LettersLetter From Brian about the Term 'Vegan Lifestyle' - 7 Jul 2006
Letters From All-Creatures.org and The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation

Letter From Brian about the Term 'Vegan Lifestyle' - 7 Jul 2006

Hello,

I really enjoyed your site. It has a lot of great recipes and ideas.

My only complaint is the use of the term 'vegan lifestyle'. I have been a practicing vegetarian for almost twenty years and for years considered myself to be living the vegan lifestyle.

However, several years ago I came to the conclusion that while it is true one can practice a vegan diet, one cannot practice a vegan lifestyle. The problem is that there is no way to live on this planet without killing. It is sad but true, we are killing machines. Take a shower and one kills bacteria, mow the grass and one kills insects, drive a car and one kills more insects and animals, and the list goes on and on.

So while I practice a vegan diet, I now promote that I am a vegetarian because there is no possible way for me to live a vegan lifestyle.

Peace,

BT

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Brian:

You are absolutely correct, but a vegan lifestyle incorporates the intent of the individual not to intentionally do any harm to any sentient beings (bacteria, being plants, aren’t sentient). We need to understand that we live in a fallen world, and that we are not perfect, no matter how hard we try, so to the extent that we fall short, we live in God’s grace. Thus, we don’t believe that a “vegan lifestyle” is an oxymoron.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary


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