Food, Christian Identity and Global Warming: A Pauline Call for a Christian Food Taboo

Abstract

Meals and food were clearly important in establishing early Christian identity, and Paul stresses two principles that govern Christian practice: that food can only be eaten in an orientation of thanksgiving to God, and that care must be taken concerning the effects of eating on others. In some cases, he insists, this may require Christians to abstain from certain foods. Given the scale of the damage caused by greenhouse gases arising from global livestock production, it is argued here that Christians now have an urgent responsibility to reduce greatly, or even cease, their consumption of meat.