The difference between veganism and religion is that one is based on facts, the other is not.

• It’s true that other species of animals are sentient, they have nervous systems similar enough to ours that we know they can feel pleasure and pain.
• It’s true that we kill billions of them per year.
• It’s true that the vast majority of them are factory farmed (74% worldwide, 99% in the US).
• It’s true that humans at all stages of life can thrive on a properly planned vegan diet, according to most major health organizations.
• It’s true that animal agriculture is extremely inefficient and loses a lot of calories from crops being put towards feeding animals (see: trophic levels)
• It’s true that animal agriculture has a huge impact on the environment compared to feeding crops directly to humans.

so get out of here with that nonsense that veganism is religious zealotry. I don’t have time to cite a source for each point, but they’re all super easily verified. Veganism is looking at the impact of your choices with clear eyes and choosing compassion over personal pleasure. It’s choosing to live and let live, rather than forcing death and misery on other species because you like the taste of their flesh and secretions.