Eating animals and their derivatives is often mistaken for a natural behavior, but in reality, it is a forced compliance behavior, not an inherent part of our nature. In a society where eating animal flesh and their derivatives (milk, eggs, honey, etc.) is normalized and encouraged daily, it is often not until we grow older that we might be able to make the connection and realize that our actions are in violation of our true nature.
We got discreetly yet steadily indoctrinated and predisposed to engage in aggressive behaviors through an invisible, destructive belief system that is derived from human illusions with no basis in reality. This unquestioned belief system distorts our perception of what is natural, normal, and necessary.
Food serves as the foundational indoctrinating ritual in every culture, perpetuating the pervasive violence of our society against non-human animals.
From infancy, we are conditioned to adopt a set of mutually reinforcing mentalities that include disconnectedness, desensitization, denial, exclusivism, and the commodification of sentient beings. If you believe that eating animal flesh and their derivatives is a choice, consider how old you were when you made that choice. Most of us never had the opportunity to make an informed decision; instead, we were indoctrinated into a system that perpetuates oppression, exploitation, and violence towards our fellow non-human animals.
Humans formed relationships with domesticated animals long before the advent of any religion.
The reliance on animals was primarily driven by the need for food, transportation, shelter, clothing, and warfare. So, when religion speaks of consuming animals, it does so only because it was speaking the language in which they were living daily and dealt with the reality happening on the ground back then. It did not originate nor introduce animal consumption. It only regulated it the same way it did with polygamy and slavery.
The argument that humans have always eaten animal products renders us complete omnivores is downright wrong, as eating something for survival is completely different than eating for optimal health.
Our ancestors had no concept of biochemistry or the effects food has on the cellular level of our body. Our ancestors survived ice ages and harsh climate conditions by eating the leftovers of carnivores. They invented tools in order to kill and cooking in order to digest parts of animal’s flesh. And yes, they developed communication skills that contributed to our evolution, but modern humans are not endangered species anymore. We are adapted to eat cooked meat, but our anatomy didn’t change. Humans lack both the physical characteristics of carnivores and the instinct to kill animals and devour their raw carcasses. It is not natural for us to consume the flesh of other animals. It is not natural to consume other mammal’s milk. With over 75 percent of humans on the planet unable to properly process lactose (lactose intolerant), it is evidence enough that we are not doing what is natural and in accordance with our bodies. It is not natural to consume any animal derivatives, such as bird eggs or bee honey. Breeding animals into existence and using them as machines and commodities, depriving them of any semblance of a natural life, is far from natural.
Awakening yourself and reversing social conditioning happens only when you decide to “step out of the box.”
Fortunately, we can each, with help from others, undertake a journey of healing from social conditioning. We can free ourselves from the forced compliance behavior of killing and causing unnecessary abuse to others, and also from the underlying attitudes that cause this unnecessary suffering to our fellow animals.
It is time to make a conscious choice. Stop contributing in the injustice, oppression and unnecessary violence towards our fellow non-human animals. Choose compassion, respect, and love. By making this choice, we can align our actions with our true nature and promote a more just and compassionate world for all sentient beings.
Sources:
https://freefromharm.org/common-justifications-for-eating-animals/its-natural/
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/whats-the-natural-human-diet/
https://carnism.org/
https://faunalytics.org/
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