According to Stuart, the p[ractice of eatoing meat is 'ecclesiastically accepted in most cultures." Well,'most' can mean many different things. It could mean 51%, or it could mean 99%. It could mean 'the majority fo independent cultures' or 'the majority of people.' For example, a majority of cultures today permits polygamy of various sorts, however those (relatively) few monogamous cultures have many adherents. On the subject of meat eating. The world today includes about 870 million Hindus, 6-700 million Buddhists, and I think about 5 million Jains. Now, some people within these religions eat meat freely when available. However, they know that when they do so, they are committing (by their lights) a sin. Just like how many Italian women have abortions, in spite of what their religion demands. We are looking at theological dictates, not actual practice. In all three religions, to eat meat is to commit the sin of violence (himsa, in Sanskrit).
I'm sure that there are other tribal religions, particiularly in India nad Africa, as well as religions like the Rastafarians in jamaica, that cndemn carnivory. However, I plead ignorance as to teh exact number of these religions, so we will pass over them for the moment. There are about 1,575,000 people whose religion condemns the consumption of meat. That is more than a quarter of all people in teh world today. Add to this the Christians, secular humanists, animists of various varieties, and other religions, and you will get an even higher figure.
Now, obviously, sheer numbers mean little. Still, this shoudl put Stuart's claim in pespective. His claim of a 'majority' is neither a slim majority nor an overwhelming one.
The question remains, of course, of what Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Shinto, Cao Dai, Judaism, Hoa Hao, Vodoun, candomble, Taoism, and other religions actually say about the consumption of meat. There are plenty of Christians who feel it's morally wrong to eat meat. But I don't really know enough to comment at this time on these religions. I can only speak for the 26.2% of the world's population cited above.
None.
