Food For The Spirit - Vegetarianism and The World Religions

At the age of 67 and one who has been a vegetarian for over twenty five years, I am compelled to share this topic of discussion , with the hope of inspiring "Food for Thought"
Baba Wesley Tehuti Gray
A quote from Isaac Bashevis Singer
"Whether the mass of people accept the vegetarian interpretation of religion or not really doesn't matter.
At least not in my life.  I accept it implicitly.  Of course, it  would be wonderful if the world adopted vegetarianism, on religious grounds or any other.  But this is not likely.  I am a skeptic, it's true, but I am also realistic.  In any event, what the people in general do will not affect me.  I will continue to be a vegetarian even if the whole world started to eat meat.
This is my protest agains the conduct of the world.  To be a vegetarian is to disagree - to disagree with the course of things today.  Nuclear power, starvation, cruelty - we must make a statement against these things.  Vegetarianism is my statement.  And I think it's a strong one.
 Author Steven Rosen makes a similar statement in his book.  And although I do no necessarily agree witn everthing he says, point for point, I do find his work fascinating and convincing.  He correctly points our that various philosophers and religious leaders have tried to convince their following that animals are nothing more than machines, put on earth for our pleasure, with no purpose of their own.
Mr. Rosen smashes this idea, however, and every reader who is predisposed to the vegetarian ideal will enjoy his logic and reason in doing this
                 -- Isaac Bashevis Singer