Contact person: Richard H. Schwartz
Phone (718) 761-5876; Fax: (718) 982-3631.
Web site: http://serv.faithweb.com
The Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV),
an interfaith coalition of religious groups and activists, has launched
an international campaign encouraging religious communities to address
diet-related concerns. Their goal is to make religious communities aware
that the realities of animal-based diets and agriculture are
inconsistent with basic religious teachings, such as those to pursue
peace and nonviolence, preserve our health, treat animals with
compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and
reduce hunger. SERV believes that applying spiritual values to
scientific knowledge encourages plant-based diets that will lead to a
more humane, just, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable world.
SERV does not aim to replace any religious vegetarian
groups, but hopes to help all such groups and promote the strong
teachings in every religion that point to vegetarianism as the ideal
diet today. Speakers and publications will be available to explain why a
shift toward plant-centered diets is both a spiritual and a societal
imperative. SERV has prepared a bibliography that includes vegetarian
writings from all the major faiths and will use it to further their
goals.
"People do not recognize how our diets impact the world
around us, as well as our own health," says SERV co-founder Richard
Schwartz, author of Judaism and Global Survival. "Religious leaders need
to understand the importance of plant-based nutrition, and they need to
teach their congregations how to eat healthy diets that use less
resources and are better for the environment."
Carol J. Adams, a SERV spokesperson and award-winning
author, agrees. "You are what you eat," she says. "Our meat-based
culture is killing us, as well as the world around us. It's also not
helping animals, our sense of ethics, or our spirituality."
Among the initial leaders of SERV are the following
vegetarian and animal rights authors and activists: Carol J. Adams
(Author, The Sexual Politics of Meat and The Inner Art of Vegetarianism
trilogy), Keith Akers (Author, Vegetarian Sourcebook and The Lost
Religion of Jesus), Nathan Braun (Founder, Christian Vegetarian
Association; Co-author, Good News for All Creation: Vegetarianism as
Christian Stewardship), Bruce Friedrich (vegetarian coordinator, People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Roberta Kalechofsky (Founder and
Director, Jews for Animal Rights and Micah Books; author, Vegetarian
Judaism), Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D. (Co-author, Good News for All
Creation: Vegetarianism as Christian Stewardship), Norm Phelps (Author,
Love For All Creatures: Frequently Asked Questions About the Bible and
Animal Rights), Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. (Author, Judaism and
Vegetarianism and Judaism and Global Survival), and Richard Alan Young,
Ph.D. (Author, Is God a Vegetarian?).
SERV expects to add many more leading religious
vegetarian activists, as it strives for a very diverse group, involving
representatives of all the major religions.
While vegetarianism has long been associated with New
Age, Buddhist, and Hindu beliefs, increasingly Christians, Jews, and
Muslims are also embracing plant-based diets. For example, an
International Jewish Vegetarian Society has existed since 1964, and
maintains Jewish Vegetarian Centers in Jerusalem and London. There is
also a recently formed Christian Vegetarian Association, with a campaign
asking "What Would Jesus Eat...Today?" Increasingly, religious leaders
are recognizing diets' role in health, hunger, and environmental
problems.
SERV's initial efforts include (in addition to the
bibliography of religion-based writings) compiling a list of web sites
with religious teachings on vegetarianism, compiling a set of religious
vegetarian-related quotations, and setting up a web site. They are also
respectfully challenging religious establishments to seriously consider
putting vegetarianism squarely on their agendas.
Richard H. Schwartz
Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314, Room 1S-106
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, and
Mathematics and Global Survival
Phone: (718) 761-5876 FAX: (718) 982-3631
Over 100 articles on the Internet at
http://jewishveg.com/schwartz
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