In the recent discussion with some Christians about vegetarianism, they gave me the quotes from the Bible (Deuteronomy 12), where God gave to the people a full license to eat meat, under condition that they poor out the blood from flesh. I'm asking all Vaisnavas who know something about the subject foropinion about this.

Here is the link for Biblical quotes from Deut 12: link

To argue with Christians, Jews or Muslims regarding meat eating usually leads to a stalemate since their view is quite different from a Vaishnava view. They will claim the Bible is full of meat eating, animal sacrifices, etc., which is true. But let's take a closer look.

Quotes about meat eating are present already in Genesis 9 as an intentionally complex and restricted concession for Noah. They are the basis of Jewish 'kosher' (analogous to Muslim 'halal') rules about how to prepare meat and how to mix it with other dairy foods. However, it is practically impossible to drain all blood from the flesh. Ultimately, this whole troublesome procedure for eating meat is meant to persuade one to adopt a vegetarian diet, the only 100% kosher diet.

"In previous times, abstaining from meat was associated with asceticism and fasting. One will never find any references to any word akin to 'vegetarian' in ancient sources. It is a modern concept and term. Rules of orders like St. Benedict's, the Nazareans/Nazarite vows, etc. prescribe avoiding flesh. To be an ascetic in the Mediterranean region meant no flesh eating, no intoxication, no illicit sex and no gaming/gambling."

(Bhakti Ananda Goswami)

The basic difference is between pravritti and nivritti marga approaches. Nivritti marga in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is practically found in Christian monastic orders only. Some of their founders prescribed no-flesh or minimum-flesh diet, but in recent times these rules tend to be abandoned like in case of the Cistercians and possibly others.

St. Paul says that which comes into a mouth doesn't pollute and one can either eat meat or not, but that it is completely irrelevant to one's holiness. He commented on eating meat offered to idols (from a Vedic point of view unauthorized deva worship), and concluded that it's better not to eat it in order to avoid damaging others's faith. (1 Corinthians 8)

We can agree that pollution by meat is not as serious as a wicked nature, which manifests both by words coming from the mouth and actions. Time, place, and circumstances of Biblical context must be considered though.

Another obstacle for Christians is that meat abstention was supported by various heretic sects (mainly mayavadi Gnostics) and this may predetermine their view of Vaishnavas.

An efficient way to present this issue is an appeal to mercy—"Do for my food, clothes, and entertainment have to suffer and die other living beings?" Violence doesn't seem to fit Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" preaching love and mercy.

"...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

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ys Jan