Jediism and veganism?

Wouldn't it make sense that a Jedi, who respects all life, would be vegetarian, or, vegan? I've been wondering about this for awhile. I just entered this forum so I thought I'd post about one of the most pressing questions on my mind.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to reading your responses!

-nightrider123

My interpretation of the doctrine contains the context of the "Circle of Life" food chain. I eat meat. A lot of it. But, I try hard to eat locally sourced meat and/or meat that was humanely raised. I try to stay away from slaughterhouse animal meats (though, it's difficult to know for sure). I just do my best to ensure I'm not supporting the harming of animals. This goes farther into other products as well. I only use cosmetics and such that are cruelty free and do not test on animals.

However, the universe did provide me that chicken wing for lunch today. I do not believe we were meant to save all the animals from being eaten.

Were not all things that we consume, at one point, alive? Is an animal more alive than a plant? If we look to the Doctrine, we see the following:

"Jedi believe in the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it."

So, in my opinion, no. A Jedi does not would not inherently be Vegan (or vegetarian). If it's about respecting life, then a Jedi would not eat... and well, that would be a fast (pun intended) way to become part of the Force.

To be a Jedi is to serve, and one must ensure they are fueled properly to be able to serve properly. If this includes meat, so be it.

A good question though! I hope to see more responses and see where this topic takes us.

That is interesting, some would consider the circle of life a very scientific viewpoint. I have not involved myself too much in science so I don't know that much about it. I'm a computer scientist, myself.

Since I am a vegan, I can attest to the fact it is possible to be vegan and be well-fueled. In fact, my observations have shown that I have become much healthier since becoming vegan. There are numerous vegan athletes. The vegan way, I contribute to less pain being caused in the universe, from my point of view. However, I understand and keep in mind that each person's body is different and that some may either feel or have a health-related condition that has doctors recommending them to eat animals, such as certain forms of diabetes.

I would have to agree with Arisag here, and to the extent it questions a Jedi's attempt to "respect all life" within the Force, the insinuation that eating animals is any different than eating plants doesn't mete that test. Modern science simply categorizes its definition of "life" quite differently in both regards...perhaps assisted by the lack of audible anguish when we pluck a strawberry from it's bush to invoke a sense of emotion in us, or inspire us to acknowledge the beauty of the complex conditions required to be met in this universe in order for that strawberry to be available to us to eat.

I will grant you the fact that modern consumption of both animal or plant has become far disconnected from that of our ancestors. If/when you begin the IP, you may find interest in Lesson 1: Part 3 of the interview with Joseph Campbell. He relates the differences between agricultural based civilizations to the hunter/herder communities, and I found it to be at least revealing in the sense that we modern humans have lost a lot of the appreciation and ritual that all life forms deserve, be they plant based or animal forms.

In my Journal post reacting to that segment of the interview I reflected upon an elk hunt I participated in last fall, should you care to take a look. Not a graphic depiction, and even amongst meat-eaters, I admit that hunting today is "not for everyone". (link to that post: Sam Thift's Journal: Lesson 1: Myths: Part 3 - The First Storytellers )

To me, it seems to be less of a vegetarian, vegan, omnivore, carnivore issue and more of a know where your sustenance comes from, appreciate the incredible efforts and universal conditions it takes to produce, and be thankful for the gift of continued life you receive from partaking in it: elk, strawberry, or otherwise.

I arrived at the Temple a committed vegetarian of more than 10 years, for ethical reasons.

As time went on I found a very conscious and ethically considered omnivorous diet more consistent with my growing Jedi beliefs. We can respect life whilst still acknowledging our dietary predisposition. That's not to say say I don't have a great deal of respect for vegans and vegetarians still.

The Force is in all things, all life, all matter. The food cycle describes transference of energy. Why do we give special preference to certain types of that energy? For me, as a Jedi, balance is key in all things. That includes my diet.

We've discussed this before, and my thoughts more or less echo Arisaig.


I'll also throw in a mention that adhering to any sort of specialised diet is a luxury.

In my travels I have eaten a fascinating array of plants and animals (and fungi, if they're still their own thing?) based on local custom and availability.

If I had rules like "I don't eat Sheep" or "I don't eat Camel" or "I don't eat Wheat" or "I don't eat Rice" or "I don't eat seafood", or "I don't eat impossible to identify mush in brown goo" - Well, I may have survived, but it likely would have been much harder work.

I eat local, whatever Local is where I am at the time. (With the exception of coffee, which I get imported from all over the world. Coffee exists in a realm far removed from the restraints of Jediism)

At the moment, I am no where near the ocean, I have not had Balmain bugs for many years.

When I move to the coast, well, Camel will probably be off the menu

(Most of the places I go have Wheat as a staple, sometimes Rice. I've never really lived in Corn country)


I read Jediism as teaching an understanding and appreciation for your food source, not denying your position in the food chain.

Thank you for your responses, perhaps we can discuss this further. An idea occurred to me a whiles back, that animals are like people, humans, but not as advanced. They simply developed differently. As a Jedi, I am committed to defending the weak and powerless, and for example a cow is not able to defend itself should humans try to eat it. Also, if aliens were to visit earth than start eating people we would condemn that so are we really at the top of the food chain? Does the food chain exist? Or is it simply a flaw in nature that humanity has put on steroids, basically. The Force has made it clear to me (in the opposite way as tzb) that it does not want me to eat something that has been created as a result of violence. I also am aware that what I am facing in choosing to defend animals in addition to humans could result in blindly stupid activity on my part, instead of courage. So I am being very careful in this way. The Force also provides plant-based food for me, but keeps me out of places that serve meat. I can testify to this because when I started believing in the Force 2 years ago it gave me the tools necessary to socially escape from going into fast food restaurants and the likes.

nightrider123 wrote: Thank you for your responses, perhaps we can discuss this further. An idea occurred to me a whiles back, that animals are like people, humans, but not as advanced. They simply developed differently. As a Jedi, I am committed to defending the weak and powerless, and for example a cow is not able to defend itself should humans try to eat it. Also, if aliens were to visit earth than start eating people we would condemn that so are we really at the top of the food chain? Does the food chain exist? Or is it simply a flaw in nature that humanity has put on steroids, basically. The Force has made it clear to me (in the opposite way as tzb) that it does not want me to eat something that has been created as a result of violence. I also am aware that what I am facing in choosing to defend animals in addition to humans could result in blindly stupid activity on my part, instead of courage. So I am being very careful in this way. The Force also provides plant-based food for me, but keeps me out of places that serve meat. I can testify to this because when I started believing in the Force 2 years ago it gave me the tools necessary to socially escape from going into fast food restaurants and the likes.

Ripping plants out of the ground and cutting them up isn't as violent as many other means? Is it just because they can't scream or show signs of pain that we are capable of seeing? I think what your aiming for is an actual line between what one might consider violent vs not. From the outside the box perspective, it's all life, it's all consumed for the sake of fueling another. Such is the nature of all existence on this planet, and has been for many years before we have been around. Not saying that being a vegan is a bad thing but I personally in my opinion, keep that in mind, look at a lot of the arguments of being vegan a bit limited in view because its based on a theory that plant's aren't intelligent enough to realize what's going on. Yet there are plants out there that do "bleed" and do "heal" and do everything else that any other animal can. If you look at things zoomed out, life consumes life, irregardless of who is better at it vs another(ie food chain which are artificial and subjective by definition, one would say a maggot is at the bottom but its the first to eat you after you have passed away or got too sick to move).

I strongly agree with the view of respecting the life you are consuming, something that has been a tradition in many different beliefs through-out the years. Me personally I don't eat meat terribly often but if I do I tend to stick to things that are in excess in the area.