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SUMMARY (Ridvan Askin, edited Deborah Madsen):

A work of revelation, Oahspe “reveals a new” religion, “adapted to this age, wherein all men can be as brethren” (iii), as the Preface to the First Edition describes. Claimed to have been revealed to Newbrough in a series of angelic visitations and “covering the history of the planet, the history of the human race, the history of every major religion, past and present, an analysis of today and a prophecy for tomorrow,” this “New Bible” also promotes veganism (v). Faithists, as the community calls itself, practice veganism as part of a general Temperance and for religious reasons, to purify their corporeal existence and to bolster their spirituality: “We abstain from flesh food and from strong drink, and endeavor to purify our corporeal bodies” (631), “[f]or if thou setteth thy soul to feed on animals, and to dwell with them, the Gods cannot deliver thee to My emancipated heavens, till thou hast served thy time in the lower heavens” (231). Similarly, it is said that

[h]erb-food for man cultivateth the negative condition; flesh-food for man increaseth the positive: Which is to say, flesh-food carrieth man away from prophecy; away from spirituality. A nation of meat-eaters will always culminate in disbelievers in spirituality; and they become addicted to corporeal passions. Such men cannot understand; to them the world is vanity and vexation, if poor; or, if rich, a place to revel in for lust's sake (588).

The consumption of meat creates a predisposition to conflict and war, whereas a “herbs and fruit diet” fosters “virtuous and industrious” men and, ultimately, peace (792). Further, animals are not to be eaten because they are Jehovih's creatures: “Thou shalt eat no flesh of any animal, or fish, or bird, or fowl, or creeping thing which Jehovih created alive” (708). Only plants and plant-based foods are suitable for human sustenance: “And behold, ye have every herb, and seed, and fruit, which is on the face of the earth, and the roots that grow in the earth, and they shall be your food. But of whatsoever hath breathed the breath of life man shall not eat (406-407). The prescribed diet is fully vegan: “Neither doth flesh food enter my mouth; nor strong drink, nor substance that cometh from an animal, or is part thereof; nor fish, nor worms, nor anything that breathes or hath breathed” (635).