vegetarian Christianity Archives

Al-Ghazali (1058–1111), a prominent Persian theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic in Islam, mentioned Jesus (known as ‘Isa in Islam) in his writings. Jesus is highly respected in Islam as a prophet and a model of piety and asceticism. While Al-Ghazali did not focus extensively on Jesus, here are some notable quotes and references:

On Jesus’ Asceticism:
In Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), Al-Ghazali quotes Jesus:
“The world is a bridge, so pass over it and do not inhabit it.”
This quote reflects Jesus’ ascetic approach to life and the transient nature of worldly existence.
On Wealth and Worldliness:
Al-Ghazali recounts a story of Jesus saying:
“My salt is the herbs of the field, and my lamp at night is the moon. I have nothing, yet no one is richer than I.”
This emphasizes contentment with little and finding richness in simplicity.
On the Tongue:
Al-Ghazali attributed to Jesus the saying:
“O disciples, do not speak much, lest your hearts become hardened. For a hard heart is far from God, but you do not know it.”
This quote aligns with both Islamic and Christian teachings on the dangers of idle talk.
On the Company of the Righteous:
Al-Ghazali mentions Jesus advising his disciples:
“Sit with those whose sight reminds you of God, whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the Hereafter.”
On Forgiveness:
Al-Ghazali also narrates:
“When Jesus, peace be upon him, was asked, ‘Who taught you good manners?’ he replied, ‘No one. I saw the ignorance of the ignorant and avoided it.'”
This illustrates the importance of learning through observation and avoiding bad behavior.

Al-Ghazali emphasized asceticism, compassion, and spiritual purity, often using Jesus as an exemplar of these virtues. Some references that might suggest a more ascetic and compassionate lifestyle include:

Jesus’ Simplicity and Minimalism:
In Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), Al-Ghazali quoted Jesus:
“My salt is the herbs of the field, and my lamp at night is the moon. I have nothing, yet no one is richer than I.”
While this quote highlights simplicity, it also hints at a plant-based diet, as it mentions herbs rather than meat. However, this is more an implication of asceticism than a clear advocacy for vegetarianism.
On Gentleness and Mercy:
Al-Ghazali often highlighted Jesus’ compassion, which could indirectly support nonviolence toward animals. He quoted Jesus as saying:
“Blessed is he who sees with his heart but whose heart is not distracted by what his eyes see.”
While not about diet, this points to a mindful and compassionate approach to life, which some might extend to treatment of animals.
Critique of Excess and Sacrifice:
Al-Ghazali criticized excess in religious rituals especially if not accompanied by true piety. He wrote about the futility of sacrifice without spiritual sincerity:
“God does not need your meat or your blood, but He needs your piety.”
This echoes Quranic sentiments (22:37) and might align with a more symbolic or internalized understanding of sacrifice rather than a literal one.
Emphasis on Spiritual Sacrifice:
Al-Ghazali suggested that true sacrifice involves the ego and desires, not just physical offerings:
“The sacrifice of the soul is greater than the sacrifice of animals.”
This could be interpreted as a move away from physical sacrifice towards an internal, spiritual purification.

Al-Ghazali often cited Jesus (known as ‘Isa in Islam) in his works, particularly in Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) and other writings. While there isn’t a definitive, exhaustive list of all the sayings of Jesus recorded by Al-Ghazali, here are many of the known sayings and teachings attributed to Jesus in his works:

1. On the World and Asceticism

“The world is a bridge, so pass over it and do not inhabit it.”
“My salt is the herbs of the field, and my lamp at night is the moon. I have nothing, yet no one is richer than I.”
“Woe to the lover of the world! How will he die and leave it? Woe to the neglectful one who is distracted by it! How it deceives and betrays!”
“The world is but a passing moment, so make it a moment of obedience.”

2. On Speech and the Heart

“O disciples, do not speak much, lest your hearts become hardened. For a hard heart is far from God, but you do not know it.”

3. On Companionship

“Sit with those whose sight reminds you of God, whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the Hereafter.”

4. On Humility and Learning

“When Jesus, peace be upon him, was asked, ‘Who taught you good manners?’ he replied, ‘No one. I saw the ignorance of the ignorant and avoided it.'”

5. On Piety and Worship

“Blessed is he who sees with his heart but whose heart is not distracted by what his eyes see.”
“Do not look at the faults of others as if you are a lord; look at your own faults as if you are a slave.”

6. On Charity and Generosity

“O Children of Israel! Do not be generous except from what is pure. Do not place a stone upon a stone and do not build from what you do not eat.”

7. On Wealth and Simplicity

“Do not gather what you do not eat, and do not build what you do not live in.”

8. On the Spiritual Journey

“You will not reach what you love except through patience with what you hate.”

9. On Love and Forgiveness

“Love your enemy and forgive those who wrong you.”

10. On Avoiding Excess and Desires

“O disciples! The love of this world and the love of the Hereafter cannot be combined in the heart of a believer, just as fire and water cannot be combined in a single vessel.”

11. On The Afterlife

“This world is like a serpent: smooth to the touch but poisonous within. So avoid it, for it is as such.”

12. On Fasting and Spirituality

“Fasting is a treasure, and the fasting person is in the protection of God.”

These sayings highlight Jesus’ asceticism, spiritual wisdom, and emphasis on inner purity and humility.

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Yeshua (Isa) the Vegetarian Nazorean Christ

Gnosticism, as a broader movement, typically emphasizes asceticism, the rejection of materialism, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. The material world, including acts of violence such as killing animals, is often seen as the creation of the demiurge (a lesser, corrupt deity). Many Gnostics sought to transcend this world through non-violence and spiritual purity, which is why vegetarianism was widely practiced among various Gnostic sects.

Animal Sacrifice as Violence: Most Gnostics viewed the material world as inherently flawed and violent. Acts like animal sacrifice were often seen as perpetuating this corruption. Instead, Gnostics advocated for spiritual practices that aligned with non-violence, inner purity, and the rejection of worldly desires, including the consumption of meat.
Gnostic Scriptures and Teachings: Texts like the Gospel of Thomas emphasize direct spiritual knowledge (gnosis) and inner enlightenment, rejecting the need for external rituals like sacrifices. Similarly, early Christian Gnostics often cited Jesus’ opposition to the temple’s sacrificial system (e.g., his cleansing of the temple in Matthew 21:12-13) as evidence of his rejection of such practices.
Jesus and the Sacrificial System: Jesus’ identification as the “Lamb of God” symbolizes a spiritual sacrifice that replaces the need for physical sacrifices. This aligns with the Gnostic view that true spiritual transformation comes from within, not through external rituals.

“Consuming God” in Gnosticism

Metaphorical, Not Literal: The idea of “eating and consuming God” in Gnosticism is primarily metaphorical. It represents spiritual communion, enlightenment, and the assimilation of divine wisdom, not the literal consumption of animal flesh.
Eucharistic Symbolism: Early Gnostic interpretations of the Eucharist (the symbolic eating of Christ’s body and blood) emphasize its spiritual, not material, significance. Gnostics often interpreted this act as a mystical union with the divine, rejecting the physicality of consuming literal flesh and blood.
Non-Material Spirituality: The Gnostic worldview consistently prioritizes the spiritual over the physical. The idea of literally consuming God through animal sacrifices would contradict their fundamental belief in transcending materiality and rejecting the violence of the physical world.

Historical Evidence of Gnostic Vegetarianism

Ebionites and Nazoreans: Many early Christian Gnostic sects, such as the Ebionites and Nazoreans, explicitly rejected meat consumption and animal sacrifice. These groups saw vegetarianism as a way to embody Jesus’ teachings of non-violence, mercy, and compassion.
Essenes and Similar Groups: While some Essenes practiced animal sacrifice, other ascetic Jewish sects, including those with Gnostic leanings, rejected it altogether. The diversity within these groups highlights the broader trend of rejecting animal sacrifice among those pursuing spiritual purity.
Ethical Vegetarianism: Gnostics often tied their rejection of meat to ethical concerns, viewing the killing of animals as an unnecessary act of violence that perpetuated the corrupt material world created by the demiurge.

Vegetarianism was superior in many Gnostic groups because it aligned with their rejection of the material world’s violence and corruption. Sects like the Manicheans and Cathars practiced vegetarianism as a reflection of their commitment to spiritual purity, non-violence, and detachment from the material realm. Unlike sacrificial traditions in other faiths, Gnostic thought often viewed abstaining from meat as essential to transcending the physical world’s base desires, making vegetarianism a natural extension of their cosmology and ethics.

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