Arguing for veganism to conservatives

[Second Summer]

What arguments for veganism do you think would have the greatest impact with conservatives?

I've been thinking, religion might be one avenue, but it's tricky because you really need to know the religion in and out, and even then it's probably not going to be a strong argument since no religions really prescribe veganism anyway. And you'll also be up against 1000s of years tradition, and tradition is something that seems to weigh heavily in the conservative mind.

There is something in Christianity about being a good shepherd for Creation. That's a good start, but veganism isn't the only expression one might choose in order to conform with that ideal.

Health and purity might be another possibility. Purity of mind is something to consider. The guilt one might feel by consuming animal flesh and other products can be a heavy burden on the subconscious level. Also, the rationalizations necessary to make animal exploitation sound reasonable are clouding our judgment. Bodily purity is achieved best by eating foods that are low in environmental pollutants, and these accumulate more and more as you move up the food chain.

Proper conservatives are also into virtues and avoiding vices and sins. Eating animal foods in this day and age might be considered a kind of gluttony, which in medieval times were considered a deadly sin.

I guess it would also be important to shoot down "by association" counter-arguments. Veganism is associated with progressive/liberal ideas, and that might put conservatives off. The logical fallacy of such arguments has to be emphasized.

Anything more that can be said on this topic? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts!

 

[beancounter]

Here's one: Veg*ism can be less expensive than an omni diet.

 

[Second Summer]

Here's one: Veg*ism can be less expensive than an omni diet.

Yes, frugality is considered a virtue by some.

Also, I assume embracing veganism on a societal level could mean smaller expenses for the government to feed people, e.g. poor people, people in government facilities (prisons, hospitals, schools), and therefore less taxes.

 

[beancounter]

Yes, frugality is considered a virtue by some.

Also, I assume embracing veganism on a societal level could mean smaller expenses for the government to feed people, e.g. poor people, people in government facilities (prisons, hospitals, schools), and therefore less taxes.

Conservatives typically don't care about the "society at large". That's a progressive concept. Conservatives won't help others unless they can get something in return, either directly or indirectly, but it generally has to be measurable and identifiable.

 

[ledboots]

Although the religious right wing made great strides under Reagan and beyond, many conservatives aren't religious, aren't Christian.

I think using the environmental arguments as well as the economic and health ones might be best.

1. The waste of water, land, resources on growing animals to eat vs growing plants. The pollution:air, water, land, oceans.

2. Economically, vegetarianism is so much cheaper with so much less waste.

3.All the health arguments:cardiac, cancer, etc, in addition to losing weight if done right. And less health care costs, always a plus.

4. Make public the amount of money spent on subsidizing meat farmers. And the water wastage.

5. We have a zillion prisons. Make them all vegan. Prisoners can grow some food; the rest they buy would be cheaper and healthier than baloney sandwiches and milk cartons.

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

I'm a Christian, Vegan, and have mostly conservative leanings. I always thought it would be easy to convince a conservative... but I do feel like anyone with a conscience WOULD agree, but Compartmentalizing would be a defense mechanism to keep doing what they're doing.

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

1. God said to take Care of the animals (Proverbs 12:10 NIV)
2. Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; (Proverbs 27:23)

Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. (Genesee 2:15)

And He said to them, "Which one of you will have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?" (Luke 14:5

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

Lol I'm a Bible nerd

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. (Isaiah 40:11)




Also, God was pretty peeved when Balaam kicked his donkey.

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

If you want to read the" Balaam and his donkey " story, read Numbers 22:9-38
.
If you read an old translation, it would say" kicked his ***" Please do not make fun. I take the Bible very seriously and I hope that would be respected.

I am sharing this because this might help with the topic

 

[SpottedShoreBreather]

How about "many people in other countries are eating no meat and they are still living and breathing." -because ppl say it's impossible to live on a Vegan diet. I hope this could help.

"We are not on a deserted island, so we do not NEED to eat meat."

 

[yakherder]

Don't kill animals, save the bullets for terrorists!

 

[Second Summer]

Thank you, @SpottedShoreBreather, those are good quotes in support of animal welfare and perhaps conservation, which are important as part of an argument for veganism. However, how do you deal with Jesus and the fish that fed the 5000? Or God preferring Cain's animal sacrifice over Abel's vegetable sacrifice? Or, after expelling Adam and Eve from the garden, God allowed them basically everything under the sun to eat?

 

[ledboots]

Thank you, @SpottedShoreBreather, those are good quotes in support of animal welfare and perhaps conservation, which are important as part of an argument for veganism. However, how do you deal with Jesus and the fish that fed the 5000? Or God preferring Cain's animal sacrifice over Abel's vegetable sacrifice? Or, after expelling Adam and Eve from the garden, God allowed them basically everything under the sun to eat?

That's the issue with using religious arguments. The counter arguments. Even Buddhists find lots of ways to convince each other that eating meat is aok.

 

[Calliegirl]

The conservatives in the US are concerned with one thing, making money. Any religious stands they take are strictly a play to get the religious vote to get republicans in office.

If you could show them they could make more money from vegan products than meat and dairy, they would listen.

 

[beancounter]

As a general rule, I don't bother arguing with conservatives.

 

[yakherder]

I actually don't bother with either. I find conservatives and liberals equally stubborn, and equally irrational when it comes to defending a triggering stance.

 

[Clueless Git]

What arguments for veganism do you think would have the greatest impact with conservatives?

Conservatives pride themselves on being the biggest ***-holes on the planet.

The only way to have impact is to be a bigger ***-hole than them.

I use my patented pedophile argument to get such people to launch the offensive against the exact same predatory/abusive/exploitative moralities they are so used to only having to defend.

 

[Tom L.]

Matt Scully is a conservative; he wrote a book entitled "Dominion", in which he makes a case for animals from a conservative/religious point of view. I haven't read it yet, but I think it's fairly well-known. I'm sort of under the impression that he doesn't really advocate animal rights as most people would understand that term, but he does promote either vegetarianism or veganism.

 

[wedigfood]

That's the issue with using religious arguments. The counter arguments. Even Buddhists find lots of ways to convince each other that eating meat is aok.

Have to disagree with your take on Buddhists, since I am one. If you have the time please read the following on my site, a letter by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist Priest, a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace.

wedigfood.com

or the entire letter, it is long but a good read.

Thich Nhat Hanh