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diff --git a/48589-0.txt b/48589-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..28f3e5e --- /dev/null +++ b/48589-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1306 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 48589 *** + +[Illustration: Emil Edward Kusel] + + + Humanitarian + + Philosophy + + * * * * * + + By + + EMIL EDWARD KUSEL + + + Extracts From His Letters + + Fourth Edition + + * * * * * + + Thou shalt not kill.--Bible. + + The individuality created by God is not carnivorous.--Mary Baker G. Eddy. + + Kill not but have regard for life.--Buddha. + + * * * * * + + Los Angeles, California + 1912 + + + + + Copyright 1912 + + by Emil Edward Kusel. + + All rights reserved. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +NOTE. + + +When one meets with adversity and all the world seems bitterly against +him or when one realizes the short duration of life and hopes for a +splendid immortality, no doubt it is a consolation for many to read the +inspired and lofty sentiments of the Bible. + +Therefore in writing the following epigrams condemning inhumanity, I +felt confident that kindly people would see that it is far from my +motive to cast reflection upon any individual inclined to accept the +comforting and humane passages of either the Old or New Testament. + +I merely aimed to prove the inhuman Mosaical law giving man the idea to +kill is not a law of a kind and loving God. I also aimed to prove that +the flesh-eating religionist is an accessory to a crime more bestial in +the sight of God than any other sin known to the human family. + + EMIL E. KUSEL. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +KIND WORDS. + + +"Humanitarian Philosophy" has taught me that God and conscience are in +unison. I would have liked to condemn the writer for opening my eyes to +the truth, but the Lord is on his side. + +"Humanitarian Philosophy" is an eye opener for the true religionist who +never before thought on the wickedness of killing. + +"Humanitarian Philosophy" is a blessing for those who wish to live the +Christ life, although it will not appeal to the religionist who is +inhumanly self-righteous. + +Since digesting "Humanitarian Philosophy" I know a conscientious person +can read the stinging truth without a selfish protest. The truth is +mighty. + +"Humanitarian Philosophy" at first reading made me angry, but praise +God, the vegetarian's heart is in the right place. + +"Humanitarian Philosophy" is an inspiration. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +COMPLIMENTARY. + + +Have always been very much interested in the subjects of our able +ministers, but since receiving a copy of Mr. Kusel's philosophy against +flesh eating I am a convert to the doctrine that neither minister nor +congregation can be "a child of God" until they are vegetarians. + +It is impossible for me to now believe otherwise on account of the +tremendous cruelty and horror of taking the life of animals. + +I never thought of the truth as Mr. Kusel puts it forth, and I am +surprised to think preachers never preached against blood food. I also +thought it would be meet and proper to criticise shoe, glove and belt +wearing, but the leather using is a secondary proposition; the animal +is first killed for food purposes and secondarily to avoid the waste we +may utilize the hide, and still we should discourage that argument. + +Mr. Kusel is defending God Almighty nobly in his "Humanitarian +Philosophy" and has given the church doctrines a slap no man can +gainsay. + +When we favor meat eating we favor killing, and when we favor killing +in the name of God we know we are liars and murderers, for God is kind +and loving, and surely opposes the taking of life. Let churches preach +the murder of animals, but pray do not say wickedness (killing) is +God's will. The world needs more conscientious men like Mr. Kusel to +protect God Almighty from defamation. + + T. J. W. + + (From Los Angeles Herald.) + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +A NOBLE WOMAN. + + + Mr. Emil Edward Kusel, + + Los Angeles, Cal. + +Dear Mr. Kusel:--I have been wonderfully guided and blessed by reading +"Humanitarian Philosophy" as it is truly an inspired work that should +be thought upon by all religious people. + +The beauty of your blessed reasoning is that you cast all biblical +chaff to the four winds and look to God in the true light of love and +mercy. + +Yes indeed, you show the inconsistency of a religion that gives us +an evil right to kill things while every last one of us, without +exception, cling to life with the tenacity of a coward. + +You fully convince me that false prophets had a hand in writing the +Scriptures because God in His Infinite Love could not have created +the dear innocent lamb our Savior carried in his bosom to be killed +nor could he have created the sweet little baby calf to be slain +and eaten by human beings. You convince me that God is not in the +slaughter-house, neither in the midst of those who patronize the +butcher any more than He is in the heart of the wild beast of prey. + +I do believe in a personal God as I could not live without hope for a +blissful future life beyond the grave. This pilgrimage, to me, without +religion would make this world a very dreary and lonesome place. + +Heretofore I lived a carnivorous life, always wondering why God created +poor sentient things for human food but now, thank God, I realize, +without humanitarianism spirituality is not a reality and I applaud +such men as Mr. Kusel for standing out boldly on a grand philosophy +that puts all church doctrines to shame and presents a religion +consistent with reason. + +Your trend of thought, my dear brother, is indeed marvelous from a +gracious heart and I believe some mighty power is preparing you for a +special great work. + + Yours very truly, + + MRS. J. R. B. + + St. Paul, Minn., May 16, 1911. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +THE HERMIT. + + No flocks that roam the valley free, + To slaughter I condemn, + Taught by the power that pities me, + I learn to pity them. + + --Goldsmith. + + * * * * * + +In religion, what damned error but some sober brow will bless it and +approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with fair ornament. + + --Shakespeare. + + * * * * * + +The untold suffering the human family sanctions through a wrong +conception of what is right, should make every Christian heart ache. + + --Platt. + + * * * * * + +When men go hunting (to kill) they call it sport but when the hunted +animal (perhaps wounded) turns to fight for its life, they call _that_ +ferocity.--Shaw. + + * * * * * + +Let all creatures live, as we desire to live. + + --Tolstoy. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +THE RELIGION OF BUDDHA. + +(An Idea from "Light of Asia.") + + 'Twere good to be humane + to the helpless beast; + Better than to deplore the + sins of the world + With priests who pray for + mankind, + And yet have no mercy + on God's dumb creatures-- + "They pray for mercy + Whilst they themselves + are merciless." + + --Kusel. + +[Illustration: Decorative Border] + + + + +Humanitarian Philosophy + +By Emil Edward Kusel + +No doubt some of the conscience-stricken readers will brand the +author of the sentiments herein as an extremist rather than a humane +enthusiast, but bethink yourself it is far better to be "an extremist" +on a logical, noble basis than to be inconsistent under false pretense. + + * * * * * + +The author is presenting truths from an absolutely rational standpoint +standing firmly on a real philosophical basis that cannot be overthrown +by a cyclone of protests from the "religious" flesh-eating faction. + +The idea is to show that man, when he gets "right with God," drifts +away from the customs of ancient times and reasons from the Golden +Rule foundation which is consistent with a higher life and makes him +religiously humane as well as "pious." + + * * * * * + +You may allow your quasi-religious principle to prevail against reason; +you may pout and cry against the Humanitarian's noble philosophy; you +may dream of the imps of hell awaiting his quietus; you may consult +your Bible to bless your inhumanity and yet mercy for our dumb +fellow-creatures is unselfish, pure and gentle, resultant from a proper +conception of man's superiority and his God. + +If a man's religion is pure and good and undefiled it would be wrong +to present facts to blast his belief (be it ever so superstitious); +however, when he insists upon inhumanity toward any sentient creature, +he should be severely criticised. + + * * * * * + +The scriptural passages that are well flavored with indecency and the +scriptural inhumanity written in God's name are not one whit more +inspired than are the objectionable lines of sensational literature. + + * * * * * + +The Bible has caused more bloodshed, more hatred; made more hypocrites +and caused more suffering than all else combined. It is a book +containing some lofty ideas and moral laws by good men, but the +many inconsistencies therein have caused superstition, imagination, +insanity, contemptibility and horrible cruelty that haunts the brain of +the honorable thinking masses. + + * * * * * + +It is proper to impress indelibly in the minds of the pretenders of the +several creeds "Thou shalt not kill;" neither shalt thou be accessory +in the killing by encouraging the slaughter through patronage. + +You may erect your massive temples and dedicate them to Jehovah; you +may pray to your heart's content and sing psalms until doomsday, yet +the earthquake, the cyclone, the tornado, the volcano overthrows the +synagogue, the cathedral, the church, the brothel and the saloon +without distinction. Evidently the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is +not omnipresent to protect an institution that stands for inhumanity. + + * * * * * + +One of the most noticeable inconsistencies ever presented to thinking +people is the representation of "Divine Love" portrayed under the title +"Peace," symbolized by a child leading the cow, the calf, the lion, +the leopard and the lamb. This taken from the Bible, is supposed to +represent, "And a little child shall lead them." + +Just think of symbolizing "Peace" with an innocent child leading +animals we actually murder! No doubt every religionist looks upon that +painting as a masterpiece--an inspiration. Yet most of them sanction +the slaughter of innocence by relishing a lamb chop or a veal cutlet. + +"And a little child shall lead them!" Whither? To the slaughter? Is not +that a miserable symbolization of "Divine Love" and "Peace?" + +Such inconsistency painted in the name of religion is an abomination +and deserves strenuous criticism. + +Not the least in the realm of inconsistency are the Jewish people who +fast on their day of atonement and break the Sabbath fifty-two times a +year by bartering. Now where is the consistency in such an atonement +when the Bible says explicitly: "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it +holy." + +Such incongruity is practised universally among the orthodox as well +as the reformed element. Like the Gentile, the Jewish religionist, +notwithstanding that he admits the horror of viewing the death throes +of a butchered animal, eats his flesh food "kosher" to satisfy his +palate rather than live up to the promptings of conscience. + + * * * * * + +Judaism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Christian Sciencism alike +disregard the sacredness of all animal kingdom, and yet, after +admitting the horror of the slaughter pen, they all encourage the +merciless killing under the cloak of the Bible. + + * * * * * + +"The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose" may well be applied to +the religionist who upholds the killing of our dumb fellow creatures. + + * * * * * + +The fact that the Bible encourages the murder of an animal proves it is +not entirely from the pen of holy men. + +The individual who professes religion and says it is right to slay and +eat when he can live without taking sentient life, on the vegetation +which nature so bountifully provides, is a liar, a murderer and a +hypocrite in his own higher conscience. + + * * * * * + +The so-called devout man wants to live and enjoy life, but he eats of +the innocent animal that has been battered to death by the blow of +the ax; he contends that a body which suffers pain was created for +slaughter to satisfy his beastly palate. Such a man is destitute of the +very essence of God-life be he minister, church-goer or layman. + + * * * * * + +Above all things the minister of the Gospel and the church attendant +should be kind and considerate toward all animal creation and should +construe the Scriptures and preach to prove the sacredness of +their Holy Bible. They should do God's will one earth as it is in +Heaven, absolutely abstaining from the fleshpots of Egypt, thereby +discouraging the blotting out of animal life, proving conclusively by +their lives that their God is just and kind and merciful. + + * * * * * + +The man who opposes the spilling of life blood of Nature's creatures is +on the higher plane of life. + +After searching for a mode of living through which we might find +perfect peace on earth and good will toward our fellow-men, we become +partially interested in the different religions, but we cannot +conscientiously close our eyes and believe a meat-eating, gormandizing +religionist is undefiled and passing on to spiritual perfection to +ultimately, at dissolution, burst into a glorious immortality. + + * * * * * + +Read the memorable Sermon on the Mount, supposed to have been delivered +by Christ Jesus, and note the humility, the tenderness, the love and +all therein that is grand and noble--then decide that such a meek +and lowly Nazarene could have eaten of the fleshpots or even have +sanctioned the killing of any living creature, and you deprive that +character of the very essence of divinity. + + * * * * * + +Flesh eating man's religion cannot emanate from a kindly heart because +with all his intellectuality and knowledge of right and wrong, his +animalistic tendencies are in excess. His horror for the slaughter pen +is conclusive and positive evidence that the higher consciousness is +dormant proving that carnivorous man hath no pre-eminence above the +beast. + +We fail to see any Christianity in the present-day Sunday churchianity, +and we positively know there is nothing sacred in the person upholding +the merciless slaughter of animals. Through all this we are made to +fully realize the inconsistency of nearly all religious professions. +We finally study the Laws of Nature, and we live from that time on +according to the dictates of conscience and reason, with some little +faith in addition. The first thought that impresses us is the inhuman +custom of taking life blood, knowing that every man, woman and child, +who possesses an atom of feeling, would shudder to look upon the +butchery of our dumb fellow-creatures, and we know if the horror of the +slaughter pen is admitted, it surely is a heinous crime to slaughter. +Then we begin to delve deep into the real scientific subjects of +real scientific men and really discover the real body builders are +proper food, proper mastication, proper air and proper breathing, and +occasional proper fasting, etc. We live the life as recommended by +these noble logicians and benefactors. Now we look from the heights +to the vast expanse of empty faith cure, cults and isms, creeds and +dogmas, and theories, and realize how narrow they all are by not +embodying humanitarianism and the laws of health and hygiene in their +teachings. + + * * * * * + +From a spiritual conception, it is just as reasonable to recommend +human cannibalism as the eating of butcher shop carrion. + +The 25th day of December is the day set aside to present gifts to our +sweethearts, wives and friends; the day Santa Claus brings toys to our +little ones to overflow their little hearts with gladness, but mainly +to commemorate the birth of one of the kindliest characters the world +has ever known. + +That holy day is horribly desecrated by the quasi-pious element +throughout our Christian land in the killing of countless numbers of +Nature's sentient creation. + +Thanksgiving Day, likewise set aside for a sacred purpose--to thank +God for the many blessings bestowed upon our great nation--is also +desecrated by religious people as well as by the laity. On the day we +should send our thanks to that invisible something (The First Great +Cause) we praise an imaginary personal deity by killing things to +satiate the craving of the palate. + + * * * * * + +The Bible condemns the eating of swine flesh (Deut. 14: 8; Is. 65: 4), +but what care the pharisee so long as he intends pleasing the palate +rather than obey the law of his God and conscience? + + * * * * * + +When we reach the Holy Mountain (consistent religion) we will abstain +from eating flesh food and have a heartfelt desire for all creatures to +live and enjoy life as we wish to live (Golden Rule.) + +Selfish civilized intellectual human takes his gun and repairs to the +forest and wantonly slaughters wild game. Perhaps he kills outright; +perhaps he wounds; perhaps the animal he has wounded is dying a slow, +painful death; perhaps he wounds or kills a mother and the young are +starving in nest or lair, and perhaps a professed Jew, Catholic, +Protestant or Christian Scientist is relishing the seasoned carrion +while the little ones are dying for the want of that mother's care. God +forbid the belief in such a god! + + * * * * * + +The huntsman, who wounds the wild game, goes to his couch and rests +peacefully while the poor dumb, wounded animal is dying in the forest, +suffering most excruciating pain. + +The deer, the dove, the quail and all of Nature's blood creation must +suffer with horrifying wounds at the hands of the thoughtless, cruel +hunter; upheld by so-called religious people who contend that such +inhumanity is permissible in God's sight. + +This very day thousands upon thousands of our dumb fellow-creatures +are suffering agonizing deaths caused through wounds inflicted by the +merciless hunter; and thousands upon thousands of professed Jews, +Catholics, Protestants and Christian Scientists worship the god that +tolerates such cruelty. Hypocrisy! Inconsistency! Shame! + +Sift mankind down to his noblest thought, and he must admit the life of +an animal is just as sacred as his own. + + * * * * * + +Knowing that all humanity feels the horrors of taking the life blood +of defenseless animals, you are compelled to condemn every religious +institution that does not embody within its creed the vegetarian diet. + + * * * * * + +Animals instinctively flee from danger, and suffer pain, which proves +the brute creation has a right to an appointed time upon the earth. +When man slaughters these helpless creatures under the selfish idea +that they were created for that purpose, he is destitute of divine +principle. + + * * * * * + +The almighty dollar is the god of the civilized people--mankind takes +the sacred life blood of God's creatures and barters the carcass in +exchange for money. Nearly all clergymen and the laity eat of the +murdered animal. Shame! + + * * * * * + +Let us be at least considerate and reason on the side of mercy. If your +religion sanctions the killing of innocent animals, well then, in the +name of all that is pure and good, lay aside your religion and get your +soul in tune with the Infinite, and then use your faculties of reason +to develop up to the highest ideal. + +Condemn the killing of innocent, defenseless animals, and do away with +the fleshpots of Egypt, and praise Deity for endowing you with reason +sufficient to realize the wrong of shedding life blood, and then sing +hosannas for the nobility of living according to the promptings of +higher conscience. + + * * * * * + +Do not think of the savory beef and mutton as it hangs in the market +place, but turn your mind and heart to the abattoirs and see the horror +of slaughter and then acknowledge that if God is not in the slaughter +house to hinder the killing of a dumb brute he is surely not in the +churches reserving crowns and halos for a sanctimonious element whose +palate takes precedence of principle. + + * * * * * + +The church folk encourage the killing of quadruped, fish and fowl and +then have the audacity to say grace at meal time, thanking God and +imploring Him to shower blessings upon them. + + * * * * * + +You believe in all that elevates man to the highest standard of +excellence and yet in the eating of a slaughtered animal you are an +accessory to the crime of murder--a crime that is far more morally +wrong and horrible than any so-called venial sin. + +The man who "believes" and has "faith" solely for his soul's safety +through fear rather than through love; the man who affiliates with +the church with mercenary motive; the man who testifies with lying +tongue to the virtue of his carnivorous unfeeling religion; the man who +shifts the blame of his cussedness to the mythical Satan; the man who +is weak and bent toward religious emotionalism; the man who sees the +mote in every eye but his own; the man who stands on the street corner +preaching hell and damnation, "fighting the devil," are the sorts of +men who decry that all beings have an equal right to live. + + * * * * * + +If perchance a fellow human becomes tired and weary of the vicissitudes +of this world and cancels his own captivity (suicide), we frantically +throw up our hands realizing the enormity of such a crime. + +His life is his own and he may do as he pleases; his sin of +self-destruction is between himself and his God, and yet we grieve +at such a sad exit. The very same man who shudders at the uncanny +thought of another's self-murder will uphold the killing of a dumb +brute to satiate the "human" palate. The animal does not want to die +yet the intelligent man who has a "merciful loving God" makes murder +permissible taking his authority from the book he calls "The Sacred +Bible." + +The Proverbs, the Psalms, the Sermon on the Mount, and many other +portions of the Good Book are beautiful, and no doubt the writers of +the select passages were inspired, but the evil spirit was surely +predominant in the man who depicted the Prince of Peace, in all his +humility, as a flesh eater. + + * * * * * + +A pitiful story to be told about a little girl whose father was +supposed to be very devout, and in whose residence the motto, + + "GODI S NOW HERE I NOUR HOME" + +adorned the wall, confusedly printed by her illiterate parent. + +One beautiful day, as all nature seemed in perfect harmony, the child +strolled to the barnyard where the hired man was killing the petted +calf preparatory to having a great feast in honor of the son, returning +from a western college of theology. + +A thought struck the child as she saw the life blood of an innocent +animal ebbing away, through a horrible knife wound. + +She hastened back to her father's home, sad but wiser, and +appropriately divided the motto on the wall: + + GOD IS NO WHERE IN OUR HOME. + +or as Daniel interpreted King Belshazzar's dream, the thinking child +weighed her papa in the balances and found him very much wanting in God +principle. + +Many so-called pious people throughout the land condemn theaters, +dancing, sociable drinking, prize-fighting, card playing, pastime +smoking, Sunday recreation, the innocent custom of Santa Claus and +the comic supplements of our Sunday newspapers, yet none of these +pleasures and pastimes could be half so abominable and sinful as the +encouragement of slaughter. + + * * * * * + +Every church member construes the Scriptures to please his own +individuality; sometimes he construes literally but when the passage +does not coincide with his appetite or manner of living he invariably +finds a figurative meaning. + + * * * * * + +We justify almost any sort of life by the Holy Bible, but we cannot +pull the blinds over the eyes of conscience. + + * * * * * + +The Women's Christian Temperance Union cannot influence towards +reformation effectively; the women of this religious order are trying +to defeat liquor and cigarette traffic, yet loth to realize under their +profession of Christianity, they are sinners greater than either the +unfortunate cigarette fiend or the drunkard, because they all admit +the horror of killing, at the same time relishing a mess of carrion, +thereby virtually encouraging the killer to kill more. + +The tiger pounces upon the giraffe and rides it to death, all the while +tearing the flesh from the bleeding animal; the puma pounces upon the +mountain goat; the hyena tears the entrails from its living prey and +the cat pounces upon the beautiful song bird and takes its innocent +life--where is your merciful, loving, personal God? + + * * * * * + +The religionist who lives on hallucination or believes that faith alone +"is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not +seen," and will not reason, is living in the dark ages still. + + * * * * * + +If one desires going into absolute truth concerning the killing of +helpless animals, he may justly condemn the wearing of leather shoes, +gloves, etc., all of which are worn contrary to Nature's Law. + + * * * * * + +The self-styled religious element send missionaries to foreign lands to +spread the gospel of love when they, themselves, as well as those they +send, are insufficiently human to recognize the brutality of slaughter. + + * * * * * + +Take man to the slaughter house to view the butchery, and then if he +contends God created helpless, dumb brutes for the slaughter pen, he is +positively heartless. If he shudders to witness the hideous butchery, +that proves conclusively that God is not omnipresent. + +If man wishes to disregard spirituality and remain an agnostic, infidel +or an atheist, that is his privilege and he may continue eating carrion +and encouraging slaughter, from the lower animal plane, but when he +steps over the threshold into religion and affiliates with the churches +and talks of man's pre-eminence above the beast he must of necessity +be in sympathy with his dumb fellow creatures and abstain from +flesh-eating to discourage all things not in harmony with God. (Higher +self). + + * * * * * + +Does it not hurt the innocent lamb when you cut its little throat? Does +it not hurt the little calf when you take its tender life? Does it not +hurt the cow when you wield the axe with tremendous force against its +forehead? Does it not hurt the sheep when in the agonies of death? Does +it not hurt when the goat pitifully gurgles the sound "Oh Lord," as its +life-blood is passing the butcher's knife? If pain does attend this +horrible inhumanity of man, what right then has he to establish for +himself a God in Heaven when in reality he hath no more feeling in his +miserable carcass than hath the cannibal of the uncivilized isles. + + * * * * * + +All things may be possible to God, but the idea of placing the breath +of life into our fellow-beings to be snuffed out by a superior +intellectual animal is the absurdest of all absurdities. + +Dancing, theater-going, rag-time music, and all other pleasures to +kill the monotony of daily routine, are under the ban of the churches. +We carry ourselves aloof from these awful (?) sins and walk in the +attitude of solemnity to impress Almighty God with our piety. We preach +against liquor and tobacco while we ourselves are addicted to the use +of tea and coffee (stimulants). We condemn everything we ourselves do +not care for and we jealously admonish others to be just like us. Now +if dancing, theater-going, rag-time music, etc., and the immoralities +of life are sins of venial proportion, of what colossal magnitude +must be the sin of taking life we cannot restore and how immeasurably +hellish are the churches that uphold the killing in the name of a +merciful God! + + * * * * * + +The dumb animals were created by Nature same as man (except that we +are a little above the animal in intellect), and have a divine right +to live out their respective allotted time same as man (minister, +church-goer or layman.) + + * * * * * + +The Buddhist who regards all animal life sacred is on the right path to +spirituality, while the carnivorous Jew, Catholic and Protestant are +drifting in the rut of dark age fantasy and fanaticism. + + + + +QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + + +Q. Are you not a little bit radical on the subject of Humanitarianism? + +A. To you I may be "a little bit radical" because I oppose all +religions (yours inclusive) which make mankind selfish and unfeeling. + +Q. If the Bible teaches me to slay and eat have I not a right to eat +flesh? + +A. Yes, a legal right and your Bible right, but not a moral right. + +Q. Do not some people believe it is right to slay and eat lower animals? + +A. Yes, from their palate, but all honorable conscientious men see a +wrong in taking life. + +Q. Has not environment throughout one's life something to do with our +eating of flesh? + +A. Yes, but come out of it and be in line with a grander, nobler and +consistent life. Lay aside your palate and let your conscience rule. + +Q. Is not the devil in your philosophy? + +A. It seems so to you because it is an exposé of churchianity, proving +beyond question the nothingness of the flesh eating religionist's piety. + +Q. Suppose man lives in a country where he cannot find vegetarian food? + +A. Then he might be justified in eating flesh to preserve his life. + +Q. If there is no personal God, who created this world? + +A. It is a scientific proposition, and so acknowledged by all thinking +men. + +Q. Do church people get angry at your philosophy? + +A. Yes, sometimes, as when their conscience is seared by a hot iron. + +Q. Have not vegetables life? + +A. Not life which suffers an evident pain nor do they flee when you +threaten to pluck them. Such a question is invariably asked by a +carnivorous wiseacre. + +Q. Why are all Vegetarians lank, lean and skinny? + +A. Because you like the taste of meat and intend to continue eating it. + +Q. I know animals have fear and pain, but supposing God did place them +on earth for man to slay and eat, what then? + +A. "God" is no better then than your "devil." + +Q. What were animals created for? + +A. What were YOU created for? + +Q. What is your conception of God? + +A. Nature. Higher self--Conscience. + +Q. Do you not kill insects when you drink water; and do you not cripple +and trample harmless bugs to death with every step you take? + +A. Yes, but involuntarily and not with pre-meditation and not selfishly +to satisfy an inhuman desire or appetite. + +Q. Would you "swat" a fly or kill a flea or a snake? + +A. If a pest or venomous reptile disturbed my peace and quiet I would +be justified in protecting myself. + +Q. Is not the survival of the fittest a natural law; consequently being +superior I may slay and eat? + +A. That's your idea because the "fittest" is yourself--in your own +estimation and power; but there's no godliness in such a contention. +It is your selfish conclusion that might is right at the expense of +sentient life. + +Q. Do I not work hard and do I not know that I need meat to sustain me +in my manual labor? Do I not know what my system needs. + +A. Your system does not require food which must come from a murdered +animal! When you contend that you must subsist on flesh, you know not +whereof you speak. You are talking to uphold your inhuman appetite. + +Q. Where would medical research be were it not for vivisection +(torture) and killing animals for experiment in the interest of science? + +A. I do not know, but I do know scientific men have not a moral right +to torture and kill harmless, helpless animals. Experimenting in +surgery, etc., should be done on humans who believe in the advancement +of medical science at the expense of life. + +Q. Do you object to the infidel eating flesh food? + +A. I do not object to anyone eating flesh food--eat whatever you like, +but I do point out the wrong of taking life and I emphatically say the +religious institution upholding slaughter is a farce and a pharisaical +monument to a man-made deity. + +Q. Do you actually consider flesh eating the most abominable of sins? + +A. Yes, absolutely the most abominable. + +Q. What do you think of religious emotionalism and ecstasy? + +A. If from the mouth of a carnivorous worshipper it is sham and +pretense--a mockery. + +Q. Is not your feeling toward animals mawkish sentimentality? + +A. There is no such thing as mawkish sentimentality in decrying +inhumanity. + +Q. Do not the lower animals prey upon one another, and do not the big +fish eat the little fish? + +A. You profess to be above the inferior animals and you profess to have +a soul; you also have a Golden Rule supposed to have been handed down +by a kind and merciful Creator. + +Q. What shall we do with all the animals if we do not kill them? + +A. Is that why you eat flesh? + +Q. Do you really think carnivorous churchites are not of God? + +A. I don't _think_ it, I _know_ it _absolutely_, because I know it +is wrong to kill and I know they know it and I know they search the +Scriptures for "proof" to satisfy palate while Conscience rebels. + +Q. What do you think of a religionist who says, "I am living under a +new dispensation since Christ came and went, and I now eat anything the +Lord sets before me?" + +A. If he means he can eat at the expense of sentient life he is not a +Godly man; he is not living in harmony with the Golden Rule; he is not +living according to the promptings of a higher self, consequently the +God spirit is dormant. + +The church carnivora's favorite Bible quotations to justify his +inhumanity are invariably quoted from a petrified conscience and the +region of the palate. Here are several of the passages: + + "There is nothing from without a man, entering into him can defile + him; but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile + the man." + + * * * * * + + "For one believeth that he may eat all things; another, who is weak, + eateth herbs. But to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean to him + it is unclean." + + * * * * * + + "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some + shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and + doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their + conscience seared with a hot iron; commanding to abstain from meats, + which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them, which + believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and + nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is + sanctified by the word of God and prayer." + + * * * * * + + "In a trance I saw a vision; a certain vessel descend as it had been + a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. I considered and + saw four-footed beasts of the earth and beasts and creeping things and + fowls of the air; and a voice said unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and + eat." + + + + +IN AND BETWEEN THE LINES + + +The Bible says: Be not among eaters of flesh. + +The Bible says: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to +hear the hymns of fools. + +The Bible says: If an animal dieth of itself do not eat it but give it +to thy neighbor and let him eat thereof. + +The Bible says: Who knoweth that the spirit of man goeth upward and the +spirit of the beast goeth downward? + +The Bible says: Your stomachs are an open sepulchre. + +The Bible says: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. + +The Bible says: Prove all things and hold fast of that which is good. + +The Bible says: Do not be as the hypocrites are, testifying in public +places and yet living apart from God. + +The Bible says: Reason is too high for a fool. + +The Bible says: He that follows after mercy findeth life. + +The Bible says: The wise man's eyes are in his head (he reasons), but +the fool's eyes are neither here nor there, he walketh in darkness. + +The Bible says: When a man's ways are in harmony with higher +consciousness he maketh his enemies be at peace with him. + +The Bible says: The Spirit of God made Samson a murderer. + +The Bible says: The beasts of the field shall honor me. + +The Bible says: Fool thou art to believe all that the prophets have +said. + +The Bible says: God sent plagues to torment his people. + +The Bible says: Shed not innocent blood. + +The Bible says: Praise the Lord every living creature--the beasts of +the field, the birds of the air and earth, the fish of the waters and +all mankind. + +The Bible says: Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. + +The Bible says: Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting. + +The Bible says: There are many false lords and false gods the people +are worshipping. + +The Bible says: Come now, let us reason together. + +The Bible says: Faith without works is dead. + +The Bible says: He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a human. + +The Bible says: Beast and man have one breath; so that man hath no +pre-eminence above the beast; as one dieth so dieth the other. + +The Bible says: Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter for thy +heart is not right in the sight of God. + +The Bible says: Every moving thing that liveth (grain, fruits, +vegetables, nuts, etc.) shall be food for you, but flesh with the life +thereof which is blood shall ye not eat. + +The Bible says: God blessed every creature. + +The Bible says: Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which +is upon the face of the earth and every tree, on the which is the fruit +of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. + +The Bible says: All that cry Lord, Lord, are not of God. + +The Bible says: They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain. + +The Bible says: I am God, I change not. + +The Bible says: Do a little consistent heart cleaning so that the human +mind's eye shall be spiritual to see and segregate right from wrong. + +The Bible says: Christ taught love, leniency, forgiveness, tenderness +and mercy. + +The Bible says: Dead flies cause the apothecary's ointment to send +forth a stinking savour. + +Capital punishment or legalized murder is another miscarriage of +consistency; it does not dovetail into mercy and it does not blend into +the law that God has given man an allotted time upon the earth. What +right have twelve jurors to virtually cancel the life of a murderer? +Incarcerate the offender under a life sentence with proper food and +training, and ultimately that murderer's heart and soul might be purer +than Judge, jurors and all connected with the courts of justice. + + * * * * * + +If a criminal under excitement or cool pre-meditation takes the life +of a human being, the cool, considerate jurors, responsible for the +death penalty, are just as guilty of murder as the prisoner. + + * * * * * + +The butcher is rejected as a juror on a murder trial on the ground that +his business has hardened his heart, and yet the Judge of the Superior +Court, the sheriff and his deputies and the eligible jurors all eat of +the beef the butcher slaughters. + + * * * * * + +Despite the protests that may come to the surface in reading the +inspired, pointed truths, the fact should be reiterated that Justice, +Kindness and Mercy for every living creature is in the heart and soul +of the true religionist. + +The sand-blind carnivorous faith curist (who reads his Bible through +a pair of eye-glasses not made by God Almighty) tells us of a divine +healing power. + +We hear many testimonies from the lips of these people praising this +wonderful (?) curative agency, but when sensibly considered we know the +"power" removes only visionary ills. + +Imaginary tumors, etc., hypochondria and other nervous troubles readily +yield to this mythical physician, but no disease or defect in reality, +can be removed until we remove the physical cause. + +If we continue living regardless of natural health laws all the +"belief" and all the "faith" and all the "Blood" cannot offset the +inevitable result of continued disobedience. + +They sometimes speculate as to the stubbornness and apparent +incurability of an ailment and finally lay the blame to a spiritual +insufficiency. Ridiculous! + + * * * * * + +Mankind is filled with patriotism when a victorious war is ended, +forgetting the awful gloom pervading some poor mother's home. The +higher self should make us grieve with those that grieve rather than +be exultant at the loss or downfall of any nation. We should love all +nations and nationalities as we do our own, and be bound together by +inseparable bonds, realizing that we all must pass to the final tomb of +man on the same level. + +A bow of horse hair coming in contact with the gut strings of a violin +produces exquisite harmony that thrills every fibre of our being with +ecstasy. We can attribute the melody to the spirit of the deceased +animal appealing to the human heart. Strange that after life has +departed we can charm the muses with tones produced on a stringed +instrument. What human being has ever bequeathed to the world a +substance to awaken the emotions of our soul through concord of sweet +sounds like unto the gut of a deceased animal? Evidently there is more +harmony in the entrails of lower creatures than we find in the entire +carcass of religious civilized carnivorous man. + + * * * * * + +The scientist who upholds painful experimental surgery in the interest +of science should give over his own body for experiment instead of +encouraging the cruelties of vivisection. It hurts being "cut to +pieces," consequently the heartless scientific fellow, instead of +offering his own body for the dissecting table, tortures a poor +friendless dog or other animal. + +The horrible suffering thousands of helpless creatures have undergone +through the process of vivisection is heartrending. + +There should be stringent law against such inhumanity. + + + + +A DEVOUT (?) ADMONITION. + + + E. E. Kusel, + + Los Angeles, Cal. + +Sir: I read your "Humanitarian Philosophy" booklet and I take it as a +mass of devil talk. It is not in favor of the Holy Bible and it says it +is wrong to kill animals. This is crossing God's word. You say it says +swine meat is forbidden. That is the only true statement in your book +but that is the law for the Jews only. You say it says thou shalt not +kill; of course it does, and that has references to the human family +only. You say the religious man that does not shudder at the works of +a butcher is heartless and godless. You tell a falsehood there. I have +been a believer fifteen years and I know all animals were made for man. + +I can see the devil has a powerful influence over you as it had over +Voltaire, Paine, Ingersoll, Edison, Hubbard and other non-believers. +You infidels preach against God's Bible and will be burned in the +everlasting fires of hell for it. You will be glad to have a drop of +cold water in your suffering, but god will not have mercy--it will be +too late then. + +Hell is full of agnostics and infidels and non-believers burning and +suffering and I warn you to have a care as to what you say. + +The Catholics and Christian Scientists are as much of the devil's +doings as you are, so you'll have company if you do not repent of your +infidelity. + +You are adding to God's word and it is punishable by his wrath (Rev. +22:18.) + +Your book is a lot of lies and infidelity. + + N. S. W. + + Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 30, 1911. + + + + +A REPLY. + + + Mr. N. S. W., + + Birmingham, Ala. + +My dear sir: In reply to your letter of Jan. 30th, concerning my +"Humanitarian Philosophy," I wish to candidly tell you that I am not at +all afraid of your sort of god. The God I worship is not very likely +to materialize in a selfish fanatical subject, but always comes to the +surface in the heart and soul of honorable, conscientious thinking +men--men who either profess nothing and live according to custom or +in men who profess religion and uphold their God as kind, loving and +merciful. + +This latter man is an ethical vegetarian and will not accept the +cruelties and inconsistencies of the Bible but says "it is an error in +translation." + +As to the lower animals, one preying upon the other, the conscientious, +devout Bible believer presents the theory of his own freeing God +Almighty from the sinful responsibility. He divides Bible truth from +Bible error--he accepts the lofty and beautiful and holds fast to that +which is good. + +If you intend to preach a gospel of Love you will find it an utter +impossibility to do so if you do not live a Humanitarian life--a life +that forbids the killing of any thing that suffers pain, and fear of +death as you yourself may sometimes suffer. + +In conclusion I wish to impress you with the fact that your letter is +sufficient proof that you read the Bible in a haphazard style and know +not its contents. + +Every assertion, every quotation and every conclusion in my +"Humanitarian Philosophy," my dear sir, is absolutely true and +justified. + + Respectfully, + + E. E. KUSEL. + + + + +FROM THE W. A. T. L. + + +The tobacco smoking on street cars has been very much discussed in +your valuable paper recently. Now, I will suggest that all persons +who object to the poisonous effects of tobacco register a protest +every chance they get and spend some good money, as I am doing, to +back up their argument against the most deadly plant used by human +beings. There is no traffic so degrading in its influence and effect as +tobacco. It goes hand in hand with liquor, and when we stop the youth +of the land from using the weed, then the saloon will have no customers. + + G. L. R. + + Founder World's Anti-Tobacco League, + Los Angeles, Cal. + + (From Los Angeles Herald.) + + + + +THE "WORST" SIN. + + +The church element construe the Bible to blend into their own desires +and appetites and then in the name of their god (little g) they commit +every iniquity under the sun, the most abominable of which is the +eating of "a beef which has been battered in the head by the blow of an +ax or mutton which has had its throat cut from ear to ear." + +Get yourself in touch with the Infinite and you will see that the +taking of animal life for food is a greater sin than smoking, drinking +or satisfying animal desires. The three last named are only sinning +against the body but not commendable by any means, while the first is +the horrible sin of taking life. + +Carnivorous reader (church people included) think these lines over well +and then move thy tongue seven times before thou speakest of sin! + + E. E. KUSEL. + + Los Angeles, Cal. + + (From Los Angeles Herald.) + + + + +MAN AND BEAST. + + +What queer and wild notions religious faddists get into their heads. T. +J. W. wants us to quit killing cattle and hogs, etc., in fact all kinds +of animals and birds because God has put them on earth. I would like Mr +W. to tell us what would become of us if we followed his advice. Why, +the animals would crowd man off the earth in a short while. The farmer +could not raise any crops. Cattle, deer, hares and sheep would eat his +grain, the coyotes his chickens and the lions would eat him. + + C. V. Pasadena, Cal. + + (From Los Angeles Herald.) + + + + +VEGETARIAN'S REPLY. + + +If you please, Mr. V., I am not a "religious faddist." I am not +religious at all. I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule, applying it +to man and beast. + +In reply to your query, Mr. V. I will answer briefly: Self-preservation +is the first law of nature, so protect yourself against the presumed +invasion of tame and wild beasts, birds, etc., but do not presume we +have the right to take life of anything which endures pain or runs away +from impending danger unless occasion calls for it. + +My letter to the Herald, if you please, was for those who profess to be +godly and "in the kingdom." Religious people must be strictly humane +or they are minus the God character and their profession is either a +phantom or hypocrisy. + +Of course men like yourself, who are afraid of being crowded off the +earth, have a special self-given right to raise and cruelly slaughter +any living creature for eating. + +Meat eating will continue until the end of the world, no doubt, but the +Humanitarian will not eat it; it will be devoured by ungodly church +people and outsiders who like the flavor of flesh food, regardless of +the wrong of premeditated killing. + + T. J. W. + + Compton, Cal. + + (From Los Angeles Herald.) + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. + +The repetition of the headings "QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS" on five and +"IN AND BETWEEN THE LINES" on three consecutive pages has been removed. + +Italics are represented thus _italics_. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Humanitarian Philosophy, 4th Edition, by +Emil Edward Kusel + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 48589 *** |