Last updated: Saturday, 29th August 2026
Vegetarianism can feel like a modern wellness trend, but plant-based eating has deep roots in faith. India alone is home to an estimated 260-500 million vegetarians, most of them observing diets shaped by religion rather than trends, and it’s far from the only place.
Plenty of people eat meat sparingly, or not at all, because of culture or religious upbringing – And it’s rooted deep.
Here’s a tour through the world’s major traditions and the beliefs behind their plant-forward diets.
Which religions are vegetarian?
The religions most strongly associated with vegetarianism are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, all of which originated in the Indian subcontinent and share the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence towards living things.
Beyond these, Rastafari leans towards vegan or ital, and several branches of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam encourage plant-based eating either through fasting or through holy texts.
Varying by culture, from Jainism’s mandatory vegetarianism to the roughly 200 days a year of plant-based fasting observed in Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the religion most closely associated with vegetarianism, with the avoidance of beef in particular. Cows are considered sacred, so beef is off the menu for observant Hindus, and vegetarianism is also commonly followed as part of tradition.
The theological driver is ahimsa, the principle of non-violence, reinforced by the belief in reincarnation: if a soul can be reborn in animal form, animals warrant moral consideration.
That said, the popular idea that all Hindus are vegetarian isn’t true. Studies suggest around 44% of Hindus worldwide follow a vegetarian diet, with the rest eating at least some meat.
It’s also worth clearing up a common misconception: India is not a uniformly beef-free country. Beef is eaten by some communities, including many Indian Muslims and Christians, and its legality varies from state to state.
The taboo is strong amongst Hindus, but it isn’t universal across the whole population.
Buddhism
Buddhism encourages compassion for all living beings, and that principle shapes its approach to food, though practice varies.
The key split is between traditions. Mahayana Buddhist monks, found largely in China, Korea, and Vietnam, typically follow strict vegetarian or vegan diets.
Theravada monks, more common in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, may accept meat when offered as alms, provided the animal wasn’t killed specifically for them.
In both cases the underlying value is the same: minimising harm. (And while we’re at it, the “buddha bowl” you see on café menus is a Western-wellness-era invention, not a Buddhist tradition.)
Jainism
Jainism takes non-violence further than any other major religion, and vegetarianism isn’t a personal choice within it so much as a requirement. Many Jains are effectively vegan, and some go further still.
A distinction worth drawing: giving up material possessions and relying on the community for food and shelter, applies to Jain monks and nuns. Lay Jains lead conventional working lives, and follow the dietary rules closely.
Jain dietary rules include avoiding root vegetables such as onions, garlic, and potatoes, since uprooting the whole plant kills it and harms the small organisms living in the soil.
It’s one of the most rigorous ethical diets anywhere in the world.
Sikhism
Sikhism’s dietary rules are more varied than one may assume. There’s no single mandate that says all Sikhs are vegetarian.
Initiated Sikhs, known as the Khalsa, take part in the Amrit Sanskar ceremony. They’re generally expected to avoid kutha meat, that is, meat from ritual slaughter, and many follow vegetarian or meat-restricted diets, though this varies depending on sect or community.
One thing that is consistent: food served in the langar, the communal kitchen at the heart of every gurdwara (sikh place of worship), is always vegetarian, so that anyone of any background can eat together.
The emphasis throughout is on avoiding harm and keeping the body and mind clear for spiritual practice.
Judaism and vegetarianism
The Torah permits eating meat, within the framework of kosher law, so Judaism isn’t a vegetarian religion by rule. But many of its highest values, including compassion, health, peace, and the careful use of resources, align closely with plant-based eating.
The principle of tza’ar ba’alei chayim, avoiding cruelty to animals, is a longstanding part of Jewish ethics.
Are Rastafarians vegan?
Many Rastafarians follow a plant-based diet, otherwise known as the Ital lifestyle. “Ital is vital“, so they say. Ital food is natural and minimally processed: no meat, no chemicals or artificial additives, and often no salt.
The philosophy is about eating in a way that increases the body’s living energy, and it draws in part on the dietary laws found in the Book of Leviticus. Not every Rastafarian follows it to the tee, but among those who do, it’s a great example of diet determined by religion.
Do Muslims eat meat?
Yes, meat is permitted in Islam as long as it’s halal, meaning prepared according to Islamic law. Halal essentially means the meat is sourced from animals that were treated well and humanely slaughtered; Pork is prohibited outright for muslims.
Vegetarianism isn’t pushed, and it isn’t the mainstream position, but it isn’t discouraged either. Some Muslims choose it, particularly within Sufi traditions, and Islamic teaching places real weight on avoiding cruelty to animals, moderation and eating beneficial plant-based foods.
So while most Muslims eat meat, a plant-based diet sits comfortably within the faith for those who want it.
Christianity and plant-based eating
Christianity has no blanket rule against meat, but plant-based eating runs through parts of it more than you might expect, both in scripture and in centuries-old practice.
Was Jesus vegetarian?
Honestly, nobody can say for certain, a genuine point of scholarly debate – although he did feed 1000s of people fish so technically no?.
Some early Christian groups, such as the Ebionites, were vegetarian, and Jesus’s teachings on compassion are sometimes read as pointing that way. But with that said, the scripture also depicts him eating fish.
Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
Here’s one of the most significant examples of religious plant-based eating anywhere, and one most people have never heard of. Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians observe around 200 fasting days a year, during which animal products are set aside entirely.
On those days the diet followed is effectively vegan, built around dishes like injera flatbread with lentil and vegetable stews such as shiro and misir wot. Makes sense as to why the vegan options are so good in Ethiopia, it goes deep into the roots of the culture.
Ethiopia is one of the largest plant-based food cultures in the world. It makes sense as to why vegan options are abundant in Ethiopia, it goes deep into the roots of their culture.
Is veganism a religion?
Not in any formal sense, veganism is technically not a religion. Veganism has no deity, scripture, or place of worship, so it isn’t a religion in the way the above are.
Veganism, however, has been legally recognised as something close. In 2020, a UK employment tribunal concluded veganism as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010.
So while it isn’t a faith, in Britain at least it carries a comparable legal protection.
Which religions are vegan rather than vegetarian?
Vegan and vegetarian is used interchangeably, but the distinction matters when comparing traditions. Here’s roughly where the major ones sit:
| Tradition | Tends toward |
| Jainism | Vegetarian, often vegan |
| Mahayana Buddhism | Vegetarian or vegan |
| Rastafari (Ital) | Vegan |
| Hinduism | Lacto-vegetarian (dairy included) |
| Sikhism | Vegetarian or meat-restricted, varies by sect |
| Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity | Vegan during fasting periods |
| Judaism and Islam | Meat permitted; plant-based encouraged in places |
So what religion is veganism most like?
Veganism is most deeply embedded in Jainism and Mahayana Buddhism, where it’s closest to morals rather than personal choice.
That said, veganism is growing across every tradition, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam; driven by ethical and environmental motivations that sit alongside faith rather than being a result of faith.
Plant-based eating has roots in almost every major world religion, which makes it one of the most genuinely cross-cultural dietary traditions on the planet.
If that surprised you, share it with a friend who assumes vegetarianism is a trend.
