Veganism and religion: How faith-based vegan groups are using religion for activism (Part 3 of 3)

In parts one and two of our blog series about religion and veganism, we’ve seen that many of the world’s most followed religions advocate for plant-based living and compassion towards our fellow animals.

As the world faces an unprecedented crisis in animal agriculture, the disconnect between religious teachings of compassion and the reality of industrial farming is becoming harder to ignore. Many people are seeking guidance from their faiths on how to live in alignment with the core principles of kindness and stewardship towards all living beings.

Organisations within each faith champion veganism, animal freedom, and the idea that humans must be better stewards of life on Earth. Today’s blog is about calling attention to their work.

Christianity

Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

Although the Christian Vegetarian Association stops short of being a vegan group, it does promote a plant-based diet from a Christian perspective, arguing that it aligns with biblical teachings on compassion, stewardship, and non-violence.

The group strives for a “peaceable kingdom” on Earth, with its core belief being that God gave the instructions for plant-based living in Genesis 1:29-30:

²⁹ Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰ And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

The CVA also looks to the New Testament, saying that Jesus provided a model for living by caring for the poor, healing the sick, and washing the feet of his disciples.

People can get involved with the CVA in several ways, from volunteering to online forums, lectures, and setting up displays about the association’s work. The website includes recipes and other resources.

Sarx

Sarx is a UK-based vegan organisation that promotes animal advocacy within Christian communities, saying, “We believe that, within contemporary Western culture, the adoption of a vegan lifestyle is a faithful Christian witness of God’s peaceable intentions for all creatures and His promised kingdom-to-come”.

The group highlights a wide range of issues relating to animal freedom, such as animal agriculture, bullfighting, animal-focused tourism, the legal status of our animal kin, and much more.

On the Sarx website, you will find an exceptionally engaging six-part “Vegan Vicars“ video series, in which vegan clergy from around the UK explore Christian perspectives on veganism and the animal freedom movement.

There are also church and conference talks, a newsletter, podcasts, and fundraising, all of which aim to empower Christians to live peacefully with all animals.

Catholic Concern for Animals

Founded in 1929, this organisation promotes the protection of our animal kin within the Catholic Church. It raises awareness about the church’s teachings on the environment and the treatment of animals.

Catholic Concern for Animals recommends a vegetarian diet but also highlights many reasons that a vegan/plant-based diet is better for humans, other animals, and the environment.

The organisation participates in advocacy, fundraising, educational campaigns (e.g. remembering animals who have died in war and stopping suffering in circuses), petitions (especially related to animal tourism), interfaith collaborations, retreats, awards, and sharing vegan resources. It also partners with leading animal rights organisations.

Catholic Concern for Animals publishes a magazine, The Ark, three times a year; this focuses on key animal rights issues and contributions from leading theologians.

Judaism

Centre for Jewish Food Ethics

This organisation (formerly known as “Jewish Veg”) connects veganism with Jewish values, particularly compassion, justice, and care for the Earth. It focuses on ancient Jewish teachings, such as the principle of tzar ba’alei chayim (preventing the suffering of living creatures).

In its mission statement, the Centre says that it wants to help Jewish communities align their food practices with Jewish values in response to the damage caused by factory farming.

Its work revolves around consultation, training, and cultural support regarding food policies, campaigns, and events—all focused on plant-based living.

Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy

With the strapline, “Jewish ethics, heavenly ideals, earthly compassion”, this group combines advocacy for veganism and animal freedom with Jewish teachings.

Its focus is on educating people within the Jewish community about how a vegan lifestyle reflects Jewish principles such as mercy and kindness. This work is achieved through education, training, and funding to Jewish communities to run vegan programmes and support.

One initiative is the Synagogue Vegan Challenge, which requires participating synagogues to provide vegan meals and vegan events at least once a month.

Islam

Middle East Vegan Society

This organisation’s primary focus is “on mitigating and eradicating the suffering experienced by animals, alongside lessening our environmental impact through everyday choices, by promoting awareness about animal rights and advocating for plant-based eating.”

Although it wants to see veganism grow globally, it emphasises the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where factory farming is booming.

The organisation provides guides to sourcing and enjoying healthy vegan food in countries throughout the MENA region and welcomes collaboration with other faith groups.

It focuses on one of Islam’s five principles, which is essentially “Harm avoidance,” the belief that people should avoid causing harm to themselves, to others, or to society.

Vegan Islam Initiative

The Vegan Islam Initiative sees the murder of our fellow animals for food as an inherited behaviour from ancient times, rather than a practice that aligns with Islam. When the Prophet Muhammad lived (c.570 to 8^th June 632), communities would have killed a small number of farmed animals during festivals such as Eid. Today, tens of millions of animals are slaughtered during Eid alone. Would Allah condone this widespread suffering?

As we saw in part one of this three-part blog series about religion and veganism, the teachings of the Qur’an are generally compassionate towards our fellow animals:

“There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.” (Qur’an 6:38)

Times have moved on – that’s the warning of the Vegan Islam Initiative. Animal agriculture is causing extensive damage and suffering. This goes directly against the principle of harm avoidance.

The Initiative has active Facebook groups and shares vegan recipes, resources, documentaries, and recommended readings highlighting how veganism aligns with Islam.

Green Muslims

Green Muslims is a volunteer-driven initiative headquartered in Washington, DC, in the US. It hosts educational, service, and outdoor recreational events to connect the Muslim community with climate action organisations.

Though not strictly vegan, this environmental organisation emphasises sustainable living, including promoting plant-based diets to reduce harm to the planet and all animals. Their advocacy is rooted in Islamic teachings of khalifah (stewardship).

Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism

ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

Known for promoting vegetarianism, ISKCON aligns its dietary teachings with the Hindu principle of ahimsa (non-violence) and reverence for all living beings. Some members and groups within ISKCON are now actively promoting veganism.

ISKCON runs the world’s most extensive vegetarian food relief programme (Food for Life), distributing over one million plates of free, sanctified vegetarian food every day.

Jain Vegan Initiative (JVI)

Since Jainism traditionally upholds strict vegetarianism per its principle of ahimsa, some Jain organisations have expanded their focus to advocate for veganism, arguing that dairy and other animal products involve violence and exploitation.

The Jain Vegan Initiative is one such organisation that argues that veganism is a profound expression of Ahimsa that enables a life of non-violence towards all living beings.

The JVI website offers mouth-watering vegan recipes, vegan cooking challenges and other events throughout the year, online courses about veganism and sustainability, and popular social media profiles on most platforms to bring together Jain vegans.

Dharma Voices for Animals

The DVA is a global Buddhist animal advocacy organisation. It encourages people to adopt plant-based diets, reasoning that a vegan lifestyle aligns with the Buddhist precept of not harming sentient beings.

DVA project centres exist in the US, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. All of these centres engage in animal welfare reform, education programmes, veterinary support for animals living in or near temples and monasteries, presentations, vegan cookery classes, and events promoting veganism.

Sikhism

EcoSikh

As the name suggests, EcoSikh connects environmental issues with Sikh teachings, including respecting all life forms. Though not explicitly vegan, the organisation advocates for plant-based diets to fulfil the Sikh principle of living harmoniously with the natural world.

“Being kind to all life – this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and the giving of all kind of charity. That person, upon whom the Divine bestows Mercy, is a wise person.” (SGGS, 136)

Interfaith groups

Animal Interfaith Alliance (AIA)

The AIA is a collaborative organisation that brings together some of the world’s most influential faith-based animal advocacy groups. It is a good starting point if you’re looking for vegan organisations within your faith.

The Alliance aims to use the collective wisdom of its members and affiliates to create a world in which our animal kin are treated with compassion and respect.

Through campaigning, advocacy, and events, the AIA is striving towards goals such as incorporating animal ethics into national curriculums, ending factory farming, and replacing animal testing with 21st-century methods that don’t use our fellow animals as test subjects.

Interfaith Vegan Coalition

This group unites individuals and organisations from various religious backgrounds to promote veganism. It highlights that most faith traditions are centred on “non-violence, loving-kindness, and harmlessness” and works with “all faith and secular wisdom traditions to help them practice these ideals towards animals.”

This is achieved by advocacy, printed materials, presentations, promoting vegan churches and pastors, awards, media, and political campaigning.

Conclusion

Now more than ever, it’s crucial for people of faith to reflect on their roles in shaping a more ethical and sustainable future. As we face the consequences of a world that has turned our fellow animals into mere commodities, these faith groups remind us that compassion, justice, and non-violence should extend to all sentient beings.