veganism: Vegan is a lifestyle. Not a diet, religion, cult, etc. It is comparable to being gay, except that you choose to be Vegan. I remember "coming out" to my parents and how upset they were. I also feel somewhat alienated from society for my lifestyle choice.|||Pft. No. It's lacking the mythology/narratives of religion, the symbols, and the holistic approach to spirituality/higher meaning. It also lacks the supernatural quality found in most other religions. There are no prophets and no sacred texts. It's no more a religion than abstinence. A belief and set of behaviors about a single aspect of life do not a religion make. You could argue that it is an aspect of secular philosophy, but both religion and philosophy generally both are far more reaching in their scope.|||Veganism is often more like a status, a moral badge, and a label people define themselves by. If it were a religion, there would have to be some sort of deity involved, right? Although, people who restrict their diets to being completely vegan are in a way acting like monks, or martyrs; subjecting themselves to strict rules, based on a moral belief(s). It could be deemed more of a cult if not for the fact that some are not vegan by choice, and limit their dietary habits to maintain health when all other foods cause allergies or make them ill. Many raw food vegans are often prime examples of vegans who choose this dietary path because nothing else has worked to give them health and they use it as an alternative therapy for their health issues (cancer, lupus, etc.)|||From what I have gleaned in my interactions with people on all sides, I would say that more than a view people have taken it to that level. Really little different than some religious beliefs where people that don't follow the 'rules' and 'regulations' are indeed not as acceptable to the others unless they follow such. Those that don't follow said regulations and rules are not as acceptable as those that do. This in no way reflects upon the whole, but does indeed reflect a number of people that like to use that term to describe themselves.|||Not really, there is no higher power with veganism. It could be compared to non-religious philosophies such as Confucianism, non-religious Taoism, and Legalism.|||Personally, I would classify it as a subculture. I think this is most because I get the feeling that a fair number of vegans see themselves as outsiders within society.|||In the sense that you strongly believe in something, therefore following rules you set yourself, and respect animals instead of a god, yes.|||i would say so, because your beliefs that killing animals is wrong is why your accting a certain way, so def. yes. It's not just a diet, there's beliefs that go along with it.|||haha! no I don't think so. There is nothing worshiped, no explanations for life, no reasons for life. but it is an admiral quality in a person.|||Some vegans have that diet because of their religion, but I've never heard of it being the other way around.|||nah just a fad, they're worse than the twilight fans|||its not religion is just a diet...|||I sure hope not...there are way too many of those on earth right now...|||Perhaps a cult?|||loll no wayy|||No! I don't see anything being a higher power or god in veganism if you see that then you must really be hallucinating? Veganism is a diet for some a lifestyle just like eating meat is a diet and for some a lifestyle.