Hey there

[Maike]

It seems common to introduce yourself. So here I'm.
My name is Maike (might be hard to spell for native american or british people) and I'm from germany. I'm 18 years old and I just graduated "high school" if this is compareable to our Abitur.
I'm going to study in october.

Even though I have always had problems with the image of a god, I went to church and had a confirmation. Later on I still didnt feel the need to integrate god into my life.
Since I was 13 I have been vegeterian on and of, sometime I didnt drink milk or eggs and so on. 2 months ago I finally went vegan. I have to say that I have a really strong opinion about veganism to the disadvantage of my friends which are slightly annoyed by me ...

I first turned vegan because of my health. In every part ofmy family one does find heart diseases. Then I watchen earthlings and the ethical side got more important for me.

Maike

[brimstoneSalad]

Hi Maike, welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found us.

Congrats on going vegan. I hope you aren't too hard on your friends; sometimes gentle encouragement works the best.

So are you kind of an atheist by default, or have you learned much about the religious arguments?

[Jebus]

Welcome Maike and congratulations on going vegan. It seems really easy to be vegan in Germany. I was in Berlin last week and found so much great food.

[Maike]

So are you kind of an atheist by default, or have you learned much about the religious arguments?

My mom left church (in germany you can be a member of a church or ... not, if you're in a church you must pay taxes), her father was quite strong religious. She never tought me something about jesus, christianity etc. In elementary school most of us started to go to 'confirmation lessons' in our church (I was and still am a member). I wasnt baptized so we catched up on that. It was more of a social event, everyone went there and I did as well ... I just didnt want to miss out on something (?)

I think a system (like a church) can influence children that young really easy but in the higher grades we started to question everything they tought us. I know many people who believe in something but dont practise a religion. In high school (or Abitur / sek.II) wwe didnt even have real classes about religion, they changed because noone wanted to talk about god and we did more about ethical behavior and reason. I did have Religion classes for about 10 years or even more and I went to those confirmation lessons but noone could convince me that even a higher power and not the christian God watches over us.
But I have to say: I dont know. (But im quite sure)

[Maike]

It seems really easy to be vegan in Germany. I was in Berlin last week and found so much great food.

May I ask where you are from?
I think there is a huuuuge driffrence between american and european food/restaurants (have been to new york last year, ate vegeterian there)
But Berlin is diffrent!
The city is huge and there live many ... vegan Hipster
It might get easy in citys with more than half a million citizens but german food in general isnt healthy or even vegan.
I spent most of my free time in a city near to my hometown and there are some realy good restaurant which sell vegan options (Balzac Coffe, dean and david, Hardy Bo) but in general I dont think its especially easy to be vegan in germany Google bavarian food

[Jebus]

May I ask where you are from?

I live in Mauritius, but originally from Sweden.

I worked in Bavaria for a while and remember their awful eating culture. Hopefully the Berlin movement will start spreading to other parts of Germany. I'm pretty sure it will. Subcultures usually start in the capitals.