> The other thing that gets to me is nature shows where I see, for instance, the lion chasing down the baby gazelle. The mother gazelle looks on helplessly and obviously distressed. The lion isn't doing anything wrong. It's doing what it was created to do. Why the world was created to harbor such pain makes me feel that life is basically tragic.

Rose

That is really a hard one to explain. Im not sure I can. My thoughts about it are just like yours. Why should something have to die so that others might live? I can see no justice in it. It is a tragedy. I think its why some people choose vegetarian lifestyles and, when I think about it, it is a lot healthier way to be. It not only saves the animals, it reduces our carbon imprint significantly. If only I didnt love meat so much. Ive almost converted a few times and maybe I will yet. Also, not always, but often, natures predators prey on the weak, the old, and the sick. Its small, but its some consolation to think that those animals would have died sooner or later anyway. Falling prey may have even been more humane than dying a slow and protracted death from starvation or illness.

I believe it is also why many spiritualities/religion have a practice of blessing food.