegetarianism is not presented in the Bible as an obligation, but rather respected as a personal decision of conscience or an expression of compassion—as seen in the case of the prophet Daniel, who adopted a plant-based diet (Daniel 1:8–16).

Surviving cuneiform texts from the Sumerians, as well as later Babylonian recipes, contain no moral or religious prohibitions against the general consumption of meat and fish. Instead, the texts reflect a highly hierarchical and pragmatic view of these foods.

1. Meat as a status symbol and food for the gods

In Sumerian myths and administrative texts, meat was a precious commodity. According to religious belief, humanity’s fundamental task was to provide the gods with exquisite foods and offerings, including fatty meat.

High-quality meat from sheep, goats, and cattle—as well as ducks and geese—was reserved for the upper class, the palaces, and the temples.

For ordinary workers, meat was a rarity in their daily diet. When they did eat meat, recent bone analyses and texts indicate it was often pork. Pigs in cities were fed on refuse, making their meat both affordable and nutritious.

A surviving Sumerian proverb mocks the idea of ​​feeding anything other than lean ham to female slaves, suggesting that fatty pork was far too good for them.

2. Fish as a key staple

Fish from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, as well as from artificial canals, formed a cornerstone of the Mesopotamian economy. Sumerian texts distinguish between more than 50 different species of fish by name.

Fish was consumed fresh, dried, or salted, or processed into a savory fish paste.

While kings were served fresh, high-quality fish, street vendors in the cities sold grilled or fried fish as a quick snack for the general public.

3. Medical and calendar-based taboos

Although there were no permanent dietary prohibitions—such as the later Jewish or Islamic bans on pork—Sumerian and Babylonian texts record certain temporary taboos:

So-called lunar calendars and medical texts specified which days of the year certain foods were considered unlucky or harmful to health. On some days, for instance, it was explicitly stated that one should avoid eating fish or leeks to prevent incurring the wrath of the gods or contracting illness.

In literary works such as *Dumuzi's Dream*, demons of the underworld are often characterized by their rejection of human civilization: they drink no pure water and eat neither fish nor leeks.