Why I am a vegan

• Intellectually a vegan lifestyle makes sense as I choose to live a life of integrity in light of all that I have come to believe regarding my place in the fullness of all of God's creation.

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. LORD our God, all this abundance ... comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. (1 Chronicles 29:14-17a TNIV)

I am vegan...
• Spiritually to honor God by caring for God's creation as a responsible steward of the earth, her resources, and all of her inhabitants.

He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 TNIV)

• Environmentally to reduce my carbon footprint as consumption of animal products is an inefficient use of water, land, and energy, and creates heavy pollution from livestock feces.

A single dairy cow produces about 120 pounds of wet manure per day, which is equivalent to the waste produced by 20–40 people. That means California’s 1.4 million dairy cows produce as much waste as 28–56 million people.
(U.S. EPA, "Notes from Underground," Fall 2001)

• Practically to do something about world hunger as a plant-based diet can feed significantly more people than a meat-centered diet.
[T]hose who claim to care about the well-being of human beings and the preservation of our environment should become vegetarians for that reason alone. They would thereby increase the amount of grain available to feed people elsewhere, reduce pollution, save water and energy, and cease contributing to the clearing of forests.
(Peter Singer, Animal Liberation, 1990)

• Physically to consume a healthier natural diet.

As much as possible, eat foods as they were created - before they are changed or converted into something humans think might be better. (Rex Russell, What the Bible Says About Healthy Living)

• Politically to not support self-serving business practices of large conglomerations that care only about profit with no regard for the environment, their workers, or customers.

If we're eating meat, we are paying people to be cruel to animals. (Father John Dear)

• Ethically to reduce the suffering of animals with whom I am connected as members of God's creation.

They (animals), too, are created by the same loving Hand of God which created us. It is our duty to protect them and to promote their well-being. (Mother Theresa)