Barefoot Vegan Mag Jan_Feb 2017

leapt from the screen. Calling me ‘dear’ and such. I must
admit, I found it a bit amusing.
The Bible-thumping was on full blast as he
continuously posted long passages of scripture on my
page to prove that I was in deep sin for refusing to eat
animals. I refused to fight with him, but kept
respectfully firm in my responses. He questioned the
legitimately of my faith in Christ, accusing me of twisting
the scriptures to bend to my vegan beliefs.
I replied that just because something is commanded
or condoned in scripture at the time it was written,
doesn’t necessarily mean it’s binding for all people for all
time. I asked him if he ate bugs, since it’s recorded that
God through Moses gave the Hebrews permission to eat
certain ones. I reminded him that in the New Testament
there are passages where women are told to keep silent
and cover their heads. Although I’m sure by this time he
was wishing I would just shut up and submit to his
‘teaching’ like a good, submissive Christian woman.
When I referenced the importance of considering
context in biblical interpretation, that’s when I suspect
his head exploded, because he was having none of
it! There was no context as far as he was concerned
and apparently, no way to misinterpret the many
verses he shared on my page.
Then pronouncement was made. Heretic. And
not only that, but condemned by my own words
and “clearly not a Christian.” As I mentioned earlier,
BAREFOOTVegan | 52
I found this whole interaction somewhat amusing. But, at
the same time I could not shake the eerie realisation that
had this been four or five hundred years ago, and the
conflict was over me being a woman preacher on the
wrong side of European religious history, my Facebook
bible teacher would’ve happily seen me tortured and
burnt at the stake, all the while believing he had done
God a great service.
So, while I was initially taken aback by the accusations
and questioning of my faith, I feel no regret or doubt over
my choice to live as compassionately as I can and causing
as little harm as possible towards all of God’s creation.
One way I live that out is by being vegan. If that makes
me a heretic, then so be it. BV
You can read
more of
Valerie’s
writing at
her website
and connect with her
via Facebook.