Discussion Title: Is veganism a religion or a philosophy?

1. Veganism is a religion, not a philosophy \(definitions are in the info section of the discussion\).
1.1. Con: People who say that veganism is a religion, often use it in a [derogatory manner](https://www.veganamericanprincess.com/veganism-is-not-a-religion/), connotating extremism of a belief, when it may not be the case.
1.1.1. Pro: There are different reasons to why people choose veganism, and not all are devotional. Some of them are utilitarian by nature, like wanting [better health](https://www.veganamericanprincess.com/veganism-is-not-a-religion/), avoiding allergens, or preventing environmental destruction.
1.1.2. Con: Just because a descriptor is used in a derogatory manner does not mean that it is invalid or wrong.
1.1.3. Pro: Religion is a belief system, based on faith. Veganism on the other hand is based on rational arguments and facts. So based on this, veganism can't be a religion,as their foundations are unrelated.
1.2. Pro: [Militant vegans](https://www.iamgoingvegan.com/militant-vegan/) border on [making it a cult](https://www.ethicalomnivore.org/dangers-of-vegan-movement/), which is associated with religions more than philosophies.
1.2.1. Con: Much like how issues can be politicized, concepts could potentially be taken to an extreme that looks religious. However, that doesn't meant that the concept is religious in itself, it's just how it's used that is.
1.3. Pro: Veganism is a deep subconscious manifestation of the idea that for something to be good it must be unpleasant. It is an extension of old fashioned moral puritanism dressed up, under the umbrella of environmentalism, to fit a modern 'post-religious' world \(as a neo-religion\) whilst pushing all the same old buttons.
1.4. Pro: Many religions contain vegan elements to it, such as Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism,Seventh-Day Adventists, etc.
1.4.1. Con: The fact that a religion features veganism does not make veganism itself a religion.
1.4.1.1. Pro: Following this logic, patriarchy would be a religion since many religions feature patriarchy.
1.4.2. Pro: As there's overlap, when a person's participating in one religion, they may be also participating in their vegan religion simultaneously. It's just not obvious, because it's masked by the other religion they're partaking in.
1.4.2.1. Pro: This has been practiced before, with religions like Buddhism and Hinduism having beliefs that are included in Sikhism.
1.5. Pro: Veganism is a set of beliefs and practices and contains a moral code governing the conduct of humans.
1.5.1. Pro: One can stretch healthy eating to be [rituals](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ritual). If we go by rituals being a form of a Religious practice, then veganism is a Religion.
1.5.1.1. Con: If we go by rituals, at that point, anything we do habitually can be Religious, which would kinda makes the word useless.
1.5.1.1.1. Con: If it makes sense to apply it there, then that should happen. It doesn't make sense to limit our thinking \(i.e. be narrow-minded\) of what's applied where just because we're not used to doing so.
1.5.1.1.2. Con: Religiosity of healthy eating depends on how it's carried out. The rituals can be everyday activities, but it can also apply religiously to veganism under these definitions: [1\)](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ritual) "A set of actions that are conducted routinely in the same manner" bring [applied daily](http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/practices), [2\)](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ritual) "an established or prescribed procedure for a religious... rite", and [3\)](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ritual) "observance of set forms in public worship".
1.5.2. Pro: Veganism's morals [implicitly assume](http://www.bitesizevegan.org/go-vegan/why-vegan/why-vegan-vegan-ethics-vegan-morality/) that every species are created with equal rights.
1.5.3. Con: Every [ethics philosophy](https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_ethics.html) \(including [veganism](https://www.animal-ethics.org/veganism/) under applied ethics\) contains moral codes. This is not a sign of veganism being a religion.
1.6. Con: Religions are exclusive, meaning that if a religion attempts to combine religions, it is classified as a new religion. Veganism is a non-exclusive philosophy that can be accepted and practised within a range of religions without causing a new religion to be formed.
1.6.1. Con: This is only true for religions that require the practicioner to forego other religions \(usually monotheistic\). Romans, for example, viewed other religions just as valid as their own \(it copied from [Greeks](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bd/f2/5b/bdf25b7350565b995a326e194643d4a0.jpg)\), and worshipping gods from different pantheons was possible. In Chinese religions, mixing and matching different beliefs and ways of worship is common.
1.7. Pro: Vegetarian movements have been taken \(combined with other ideas\) to a religious level, as seen with [Tolstoyism](http://www.openculture.com/2016/12/how-leo-tolstoy-became-a-vegetarian-and-jumpstarted-the-vegetarian-humanitarian-movements-in-the-19th-century.html).
1.7.1. Con: Movements based on vegetarianism like Tolstoyism indeed are taken to a religious level movement, but that doesn't make them religious movements.
1.7.2. Con: It is possible to be vegan without zeal or conscientious devotion.
1.7.2.1. Con: According to [Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegan) a vegan "ABSTAINS FROM USING animal products \(such as leather\)" and thus a conscientious devotion is needed.
1.7.2.1.1. Pro: [Abstain](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/abstain) means that the person has made a deliberate choice in not doing something they might enjoy.
1.7.2.2. Pro: According to [Cambridge](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/vegan) a vegan "does not eat or use any animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, or leather" and thus no conscientious devotion is needed.
1.7.2.2.1. Pro: It is theoretically possible to avoid those without being conscientous about it.
1.8. Con: The chosen definition of religion is [informal](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/religion). It doesn't reflect the [formal](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/religion) one \(definition 1\), which is normally associated with religions.
1.8.1. Pro: Veganism doesn't belong in a religious category, as most religions make claims of being the inerrant word of a being that created the universe, and make unalterable moral and ethical claims supported only by metaphysical beliefs, which this doesn't fit into.
1.9. Con: Veganism is not recognized as an official religion yet.
1.9.1. Con: Veganism is recognized and credible, if people who are vegan treat it like a religion. So to most officials, veganism would be considered to be and respected if it is a ["protected belief" that's "religiously motivated"](https://www.livekindly.co/experience-surviving-vegan-in-prison/).
1.9.2. Con: Some countries are considering it to be one, such as the [UK](https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/veganism-officially-recognized-religion-uk).
1.9.2.1. Con: Giving veganism religious protections, because it works well is not the same as it actually being one.
1.10. Con: Around [47% of surveyed vegans are not religious](http://veganbits.com/vegan-demographics-2017/). The majority of vegans practise another religion \(mainly Christianity\) and that they thus could not be part of a 'Vegan' religion \(as it would conflict\).
1.11. Con: Veganism is not religious, as it is simply a decision to not eat animal products.
1.11.1. Pro: Veganism is a dietary plan, similar to being vegetarian and having a keto diet it for the most part is a guideline for people to not eat animals or animal products. Though movements like this have been taken to a religious level, there are vegans out there with a health code rather a moral code for the guidelines and are only following these guidelines because they believe it is a healthy lifestyle. Many religions have dietary guidelines just like in veganism though.
1.11.2. Con: Veganism extends beyond not eating animal products to other facets of life \(like not wearing animal products either\). These other factors can show the whole picture of how veganism is religious and taking one aspect of it out of context to explain its entirety is incomplete and misaligned to what it really is.
1.12. Con: Veganism aligns more being a practiced [philosophy](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/philosophy).
1.12.1. Pro: Veganism is a practice that objectively yields better health, economic, environmental and social outcomes-- Adherence based on empirical data rather than faith makes veganism less of a religion and more of a philosophy.
1.12.2. Pro: Religions usually involve rituals that are considered sacred. Vegetarianism does not.
1.12.2.1. Con: -> See 1.5.1.
1.12.3. Pro: Veganism is a lifestyle of its ancient roots of seeking truth due to its seeking wholeness and philosophical origins.
1.13. Con: Most vegans use an attempt to justify their beliefs through evidence, while religion generally relies on gnosis \(spiritual knowledge\).
1.14. Pro: Being convicted of foundational beliefs is a tenet of religions, and vegans are like that in regards to the morality of eating meat.
1.14.1. Pro: Similarily to how religious people \(by the [archaic definition](https://www.thefreedictionary.com/religion)\) experience a sacred feeling when engaging with their religious beliefs, e.g. in prayer or church, some vegans experience a sacred feeling towards the correct treatment of animals, e.g. in what they buy or sanctuaries.
1.14.2. Pro: Veganism is a religion in that it is founded in a belief system accepted on faith \(of [morality](https://steemit.com/morality/\@kyriacos/morality-is-subjective)\), rather than logic. That veganism is [ethical](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veganism-environment-veganuary-friendly-food-diet-damage-hodmedods-protein-crops-jack-monroe-a8177541.html) or better for the [environment](https://www.fcrn.org.uk/fcrn-blogs/helen-breewood/are-modern-plant-based-diets-and-foods-actually-sustainable) and animals does not always hold up to scientific scrutiny \(and cannot, as it's subjective\).
1.14.2.1. Con: -> See discussion #10057: Morality precedes religion. Therefore, religion is not necessary for determining right from wrong.
1.14.2.2. Pro: Many vegans rest on their own perceptions of pain and project those feelings onto all animals in deciding their morality, rather than in regards to what animals actually feel.
1.14.2.2.1. Pro: Molluscs, for instance, have similar nervous system functionality to some more complex plant species, yet vegans are adamantly against eating any being classified as animal.
1.14.3. Con: Many people hold the foundational belief that racism is immoral, but opposing racism does not equate to being religious.