From Ancient Reincarnation to Modern Longevity: The Evolution of Fleshless Living
In short: Vegetarianism is often viewed as a modern health trend, but its roots stretch back thousands of years. From ancient Egyptian beliefs in reincarnation to Greek philosophical inquiries into animal kinship, the choice to forgo meat has long been tied to spiritual harmony and cosmic principles.
The historical trajectory of vegetarianism reveals a complex interplay between spirituality and philosophy. Ancient Egyptian civilizations began adopting vegetarian diets as early as 3200 BC, driven by the belief that abstaining from meat would facilitate reincarnation. In India, the practice was deeply intertwined with nonviolence principles (ahimsa) and the sacred status of cows in Hinduism. By the middle of the 1st millennium BCE, a philosophical awakening in both India and the eastern Mediterranean sparked advocacy for regular fleshless diets.
In the Mediterranean, the philosopher Pythagoras of Samos (c. 530 BCE) was a primary figure, arguing that all animals share a kinship—a basis for human benevolence. This 'Pythagorean' diet later influenced Neoplatonists and other pagan philosophers who condemned bloody sacrifices in favor of cosmic harmony. In contrast, the great monotheistic traditions west of the Indus were generally less favorable to vegetarianism, though ascetic Jewish groups and early Christian leaders occasionally disapproved of meat as gluttonous or cruel.
The practice saw a significant decline in Europe following the Christianization of the Roman Empire between the 4th and 6th centuries. While medieval monks often restricted meat for ascetic reasons, they were typically pescatarians rather than vegetarians. It wasn't until the Renaissance and the 19th century that vegetarianism reemerged as a widespread practice in the West. Today, research increasingly links these ancient dietary patterns to modern health outcomes, including reduced risks of heart disease and dementia.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Vegetarianism | History, Types, Ethics, & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Vegetarian Diet: An Overview through the Perspective of Quality of Life Domains - PMC
- Also: Fiber-based vegetarian score and the risk of incident dementia among elderly Chinese adults: a prospective cohort study.
- Also: History of vegetarianism
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