Analysis Of Blessed Are The Meat Eaters: Christian Anti Vegetarianism

In the article, “ Blessed Are the Meat Eaters: Christian Anti Vegetarianism and the Missionary Encounter with Chinese Buddhism” the author discusses the relationship between anti vegetarianism and Chinese Buddhism. Anti vegetarianism is defined as being against meat products. The major confluence between Christian missionary and Chinese Buddhism is the issue of meat eating and dietary practice. The author inputs accounts from two missionaries who are both from Christianity and Buddhist point of view. Ricci was an Italian Jesuit missionary who taught Chinese empire the beliefs of Christianity. Ricci was unpleased with how Buddhists avoided eating meat; therefore, he came up with six points to his argument of transmigration. His points summarizes

In addition, Ricci argued that meat eating is beneficial for animal species. In opposition, a Christian Anti Vegetarian, Timothy Kung reviews why Chinese Buddhists are against meat eating. In terms of Buddhism, being vegetarianism is a dietary practice and eating meat is avoided because the animals are most likely a past ancestor. Buddhists often criticize Christians for “loving people” and not expressing enough love for animals. Buddhists consider animals as some kind of “Buddha nature”(Reinders, 2004, 529). Animals are every masculine objects just like how the Chinese would describe animals and man a “yang” code instead of “yin”. In today’s global society, this controversial topic between vegetarianism and meat eating is a never ending topic. Everyone has their own way of why meat eating is a pro or con

Huber explains the problem of suffering which is caused by self hatred. Her solution to suffering is understood through the process of Buddha’s Four Noble Truth. She first identifies the issue of the “American Problem” (Gold, 2015, 2). As many Americans suffer through psychological emotions such as depression, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness, people are driven through a moment of despair. Buddha’s first noble truth: the truth of suffering. “Life is suffering” (Gold, 2015, 3). A simple Chinese phrase meaning to experience the bitterness before tasting the sweet. For example; going through a harder obstacle first will make other tasks easier in future. The second noble truth: the causes of suffering. This defines suffering as “ a source of dissatisfaction”(Gold, 2015, 3). Everyone knows the feeling of disappointment when we don’t receive what we want. This makes a person create a habit of wanting more. This process of suffering is a never ending cycle because the desire of satisfaction will quickly fade away and continues with another dissatisfaction. The third noble truth is the cessation of suffering which means to renunciate the dissatisfaction of suffering. In order to solve the cause of suffering, Huber says “one must accept the world as it is. Non acceptance is always suffering and acceptance is always freedom” (Gold, 2015,