Do you think people think of veganism as more of a belief/religion rather than a diet?

Typically, the more invested in veganism people are, the more they view it as a moral/philosophical position, whereas people less involved tend to view it as a diet. This is reflected in the Vegan Society's definition --

[quote]a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals[/quote]

Vegans definitely think of themselves as higher beings.Like its not enough they have personally chosen to privately defer from eating meat,they imagine they are on a mission to destroy the entire meat farming industry of the world.

Eating plant based has 3 benefits:

1- Health: Vegans live longer because of fewer animal product-related health problems

2- The Earth: Animal agriculture contributes to deforestation and puts a much greater strain on natural resources, contributing to climate change

3- Animal suffering: Animal agriculture causes significant cruelty to all kinds of animals and eating little or no animal products obviously reduces the demand, which indirectly helps in reducing this

It’s not a belief, just the way gravity or the spherical shape of the earth isn’t a belief.

I have been vegan for over 18 years and it is neither. It is a conscious way of life, but not a diet, and not a religion. It is both very healthy--my story is similar to others here about weight loss and health--it can also be ethical, loving of animals and life, rooted in a concern for the environment and more.

I think it depends bc in the West it’s about ethical concerns/health fads and in the East it’s mostly religion, personally I grew up mainly vegetarian/vegan due to my mothers religious beliefs and even a lot of fear mongering in the culture about other diets but now that I live elsewhere I got adjusted to a meat based diet, which is why I associate veganism as a health fad as my health is much better and even my body is more toned with meat in my diet as opposed to all the fear mongering I grew up with, so while I appreciate vegans for taking the extra step for whatever reasons I don’t think they’re special anymore

Maybe, but not everyone is vegan for the same reason. My mother became vegan in her 50s, not because she objected to the idea of eating meat, but because she noticed health benefits. After years of yo-yo dieting, her weight was finally where she wanted it, within a very short time. She also credited it with lowering her blood pressure, and keeping her healthy enough overall to get through cancer, which remained in remission for the rest of her life.

I think many people who are not vegans, think of of it as more of a "religion" than a diet. A religion they show contempt for at every opportunity, too, seems like.
I know that for most vegans [i]and[/i] vegetarians, what is often a long thought out and difficult decision is based on the belief that there no kind of rationalization for the horrendous suffering inflicted on animals, by humans.

Not sure you can call it a religion. I’m vegan for moral reasons primarily, and it does inform a lot of what I do in my life, but there isn’t a dogma or defined set of ethics you live by.

Yes a philosophical ideal.

"Yet I do feel for the plants that vegans eat!"

Philosophy taken to the absurd!

It's interesting that vegans often refuse to understand others, while complaining about others not understanding them. 🤣

That makes it a form of fanaticism. An unwillingness to understand the other side.

All life was made for a purpose. And it has little to do with man conceived ideals.

A refusal is a refusal, whether it is all animals, all plants or all man made items (processed foods) or any combination thereof.

Apparently they're legally protected from being mocked now because it's considered a belief system.

Yes. Most vegans choose it because of their moral beliefs rather than purely for dietary reasons. If they are happier eating vegan, I have no issue with it. As with all things, my only issue is when they expect others to follow suit and condemn and ridicule those who choose differently.

I think there are multiple reasons for people to become vegan and so it would be a mistake to lump them all into the same category, reasons, etc.

With that said, I don't really care what non-vegans think of vegans. I'm not a vegan, but I think vegans are free to pursue life, liberty and happiness in their own chosen ways.

No, but I think that vegans have a deep respect for MOST life. Probably not for insects, or worms, like the Buddhist monks...but they can't stand the idea that their own lives are maintained by killing creatures for their meat.

A diet driven by either health or morals. Often both. It's funny how so many meat eaters get crazy defensive when it's brought up though. I've never understood that one.

Very

Strangely enough for a longer life they have found that protein is critical in promoting proactively the bodies that fight disease in a body and it is difficult to get all of the proteins in a vegan diet.
If it is a philosophy it might need to be fine tuned.

Some people are militant about it. I am not, and it's not a religion, unless it's called for by your religion.

It’s a lifestyle choice based in the ethics of the person. It isn’t for me.

A belief/cult more than a diet choice.

Regardless of your diet choices, you still need to have respect for your food, and how it got to you. It comes from the earth just as all the minerals and materials that makes up our bodies has come from the earth.

There's no religion involved btw. Unless you want to become a vegan terrorist.

Definitely .. a persons way of life is their religion regardless of if they think they are religious or not 😅

It's an extension of their beliefs usually

Depends who you ask

1000%

All those plants that vegans eat are produced by in sects which die in the process of them eating it so they aren’t saving any animals