… in the religion of God eating meat is permissible. Man can
live without meat. To kill an animal and eat his flesh seems to be cruelty, but
today it is almost impossible for the people not to eat the flesh of animals.
It is difficult to tell people not to eat pork, mutton, beef, fish. Supposing
that they do not eat these, what are they going to do about drinking water: for
in this glass there are thousands of living animalcule which cannot be seen
under the microscope, swimming in the water. They are dancing in the air that
man breathes… They enter the body of man and die. This cheese is full of them.
If you put it under the microscope you will see them moving. When you consider
this with a broader view, you see it is not possible not 'to eat animals. Why
is it permissible?
We must observe that these animals which are in the cheese
represent animal life without intelligence, but you are eating them. This
transfers them from the animal kingdom to the human kingdom. They were without
intelligence and now they find intelligence; they were knowledge zand now they
attain knowledge. Their sensibilities were primitive now they become developed,
they receive a portion in thinking and reasoning. Then these animals which you
are eating evolve from a low stage to a higher stage of existence. Therefore it
is permissible to eat animals.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 29, 1920, recorded
by Mrs. H.E. Hoagg)
