(11-09-2011, 09:28 PM)βαθμιαίος Wrote: It would seem that the same case can be made about domesticated animals.
(groan) I should have seen that coming!
Whenever vegetarians posit that humans and plants enjoy a reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationship, meat-eaters invariably say what you just said: "it's the same with animals."
And yet, who would say that a human victim and victimizer have a mutually beneficial relationship?
Ultimately, they do. We all benefit, eventually, in our spiritual evolution from all the catalyst we've experienced (though not always efficiently). We've all hurt one another over the lifetimes, and yes, ultimately, we all have evolved despite, though not necessarily because of, those experiences of catalyst.
But we'd never say those situations are optimal, or that it's 'ok' to knowingly engage in harming others because "we both grow from it." I am refraining from spelling it out, because I've been asked to not do that because it offends people, but I'm referring to catalyst between humans involving violence.
It exists, apparently for a reason, since the Logos allows it. But when we're in the midst of it, we don't give in to it. We don't just say, "I will allow this, I will keep doing that, because ultimately we will all evolve." We don't say "my victim and I have a mutually beneficial relationship" and use that as a justification to continue harming them, even though, over many lifetimes, we do actually benefit from those experiences.
No, we make the effort to avoid acts of violence. We consider it distasteful, immoral, and blatantly wrong.
Some members have been offended by even any vague comparisons of human violence and animal violence. Yet, the similarities are too obvious to ignore.
Vegetarians might, similarly, find it offensive when it's suggested that eating a carrot is in the same category as cruelly, brutally slaughtering a cow, as it wails in pain, bleeds, and fights for its life.
On some level, that cow obviously did choose that experience.
But on this level, in the present incarnation, that cow doesn't want to be killed.
That cannot be denied.
It's reasonable to draw parallels between humans and cows.
It's not reasonable to draw parallels between cows and carrots.
When the whole world's population quits killing cows, then I'd be happy to talk about carrots. We'll start a PETA Plants division.
In the meantime, trying to tell people to quit eating carrots is pointless. Respectfully, It's frustrating to hear that again and again. It's like saying, "It's ok to kill humans because animals suffer too, so what the hell, we might as well kill them all."
(11-09-2011, 09:28 PM)βαθμιαίος Wrote: It's a joke with a lot of truth behind it, because as far as I can tell, unless one is a breatharian, feeding a third-density body requires accepting the offering of second-density entities.
That's right. That's why it's pointless to worry about plants and microbes at this point. What in the world is that going to accomplish? I mean, seriously?
Let's start with the obvious ones first: the ones that run away when hunted, produce obvious signs in their bodies that they're suffering (like pain receptors and fear hormones), shriek in fear and pain, and bleed.
Let's get that one handled. Then we can start thinking about the plants. After that, the microbes. Then maybe we can think about being Breatharians.