Are there any threads where vegetarians are described as "fundamentalists"...

[Boojatta]

and vegetarians insist that vegetarianism is simply the absence of a meat-eating practice, just as atheism is the absence of a belief in God?

I have seen conflict on DU threads about the nature of atheism. Given that the majority of people are not only religious, but also meat eaters, I would expect to see similar conflicts about the nature of vegetarianism.

[KG]

1. dunno. i'm a follower of the gluten-free meatless flying spaghetti monster.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Splitter!

[county worker]

2. For me, I don't give a rat's ass how someone else wants to define me.

I am not atheist, I am not religious, I am a vegetarian. I tend toward Buddhism. Now what pigeon hole do I fit in?

[ZombieHorde]

3. Recommended. nt

[flvegan]

5. I've seen a great number of responses on DU that say just that.

That vegetarians/vegans are fundamentalists or "just like rabid fundies" oh, yeah.

They're oftentimes easily written off though, when one considers the source of the comment.

[nomorenomore08]

6. I guess any belief system can take on "fundamentalist" form, in the sense of being fanatical and/or

intolerant. That, of course, includes not just religion, but also politics and even dietary choices. But I think the whole "militant vegan" hype is rather overblown, just like the "militant atheist" hype. You'll find pushy jerks in every group of "followers," to be sure, but it's usually good policy to be careful with those broad brushes.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

7. Vegetables and meat are quantifiable

You can slice them, dice them, study them, measure fat and caloric content, and so on. If you can get God to show up and give some lab samples, that would be helpful.

That said, I've still seen some fairly strident conversations centered around the meat/no-meat issue, but nothing that compares to religion.

Oh, and it occurs to me that I've never seen meat eaters try to post cow statues at courthouses. Meat or vegetable dogma also has much less of a tendency to get people killed than religion does.

[nomorenomore08]

8. dupe

[Canuckistanian]

9. I don't believe in vegetarians

It's a personal choice.

[StarfarerBill]

10. I'm an atheistic vegetarian...or a vegetarian atheist, whatever.

I follow my own rules vis a vis vegetarianism, which stem from my own values; I'd never ask anyone to follow them, but by the same token I'd ask that they not be condemned...though if they were, I'd ignore it, anyway. ;)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. Some can be ideologues, and like all ideologues should be mocked for it

[Edweird]

12. Atheist. Meat eater. Live your choices, but don't proselytize or brow beat.

[Boojatta]

13. How could a vegetarian restaurant chain advertise without proselytizing?

Even a standard meat-serving fast food restaurant tries to build brand loyalty. When a church seeks converts to its particular denomination, it is proselytizing. Is the difference that restaurant advertising usually omits nutritional issues and focuses on what food looks and tastes like? If churches tried to sell people on only the most superficial aspects of religion, would they be practicing the virtue of non-proselytizing?

[Edweird]

16. "How could a vegetarian restaurant chain advertise without proselytizing?"

"Our vegetarian menu has better tasting selections with larger portions at better prices than our competitors" is not proselytization.
"God kills a puppy every time you eat a hamburger. Stop eating meat." is proselytization.

I am an atheist. Any attempts to sway me into following your religion will be rebuffed - gently and politely at first, but it gets harsh and insulting fast if my boundaries aren't respected. I have no desire to change your beliefs, as long as they end where I begin.

I am a meat eater. Any attempts to sway me into following your dietary regimen will be rebuffed - gently and politely at first, but it gets harsh and insulting fast if my boundaries aren't respected. I have no desire to change your beliefs, as long as they end where I begin.

If what you believe or eat is so great, then people will see it and want to be a part of it. If people aren't beating your door down to join you, maybe what you are doing is more of a niche type thing.

[Blue-Jay]

14. This will probably get good.

I'm gonna wait until the "usual suspects" show up.

[Boojatta]

17. Kick because waiting without kicking wouldn't be effective.

[The Straight Story]

15. "fundamentalists" describes folks in a wide range of beliefs - we have our share here (nt)