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Why did the Bible Christian sect form the Vegetarian Society in England in 1847?

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Illustration of a vegan food pyramid divided into four sections: whole grains at the base, followed by vegetables, then fruit, and legumes at the top, with recommended daily servings and images of representative foods in each group. — vegetarianism A vegan food pyramid, which excludes meat and animal products.

The Vegetarian Society was formed in England in 1847 by the Bible Christian sect as part of a broader movement toward a more humane and cosmically harmonious way of life.1

During the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a growing interest in humanitarianism and moral progress, which led to a revival of sensitivity toward animal suffering. Certain Protestant groups, including the Bible Christians, adopted a fleshless diet as a means of pursuing a perfectly sinless life. While the vegetarian movement was consistently driven by ethically inclined individuals, the formation of the society provided a formal institution to express these shared concerns, marking a significant step in the organized promotion of vegetarianism.1