Discover Vegan Theology: 12-Session Online Course Prospectus

Background

There are still 2.4 billion Christians in the world, most of whom are not vegan because they believe Christianity does not mandate veganism. Meanwhile, 3 trillion innocent creatures of God are killed by humans every year.

Objectives

·        To show that Christianity is inherently a vegan faith.

·        To demonstrate that Jesus is the vegan Christ.

·        To address and resolve challenges to veganism in the Bible.

Methodology

God is love (1 John 4:8); God loves the world (John 3:16), including all His creation (Psalm 145:9); and Christ is compassion (Matthew 9:13; 12:7). Any biblical verse that contradicts these precepts (cf. Phelps 2002) must be regarded as the product of “the lying pen of the scribes” (Jeremiah 8:8).

Full Text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/discover-vegan-theology-12-session-online-course-prospectus 

Course Outline

1.     Introduction: Background, objectives, methodology, and course planning.

2.     Genesis 1: Does “dominion” mean domination or servanthood?

3.     Noah: Did God give him and his offspring permission to eat animals?

4.     Abraham: Did God truly want him to sacrifice his son/ram?

5.     Prophets: How five prophets opposed animal sacrifice.

6.     The Ten Commandments: How non-vegans break all of them.

7.     Fishy stories: Did Jesus eat, cook, or distribute fish?

8.     The Vegan Christ: Is Jesus staunchly vegan?

9.     The Cross: How Jesus died for animal liberation.

10.  The Eucharist: Is it vegan?

11.  The Disciples: John the Baptist and the 12 disciples as vegans.

12.  Paul: Why did he encourage eating whatever is sold in the meat market without guilt?

Duration

12 sessions, each session lasting 1 hour 30 minutes

2025: Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 22, Nov.29, Dec. 13, Dec. 20, Dec. 27; 2026: Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24

Time

Every Saturday, 4:30 pm UK time– 11:30 am U.S. Eastern– 10:30 am U.S. Central– 9:30 am U.S. Mountain– 8:30 am U.S. Pacific (California)

Fee

Free of charge

Course Facilitator: Dr. Chapman Chen

Registration:

Please request to join the private Facebook group Vegan Theology: 12-Session Online Course (https://www.facebook.com/groups/4121804614704538) by answering ALL the participation questions, and by agreeing to the group rules. If participation questions do not appear for any technical reason, please contact me by FB Messenger or email: vegantheologyuk@gmail.com

Format

·        Private Facebook Group (registration and approval required) live broadcast.

·        Lecture + oral discussions

Participation Questions

1.     A. Why are you interested in this course?B. Are you vegan?

2.     A. What is your spiritual faith, if any?B. Are you open to new understandings of theology?

3.     What is your email address?

Primary Group Rules

·        Show mutual respect.

·        No foul language.

·        No personal attacks, including attacks on others’ religious faith.

·        All posts must be directly related to the Vegan Theology online course.

Selected Bibliography for “Vegan Theology”: A 12-Session Online Course

Akers, Keith (2000/2020). The Lost Religion of Jesus. NY: Lantern Publishing & Media.

Clough, David L. (2012). On Animals: Volume I: Systematic Theology. London: T&T Clark International.

Deane-Drummond, Celia and Daivd Clough (Eds.) (2009). Creaturely Theology.  London: SCMP.

Eisenman, Robert (2012). James the Brother of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls I: The Historical James, Paul the Enemy, and Jesus’ Brothers as Apostles. Nashville: The Way Publishing.

Hyland, J. R. (2000). God’s Covenant with Animals. NY: Lantern Books.

Linzey, Andrew (1995). Animal Theology. Urbana, Chicago, & Springfield: University of Illinois Press.

Metcalfe, William (1840). Bible Testimony on Abstinence from the Flesh of Animals as Food: Being an Address Delivered in the Bible-Christian Church. Philadelphia: J. Metcalfe & Co.

Phelps, Norm (2002). The Dominion of Love: Animal Rights According to the Bible. NY: Lantern Books.

Rillera, Andrew Remington (2024). Lamb of the Free: Recovering the Varied Sacrificial Understandings of Jesus’s Death. Eugene: Cascade Books.

Roberts, Holly (2004). Vegetarian Christian Saints. Unknown city: Anjeli Press.

Tabor, James D. (2012). Paul and Jesus: How the Apostle Transformed Christianity. NY/London: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

Tork, Tripp, and Andy Alexis-Baker (Eds.) (2012). A Faith Embracing All Creatures: Addressing Commonly Asked Questions about Christian Care for Animals. Eugene: Cascade Books.

Tuttle, Will (2024). Food for Freedom. Middletown: Karuna.

Vaclavik, Charles (1986/1989). The Origin of Christianity: The Pacifism, Communalism and Vegetarianism of Primitive Christianity. Platterville: Kaweah Publishing Co.

Voskuilen, Thijs (2005). “Operation Messiah: Did Christianity Start as a Roman Psychological Counterinsurgency Operation?” Small Wars & Insurgencies, 16(2), 192–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592310500079940