Ecological Science’s Response to Atheistic and Vegetarian Claims

Written by: Mehran Darg

✿ Reality and Vegetarianism​

Some individuals consider vegetarianism a means of safeguarding the rights of living beings. However, the truth is that plants are also living organisms. Modern science confirms that plants possess emotions, communicate with one another, respire, and respond to their environment. They exhibit sensitivity and react to different stimuli. For example, certain African tribes do not cut down trees directly; instead, they gather around and verbally abuse the tree, which then gradually withers and dies.

❀ Emotions and Sensitivity in Plants​

Scientific research has shown that plants harbor emotions and communicate with nearby organisms through their roots. This highlights that all living beings are interdependent, and thus, exclusive vegetarianism is not necessarily free from ethical concerns regarding life and sentience.

❀ The Natural System: Balance of Prey and Predator​

The world operates on a natural balance between prey and predator, known as the Prey-Predator dynamic:

◄ Prey: The organism that is consumed for nourishment
◄ Predator: The organism that hunts and consumes the prey

This balance is a fundamental ecological principle. Disrupting either side of this cycle could lead to the collapse of the entire ecosystem. Removing one element destabilizes the natural order.

❀ Illustrative Examples​

◄ Goats eat grass, lions prey on goats — all part of a natural cycle
◄ If all snakes were eradicated, rat populations would explode
◄ Eliminating all leopards would result in an overabundance of deer and antelope

❀ Human Interference and Ecological Balance​

Human actions also impact ecological balance. One remarkable historical example is from the era of Genghis Khan. His mass killings led to a significant reduction in human populations, allowing forests and greenery to flourish. With fewer people to disturb nature, the earth saw an increase in vegetation and improved environmental conditions.

❀ Natural Sacrifice and the Continuity of Life​

In nature, all living beings are interdependent. The death of one organism sustains the life of another — a form of natural sacrifice that ensures the continuity of life. In this divine system, nothing is created without purpose; everything plays a vital role.

✿ Conclusion​

The universe operates under a divinely ordained system in which every creation is dependent on another. Adopting vegetarianism or trying to save a specific group of organisms at the cost of others may defy the ecological balance. Both prey and predator are essential for maintaining the natural harmony of the world.