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The Fellowship of Life |
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...While on the subject of food, John Gilheany from the Christian
Vegetarian Association of the UK has been in touch. He writes: "There have been several historical figures within Christendom who
have embraced vegetarianism in later life, including John and Charles
Wesley, C.H. Spurgeon and General William Booth. In most cases,
Christians who have inclined towards or adopted vegetarianism would cite
health or ascetic reasons, for their dietary preference. However, Lord
Soper, when asked if he believed Jesus to have been a vegetarian,
famously replied: 'No, but if he were around today, I think that he
probably would be.' "* He feels that large numbers of young people, in particular, have left
the Church because of perceived and rife indifference towards animal
suffering and exploitation. He continues: "Western society is abundantly
blessed to the point where any supermarket trolley could be filled ten
times over without a drop of animal blood being spilt. Surely to those
to whom much has being given much will always be expected; and in ways
which require us to reflect upon our everyday witness to the coming
Kingdom." For those interested, CVAUK has a website The Methodist Recorder *The comment originally appeared in an early collection of Donald
Soper's preaching memoirs: Tower Hill, 12:30, Epworth Press, 1963, p.91.
In reply to a member of the crowd who asked if Jesus was a teetotaller
or a vegetarian, Rev. Soper replied: "I think probably, if He were here
today, He would be both." (reprinted in Christianity and the Rights of Animals, Andrew Linzey, SPCK, 1987, p49) Return to Letters by J. M. Gilheany |
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