The opinion of the employees of the South Katanga Field on Vegetarian diet

Abstract

Currently there are different trends both in preaching and practicing aspects regarding the diet that Seventh-day Adventists believers should adopt. The first trend stresses that vegetarian diet is the ideal for a healthy human being and those who believe in this feel guilty when they consume flesh. The second trend seems to minimize this concern of vegetarianism. So those adopting this option feel free to eat meat without any sense of guilt. Still there are others who are neutral. For them it is just optional according to anybody’s readiness and fitness to such a life style. So there seems to be two extremes in the church. For most Adventists believers, the confusion issues from Ellen G. White’s statements saying that church employees and their families remunerated with the tithe of church organization should not consume meat.Based on such strong statements, many SDA believers are in confusion regarding meat eating. As a result there are many questions around this vegetarian diet. Is it a sin to consume meat? On what basis should be vegetarianism be encouraged? Is it on biblical health and animal rights? This research made a study among the SDA employees in the South Katanga Field in the DRC. It was discovered that most of employees in this area are not ready to apply a vegetarian diet. This attitude may be due to their ignorance of the relevance of vegetarian diet on our health. The research shows that even though the Bible or Ellen White have never stated that eating meat is a sin, nevertheless it is obvious that vegetarian diet is the ideal diet given by God. This diet was given initially to our first parents, then after the fall God did not allow to eat meat until the flood and this seems to be for a temporary time. Finally it is obvious that on the new earth animals shall be respected because human kinds and animals shall be playing together enjoying life. Why not start breathing and experiencing the joy of the new earth while living on this earth? This project has suggested a program which could be implemented in South Katanga to train employees on the vegetarian diet. An evaluation is also provided starting the time of training until a period of 18 months for those who will adhere to the principle of this lifestyle. A positive result is expected for the families which will implement vegetarian principles provided by this work.