7. Purpose of Creation: Were animals "born to be eaten"?

"Animals were created by God for human use, including food." This perspective views nature as a resource rather than a sacred family.

The Scriptural Truth

Most world scriptures emphasize stewardship. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna describes Himself as the father of all living entities. A father does not create some children for the others to eat.

Moral Principle

Every living being has a desire for life and a fear of death. To claim that a sentient being with a complex emotional life was created "only for a plate" is a denial of their inherent soul (Atma).

Scientific Reason

Animals have complex social structures, individual personalities, and the capacity for joy and grief. These traits serve their own survival and social bonds, not human culinary preferences.

Psychological Reason

When we view other beings as "objects" or "tools," we diminish our own capacity for empathy. Viewing animals as fellow travelers on the journey of life enriches our own spiritual experience.