Quantum Wellness by Kathy Freston

Author:Kathy Freston [FRESTON, KATHY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SEL031000
ISBN: 9781602860605
Publisher: Weinstein Books
Published: 2008-05-19T16:00:00+00:00

Truth: Of course, the fact that we can’t do everything should not mean that we then choose to do nothing. Remember, we are on a continuum. Progress, not perfection! We may indeed decide to do more or go further in our endeavors to be conscientious as time goes by, but we need not refuse to be kind now for fear that we might have to be kinder still.

Regarding plants, the Christian writer C. S. Lewis staunchly opposed testing on animals on scriptural grounds, and to those who asked whether there is a difference between cruelty to animals and cruelty to plants, he pointed out that people already understand the differences. Each of us would recoil in horror if asked to imagine an animal being bludgeoned or dismembered alive—because we know that these things cause animals pain. We can see it, feel it, and empathize. But none of us feels similarly at the prospect of pulling weeds or breaking up a head of lettuce or mowing our lawn—because we know both intuitively and from scientific studies that weeds and lawns and heads of lettuce can’t feel pain.

I’ll admit that I am surprised by how often someone will argue that there is no difference between eating plants and eating animals—because plants are alive. But plants don’t have any of the things that are required to feel pain—a central nervous system, a brain, pain receptors. As an aside, it takes a lot more plants to feed the animals we eat than it takes to feed us directly. So if you’re worried about plant pain, you’ll save exponentially more plants by eating them yourself, rather than funneling them through animals.

I’m not so sure about insects, though I try to give them the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. Yes, when I walk down the street, I’m sure I step on bugs. But then we have to ask ourselves, does the fact that we can’t stop all pain mean that we shouldn’t bother to stop a lot of it? Of course not. That would be like saying that if you drive a car, you shouldn’t even bother to recycle, or that since I accidentally step on some bugs, I shouldn’t step around the ones I happen to notice. We do what we can to be kind within the context of living a normal and healthy, nonobsessive life.

There are those who may ask goading questions, such as “If you were on a desert island and it was just you and a pig, would you eat the pig?” or “If a building were on fire and there were a baby and a chicken, which would you save?” Of course I’d eat the pig. Of course I’d save the baby. The thing about vegetarianism is that there is no real trade-off: eating meat—in almost every way you look at it—is not good for us. By giving it up, you are sparing animals horrible suffering and pain, and all you are giving up is a few potentially enjoyable meals. In the long run, both you and the animal will benefit.

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