Did John the Baptist Really Eat Locusts and Wild Honey?

There's a longstanding confusion in the etymological origin of the word locust. Locust is both a bean from the carob plant and an insect. The Greek word for cakes or bread made from the flour of the carob bean is 'egkrides' and the Greek word for locust the insect is 'akrides'. The insect locust is approved to be clean for consumption in Leviticus. It was a delicacy in those days and was mostly consumed by the upper and/or priestly class.

John the Baptist belonged to a group of ascetics who believed in repentance and in leading an austere lifestyle. The carob bean was seen as the diet of the lower class who normally endured hardship and exploitation from the priestly class. So most likely John the Baptist ate locust plant seed from the carob tree.

Also, regarding honey, it could be anything from saps of certain trees to juice of the crushed dates. Carob flour and crushed dates made a good damper or sweet rustic cake, hence the word 'egkrides' in the Greek version of the Bible.

Some Church Fathers circa 400AD put forth an injunction to change the word 'egkrides' in the Bible meaning cakes to 'akrides' the insect locust, not realising that locust the insect was a delicacy enjoyed by the priestly upper crust, from whom John the Baptist and people like John distanced themselves from.

Veganism and Vegetarianism

I agree with everything Gary L. Francione says in this commentary below except he is wrong about one thing. Many, many people--including me--became vegan via being a vegetarian first. When I found out how cruel it is to eat animal flesh, being a vegetarian made me want to learn more about the subject and that naturally led me to veganism studies.

So, although I definitely do agree with Gary in that it is better to be a vegan for a day, or several days, or a week, etc., at first to eventually become a vegan, being a vegetarian first does work sometimes too on the road to being vegan. But yes, as Gary said, vegetarianism and veganism are very separate diets/lifestyles and should be promoted as such.

Commentary #1: Vegetarianism as a “Gateway” to Veganism?

Happy Birthday Victoria Moon Erickson (born: January 29)

 

I pray that yours is a very happy birthday Victoria...wherever you are.

The Lord Christ Jesus Was a Vegan

 

 

Book description (From Amazon):

 

"This book raises many interrelated important issues in life and tries to clarify the spiritual facts and to tie the loose ends, according to the wisdom of Divine Love. The good news about Lord Christ Jesus being a vegan (a strict vegetarian), for Biblical reasons is expounded in this book. This book discuss in detail the interests, the well-beings and the freedom of all creatures. The main points discussed in here, from the Christian vegan perspectives are: why mankind should live to honor God, about the universally abiding laws given us by the supreme Creator, the Christian justice, the importance of Church unity, nutrition, balanced diet and related issues. The pages loudly echo the spirituality of animals and the normal feelings of all that live; encouraging mankind to choose environmentally friendly products and services instead of animal products or animal services. Every violent sport and entertainment that involves animals is denounced together with the modern day idolatry and animal slavery; urging God fearing people to actively love and defend all animals and the universe in the Holy Name of Christ Jesus now and always."

Peace Pilgrim

Mildred Lisette Norman (July 18, 1908-July 7, 1981), known to all as Peace Pilgrim, was a U.S. pacifist, strict vegetarian, and peace activist. In 1952, she became the first woman to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in one season. Starting on January 1, 1953. In Pasadena, California, she adopted the name "Peace Pilgrim" and walked across the United States for 28 years.

Peace Pilgrim said, "Our present lesson is to stop killing each other. The lesson of non-killing of creatures is a little bit into the future, though those of us who know better need to live up to the highest light. Now, I wouldn't kill any creature--I wouldn't even kill a chicken or a fish--and therefore I stopped immediately eating all flesh. I have learned since that it is bad for your health, but at that time, I just extended my love to include not only all my fellow human beings but also my fellow creatures, and so I stopped hurting them and I stopped eating them. Then I learned from a college professor...that it takes many times the land to raise the creatures we eat as it would to raise fruits or vegetables or grains. Since I want the maximum number of God's children to be fed, that also would make me a vegetarian. I enjoy my food, but I eat to live. I do not live to eat, as some people do, and I know when to stop eating. I am not enslaved by food."

As a strict vegetarian, Peace Pilgrim also did not use fur, feathers, leather or bone.

Peace Pilgrim was also an early advocate for tolerance for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. She did not believe in discrimination against any being.

Compassionate Wear

 

 

As I have said in a previous post, while the vegan community has done a super brilliant job in educating people about cruelty-free, vegan, ethical eating, I feel the community has not done nearly enough in educating people on vegan ethical clothing/footwear/accessories. I even hear vegans say they still wear some footwear made of animal products because they can't find any good quality shoes/boots that are cruelty-free, especially offline in stores.

 

So F.A.A.R.M. will be doing a lot of focusing on vegan clothing/footwear and other accessories, like belts, to help vegans (and non-vegans) easily find good cruelty-free product wear. As a matter of fact, most running shoes are naturally vegan, as synthetic materials are much more breathable and readily available, but always ask to make sure it's vegan if it's not mentioned on the product.

 

Brooks is one such company that carries many vegan footwear, but other companies, such as Saucony, New Balance and Asics all offer high-performance vegan shoes. I got a pair of Brooks running shoes, like the above, for Christmas. They feel terrific on my feet! And Asics has made it easy to shop for vegan running shoes; all running shoes with "N" in the product code/style number are vegan.

 

To help you easily find compassionate, wearable items at online and offline stores, check out:

PETA's Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing: Quick Reference Guide

Albert Schweitzer

Albert Schweitzer was born today in 1875. In 1893 he attended the University of Strasbourg and studied theology, philosophy and musical theory. In 1899, he received a Ph.D. in Philosophy, and in 1900 he received a second in theology. Between 1900 and 1905 he acted as a minister of a small church in Strasbourg. During this period he also wrote several books dealing with general philosophy and ethics, religion and the musical philosophy of Sebastian Bach. He became an expert organist, organ-builder and was recognized as one of the leading musical figures of this time.

In 1905, Schweitzer made a radical career change and decided to devote the rest of his life to the natives of equatorial Africa. He decided that he would study to become a doctor of medicine and reentered the university. In 1909, Schweitzer formulated the international regulations for organ building. In 1913, Schweitzer received his Doctorate of Medicine.

In 1915, while on a steamboat journey in Africa, he was inspired with a new way of thinking: Reverence for Life.  This phrase would be the description for his future philosophy of life.

Schweitzer was saddened by the amount of misery he saw in the world. His sadness was not limited to only humans but also the animal world.  The sight of an old limping horse, tugged forward by one man while another kept beating it with a stick to get it to the knacker’s yard at Colmar, would haunt him for weeks.

The sight of animals being beaten or hurt was something he could never understand or accept, from the times of his early youth.  The brutality was quite incomprehensible to him, and he wondered why in his evening prayers he should pray for human beings only. So when his mother had prayed with him and had kissed him goodnight, he would add silently a prayer that he had composed himself for all living creatures. It went something like this: "O heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath; guard them from all evil, and let them sleep in peace.”

This gentle but strong willed man would spend over 50 years helping natives of Africa with their health problems. During this period in Africa, he wrote additional books on the subjects of philosophy, religion, music, art, ethics and human civilization throughout the ages. In 1953, Schweitzer would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and $36,000. He would spend all of the money for his leprosy hospital in Africa.

Schweitzer’s general philosophy could be stated as never to destroy life that breathes, unless it is unavoidable, and by going out of our way to help any living creature in distress we are helping to discharge a debt--a debt of honor--which we owe to the rest of creation for its vicarious sacrifice to our needs. It is after all the only sane and reasonable course we can adopt.