Owing to recent developments, it may seem that the criticism we offered in our previous post has become obsolete. This is because from Francione's website the Jain symbol has now been removed. For this reason, we wish to clarify that our criticism was not meant to target the Jain symbol as such, as an independent locus of concern, but rather as literally symbolizing the problem in question: merging veganism with Jainism. A problem which is still manifest on Francione's website; most keenly in the message contained in his signature line, appended to each of his posts, where it is declared that veganism is not only about not doing violence to animals, but also about "nonviolence to yourself" - a notion that is derived from Jainism.
We acknowledge, however, that our criticism did not, or not sufficiently, point out that the message, represented by the symbol, is problematic on its own.
Just to be clear, we, in thus criticizing Francione, are not to be understood as being critical of Jainism as such, or even of Francione's attaching a religious meaning, for himself, to veganism; nor of anyone else's doing so. What we specifically object to is what we have called the religious diversification of the meaning of veganism in public advocacy, an objection elaborated here.
We acknowledge, however, that our criticism did not, or not sufficiently, point out that the message, represented by the symbol, is problematic on its own.
Just to be clear, we, in thus criticizing Francione, are not to be understood as being critical of Jainism as such, or even of Francione's attaching a religious meaning, for himself, to veganism; nor of anyone else's doing so. What we specifically object to is what we have called the religious diversification of the meaning of veganism in public advocacy, an objection elaborated here.
