VEGETARIANISM
AND THE BIBLE
Edward Maitland, Anna Kingsford,
Samuel Hart, Bertram McCrie and Arnaldo Sisson Filho
Organization: Arnaldo Sisson Filho
Collection
Wheel and Cross
2026
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© by Arnaldo Sisson Filho – 2026: – All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the editor.
Collection
Wheel and Cross
| MAITLAND, Edward and KINGSFORD, Anna.Vegetarianism and the Bible / Edward Maitland, Anna Kingsford and others / Arnaldo Sisson Filho, Organizer/Editor: Brasília – 2026.
1. Edward Maitland. 2. Anna Kingsford. 3. Vegetarianism. 4. Bible 5. “New” Gospel of Interpretation. 6. Buddhist Christianity. 7. Vegetarianism and Religion. 8. Vegetarianism and Science. I. Title |
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INITIAL QUOTATIONS
Vegetarian Movement: The Redeemer of the World
“I consider the vegetarian movement to be the most important movement of our age. I believe this because I see in it the beginning of true civilization.
My opinion is that up to the present moment we do not know what civilization means. When we look at the dead bodies of animals, whether entire or cut up, which with sauces and condiments are served at our table, we do not reflect on the horrible deed that has preceded these dishes; and yet it is something terrible to know that every meal to which we sit down has cost a life.
I hold that we owe it to civilization to elevate the whole of that deeply demoralized and barbarized class of people – butchers, cattle-drovers, and all others who are connected with the deplorable business. Thousands of persons are degraded by the slaughterhouse in their neighbourhood, which condemns whole classes to a debasing and inhuman occupation.
I await the time when the consummation of the vegetarian movement shall have created perfect men, for I see in this movement the foundations of perfection. When I perceive the possibilities of vegetarianism and the heights to which it can raise us, I feel convinced that it will prove the redeemer of the world.” (Anna Kingsford. Quoted by Samuel H. Hart: in Anna Kingsford: In Memoriam. Booklet containing the full text, with some additions by the author, of a lecture given to the Leeds Vegetarian Society on September 15th, 1946, to commemorate the Centenary of the birth of Anna Kingsford; emphasis added)
The Interpretation of Your Bibles
“That which you need on Earth is the interpretation of your Bibles, and of all the Scriptures which contain the hidden wisdom, the mystery of which St. Paul so often speaks as existing from the foundation of the world. [As in Romans 16:25]” (A Message to Earth. Edited by Edward Maitland, p. 69; emphasis added)
Union of Buddha and Christ: the World’s Coming Redemption
“Of the spiritual union in the one faith of Buddha and Christ, will be born the world’s coming redemption.” (Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland. The Perfect Way, p. 252; emphasis added)
At Some Distant Day It Will Become a Religion of Great Nations
“I know that at some distant day, now, indeed, perhaps very remote, the message we preach in a corner will become a religion of great nations.” (Anna Kingsford. Addresses and Essays on Vegetarianism, p. 1; emphasis added)
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SUMMARY
Part I: Preface and Biographical Texts
- Editor’s Preface
- Anna Kingsford – Her Life and Work (Samuel H. Hart)
- Anna Kingsford: In Memoriam (Samuel H. Hart)
- Anna Kingsford and Vegetarianism (Samuel H. Hart)
- Edward Maitland and Vegetarianism (Samuel H. Hart)
Part II: Vegetarianism (in the Light of the “New” Gospel of Interpretation)
- Concerning the Three Veils Between Man and God (Anna Kingsford)
- 7. Vegetarianism and the Bible (Edward Maitland)
- The Bible and Flesh-Eating (Bertram McCrie)
Part III: Complementary Texts and Quotations
- The Banquet of the Gods (Anna Kingsford)
- Vegetarianism and Christianity (Arnaldo Sisson Filho)
- Anna Kingsford, Buddhist Christianity and Vegetarianism (Arnaldo Sisson Filho)
- Glimpses of a True Catholic and Scientific Religion: The Buddhist Christianity (Arnaldo Sisson Filho)
- Quotations on Interpretation of the Symbols
- Quotations on Buddhist Christianity
Part IV: Bibliography, Associated Sites and Pages
- Bibliography and Fundamental Works of the “New” Gospel of Interpretation
- Our Sites and Pages in English
About the Editor
Books by the Editor
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PART I
PREFACE AND BIOGRAPHICAL TEXTS
- Editor’s Preface
- Anna Kingsford – Her Life and Work (Samuel H. Hart)
- Anna Kingsford: In Memoriam (Samuel H. Hart)
- Anna Kingsford and Vegetarianism (Samuel H. Hart)
- Edward Maitland and Vegetarianism (Samuel H. Hart)
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EDITOR’S PREFACE
As the title and authors listed in this collection of texts already indicate, its content aims to present an overview of Dr. Anna Kingsford’s contribution to the cause of vegetarianism.
All the authors, with the sole exception of Dr. Kirstine Nolfi M.D., are directly related to the dissemination of the message of Dr. Anna Kingsford and her great companion throughout her life, Edward Maitland.
This message was called the “New” Gospel of Interpretation. It is a pioneering work, still from the end of the 19th century, which presents a logical and profound interpretation of the symbols and parables of Christianity, as well as its fundamental relationship with Buddhism, a relationship that we call Buddhist Christianity.
Within this message, Vegetarianism is considered a topic of paramount importance, and also regarding this topic, Dr. Kingsford’s work was of great relevance and pioneering spirit, being considered by many as the “Mother” of Vegetarianism in our time. An example of this was her medical school thesis at the University of Paris, which dealt precisely with this topic.
Due to this broader context, the collection of texts in this work seeks to focus on Dr. Kingsford’s contribution to the cause of Vegetarianism from various perspectives; that is, not only as a dietary reform, but also presenting content within its biographical, philosophical, religious, social, biological, and even health and medical aspects.
Dr. Kirstine Nolfi’s text, actually a booklet, was included not to claim its accuracy in every detail, as that goes beyond the objectives of this collection, but only as a clear corroboration of another pioneering aspect of Dr. Kingsford’s message, which was the affirmation of the importance of what is now called “living food,” based on the ingestion of raw foods.
The complete works of these two great prophets, Dr. Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland, are compiled and available in their entirety and free of charge on the Anna Kingsford Website (www.annakingsford.com). There, we also find several other works by authors related to the “New” Gospel of Interpretation.
In the preparation of this work, as well as others I have edited in recent years, thanks are due to my friend Luis Antonio de Souza, who has fraternally and voluntarily assisted greatly in these endeavors.
As far as we can see, the message of these two great prophets is of the utmost importance for the well-being of the world, and its beneficial effects are only just beginning. May the recovery of a truly catholic (universal) and scientific religiosity – which the “New” Gospel of Interpretation and its Buddhist Christianity exemplify for the world, be, in fact, a sign of the dawn of an era with more understanding, tolerance, and harmony.
Arnaldo Sisson Filho
(Editor’s Sites in English, with related works and texts)
annakingsford.com; perennial-philosophy.com;
universalbrotherhood.com.br;
gospelofinterpretation.com;
buddhistchristianity.com; wheelandcross.com;
ideas4betterworld.com; democracyofthefuture.com;
humanitarianism.com.br