Karl Keating's E-Letter of October 5, 2004

**Forum Admin** · #1 Oct 5, '04, 9:30 am

Karl's E-Letter of October 5, 2004

Topics:

Eat Right--Or Else

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http://www.catholic.com/newsletters/kke_041005.asp

stumbler · #2 Oct 5, '04, 11:03 am

I know that from my childhhod I have consumed a small amount of sodium chloride daily which is "profitable" for good health.

Thought I'd work a little scriptural angle in there!

Marauder · #3 Oct 5, '04, 11:18 am

I think I am going to report Karl to PETR (the People for the Ethical Treatment of Rocks.) Him and other people treat rocks with huge disdain. They walk all over them without any care about the treatment. People even go as far as throwing poor defenseless rocks into the water, thus drowning them. Karl even eats them, how dare he. Think of all the baby rocks out there that you are destorying their parental rock. He enjoys eating rocks so much he even names a magazine after it, This Rock, feature articles concerning either Petras or Petros. Shame, shame on you Karl

stumbler · #4 Oct 5, '04, 11:41 am

Who says a rock can't have a soul?

**pnewton** · #5 Oct 5, '04, 1:45 pm

What about living animals for clothing? Perhaps you could train a hive of bees to serve your needs.

dominosNbiscuts · #6 Oct 5, '04, 2:13 pm

Karl,

While I appreciate your candor, I'm left asking the obvious question: in which synod do you commune?

As I recall, the Roman Catholic Church is rather picky in insisting that it's communicants all be whole wheat vegans and wine fanciers!

Or are you, perhaps, a member of that wiccan parish referred to by our newest member? If so, watch out for those funny nuns when the lights go out!

Which ever, enjoy the cruise!

d.ewing · #7 Oct 5, '04, 4:01 pm

I am both Catholic (RCIA, confirmed Easter Vigil '98) and vegan; and the two are inextricably linked in my life.

I became a Catholic because I was convinced, after having grown up (Campbellite) Church of Christ, that Christ is truly and really present in the forms of bread and wine in the Eucharist, and that He established an earthly authority to suceed Him in His apostles and their successors.

I also found myself with a better understanding of God as the Author and Giver of life, and the implications for that understanding, particularly with reference to the respect and value we are to accord life. In my case, that meant progressing from a pro-choice conservative to a consistently pro-life (as opposed to merely being against abortions) liberal, in US political terms. I found myself convicted of the need to "walk more lightly upon the earth", and of being more respectful of all life, whether the elderly, the poor, the unborn, the disenfranchised of whatever circumstance.

As I have studied my Catholic faith, and read the lives of many of the saints, l have seen this reinforced time and again. And as I have researched vegetarian and vegan diets, I have learned the overwhelming health and environmental benefits to a non-animal-based diet. There are numerous websites, including at least one for Christian vegetarians. The basic ethic involved is one of good stewardship of the earth, and of causing the least possible pain and suffering while here-- sounds surprisingly like the sort of thing Jesus taught.

Additionally, the grain and other crops required for animal feed in the US alone, would feed the whole world, and still leave enough room to adequately house many thousands of people.

I realize that Our Lord could not have eaten a total vegetarian diet and remained faithful to the Law, so don't trot out that as an argument. It is my conviction, although I admittedly have no scriptural nor magesterial proof, that one of the main reasons animal sacrifice was comanded by God is for the very reasin that to cause the death of any innocent life is a horrible thing, and that it should have made the Isrealites consider the consequenses of their sins. And yes, I can read Genisis well enough to know that God gave man flesh to eat after the flood. But only after the flood, as a concession, since there simply wasn't anything else to eat; whereas we are given every plant for food, save the trees of Life and Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Finally, I cannot any longer ecommend the weekly newsletter as a good source of information to my non-Catholic friends, given the disturbing frequency of self-righteousness and outright snideness. It saddens and disgusts me to think these bad examples of Christian, and especially Catholic, behavior comes from another convert to the Church. Remove me from the mailing list immediately, and send me no further advertising.

bryang · #8 Oct 5, '04, 5:23 pm

So, if we are what we eat does that mean that Karl is stoned?

Since he is on a cruise will he rock the boat?

Sorry. I'll go and try to start a new slate.

jkalange · #9 Oct 5, '04, 10:00 pm

Vegans are not concerned as much about souls as they are about *suffering*. Therefore, the argument about souls and the equality of plants and animals is somewhat irrelevant.

There have been studies that confirm that plants do not experience pain, so that leaves animals. Vegans believe that since it is possible to live a healthy, nutritious life on plant-based sources alone (and you don't have to wear clothing made from synthetics since you can use plant-based clothing as well), it would be senseless to kill another animal to eat it, use it as clothing, for makeup, perfume, etc.

Perhaps a better E-letter concerning vegans and faith would be something like this: If you believe that it is wrong to exploit the suffering of another living being, then it follows that you should be against abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment.

OriginalJS · #10 Oct 6, '04, 5:40 am

Karl has used the logical fallacy of reductio ad adsurdum deliciously and tastefully in cooking up his newsletter. Have a good cruise, Karl!

qmvsimp · #11 Oct 6, '04, 6:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryang

So, if we are what we eat does that mean that Karl is stoned?

Since he is on a cruise will he rock the boat?

Break out the butter please. (For the corn, of course)

BigPaulie · #12 Oct 6, '04, 7:01 am

Dear Scotty, Please beama mi upa. They'z aint no intelligent lifea down here, or decent food either. Hey Mista' Keating, do you know where I can get a good plate of Tourmaline Parmesan around here? What about Zinca Cacciatore? Mama Mia! I think I had better food when I was ina the bigga housa. ( Enjoy all that great food on the C.A. cruise everyone!) Best Whishes, Big Paulie.

Jeane · #13 Oct 6, '04, 7:21 am

I'm only a new subscriber to the e-letter, so it may not matter that I'm really disappointed with it. It's not the source of information that I had thought it would be. Is Mr. Keating trying to be funny? If so, it's not working. Perhaps he should just accept he's not a comedian and stick to being himself.

I missed his reply in the "Catholic vegan" thread, or I would have responded to it there. I think Karl either slept through basic biology or skipped it all together. Comparing plants and animals is like the thread I saw that compared homosexuals to people who didn't like cheese. It's illogical. Food animals have a CNS, plants do not.