To Eat? Part Seven. Christian Vegetarian?

To Eat No-Kill Cultivated Meat

Part Seven. Christian Vegetarian? An Interview with John Ryder

What might a Christian vegetarian anticipate when we pose the scenario of no-kill cultivated meat products? Might a new level of protection of animal welfare tempt the Christian vegetarian to eat cultivated meat? Or, are other commitments decisive?

The Christian vegetarian to whom we have put our questions is John Ryder. Ryder along with Stephen Kaufman speak for the Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) with branches in North America and the United Kingdom.

Question One. How do you define “vegetarian”? What is included and excluded in your diet?

John Ryder. As vegetarian anything that involves killing an animal. So no meat.  Most in our community are vegan, due to the huge suffering in all commercial dairy and egg production, as well as the ecological harm this produces.

Question Two. You affirm a distinctively Christian vegetarianism. What in Holy Scripture justifies vegetarianism or even veganism?

John Ryder. The creation story in Genesis. The peaceable kingdom in Isaiah. Many other texts that show God loves all he has made, not just humans; and that all creation was made to praise God. We need to take Christ’s lordship over us as the pattern of our lordship over the rest of creation.

Question Three. We are exploring the future of no-kill cultivated meat. If you were served a hamburger that did not require the slaughter of a steer, would you eat it?

John Ryder. If I could be sure no animal was harmed and it was as sustainable as my pea-based one, yes.

Question Four. Do you have any further thoughts about no-kill cultivated meat?

John Ryder. If it can reduce animal exploitation and help the environment it can only be a good thing. But I would see it as a help in weaning people off meat, not an end in itself.

What’s Next?

What seems to be decisive in John Ryder’s Christian vegetarianism is love for animals.

What’s next? Food theology. We’ll talk with Duke Divinity School professor Norma Wirzba.

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Brian Brozovic is a student at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Ted Peters is an emeritus professor at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, USA. Visit Professor Peters’ website: TedsTimelyTake.com.

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