wfn.org | Media Reports on Adventist Vegetarian Lifestyle

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

December 23, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Media Reports on Adventist Vegetarian Lifestyle
[98/37/06]

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, 06.12.1998   [ANN/APD/AP] The 
American tradition of eating turkey for Thanksgiving in 
November brought with it an article, published by the 
Associated Press (AP), on those who say "no thanks" to meat.

"Vegetarianism is practised among many faiths and is 
prevalent among Seventh-day Adventists.  Many shun turkey 
and meat altogether, even on Thanksgiving Day," reports 
Richard N. Ostling, AP religion correspondent.   

In his report, Ostling notes that vegetarianism was rare 
among Christians until what he terms the "founding prophet" 
of the Seventh-day Adventist church, Ellen G. White, had a 
health vision in 1863.  She joined forces with Sylvester 
Graham and John Kellogg-known for Graham crackers and 
corn flakes-in advocating vegetarianism on grounds of health.  

The Adventist Church recommends vegetarianism but does 
not require it, notes Ostling. 	

"Our bodies are not our own. They're God's by creation and 
redemption, and we ought to represent him and not destroy 
the temple he has given us," says Stoy Proctor, chief health 
educator at Seventh-day Adventist Church World 
Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.    

The Proctor family enjoyed "Mock Turkey" for their 
Thanksgiving Day celebration. The entree is shaped like a bird 
and roasted with an oval of dressing inside, but it's really 
brown rice, pecans and onions, says the AP report.   

Both Christians and Jews believe that vegetarianism is the 
ideal religious regimen, states Ostling.  They agree their diet is 
good for physical, moral, and spiritual health.