Posted by Diane on May 13, 1998 at 13:53:39:
In Reply to: Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Vegetarian posted by rpcman on May 11, 1998 at 14:28:28:
Fuddrucker's is what initially made me more aware of what it is I'm actually eating. Do you have them in California (hamburger chain)? They opened one near where I worked and we used to hit it for lunch a lot. During the wait in line, you had a view through glass of the carcasses hanging up ready to be butchered. Ugh. I often said, uncomfortably, "Makes you want to be a vegetarian." My co-workers must have been sick of hearing it.
Incidentally, Joseph Campbell's book (with Bill Moyer) The Power of Myth talks a bit about the relationship between the hunter and the hunted, life feeding on life (he includes plant life), and the mystical relationships (gods) that resulted. I find his views on myths and how they apply to us today fascinating, but because he synthesizes and generalizes I suppose some of the same criticisms of Nibley could be thrown at him. At the very least, his books are thought provoking.
: As recent as three years ago, I laughed at Vegetarians (my good friend and neighbor is one and we've eaten together for years). Then several things began to happen. After becoming an atheist I began to treat other animals (including people) better. It seemed strange to kill unnecessarily for food--especially the 'higher' organisms that can feel pain. Then I read several books which further changed my outlook (like Ishmael and Next of Kin). Even though I haven't yet read anything that specifically promotes vegetarianism, I now have a difficult time remaining a meat eater. I eat about 10X less meat than I did a few years ago and anything served to me on a bone turns my stomach. Prime Rib is still difficult for me to turn down ;) but one of these days I may become a 100% full-fledged Vegetarian.
: Thanks for the book suggestions (as always) Carlos. I picked up The Beak of the Finch : A Story of Evolution in Our Time this weekend. It will probably be a while before I can get to it though as I've got another dozen in the queue already. ;)