“Responding to climate change will require profound changes in thought, values and behaviour at the level of the individual, the community and the nations of the world. Above all, the climate change crisis has demonstrated that we are all connected as the inhabitants of one biosphere, the citizens of one world and the members of one human civilization. Accordingly, we must look beyond all sectional interests to make the oneness of humanity the guiding moral and ethical principle for the resolution of the climate change crisis.”

“The Australian Bahá'í Community supports the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change… in the endeavour to promote a reduction in meat consumption as a step towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Through this and other initiatives, increasing numbers of religious communities are lending their voice and resources to efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.”

- Australian Bahá'í Community

Bahá'i teachings on consumption of meat and treatment of animals

The Bahá’í Faith encourages compassion and kindness for animals. Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet and founder of the Faith, wrote in the Kitab-i-Aqdas: “Burden not an animal with more than it can bear. We, truly, have prohibited such treatment through a most binding interdiction in the Book. Be ye the embodiments of justice and fairness amidst all creation.”

Similarly ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh’s son, explained: “It is not only their fellow human beings that the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature. For in all the physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man.”

Bahá’ís are permitted to eat meat, and this may be essential under some circumstances. Generally speaking, however, eating meat is not necessary for good health, and a vegetarian diet is favoured.

Regarding meat-eating, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: “… the food of man is cereals and fruit … he is not in need of meat, nor is he obliged to eat it. Even without eating meat he would live with the utmost vigour and energy … Truly, the killing of animals and the eating of their meat is somewhat contrary to pity and compassion, and if one can content oneself with cereals, fruit, oil and nuts, such as pistachios, almonds and so on, it would undoubtedly be better and more pleasing.”

He also predicted: “As humanity progresses, meat will be used less and less … When mankind is more fully developed, the eating of meat will gradually cease.”

Weblinks

• Article on kindness to animals, by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of Warwick (and approved by the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is in the UK).
• Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (USA, Interfaith)

Meat and Religion:  Baha'i  |  Buddhism  |  Christianity  |  Hinduism  |  Islam  |  Judaism