It all depends on where we stand in the hierarchy of the food chain, and in geographic juxtaposition to one another. Humans and Polar Bears can be "equals", so long as we don't live next door to one another. Then, one of us has to become unequal to the other, real quick!

Humans were using animals for lots of things (primarily food) before the concept of a soul was even invented. Does the cheetah "murder" the gazelle? Does the gazelle "murder" the plant it eats?

This concept smacks of removing humans from nature, which is a really bad way to look at us and our position in the world.

We are not all equal, the human brain is much more evolved than any other animal. This confers on us a great responsibility to look after this planet, and all life forms within it. That does not imply that we should not use certain animals for food, but that we need to treat all animals, both wild and domesticated with respect. We should only kill animals for food, never for sport, and those that we do eat should have the best lives possible until the time we need to humanely kill them. I believe the human animal, like others, is an omnivore and an optimum human diet should have a balance of meat, grain and vegetables. There are people who believe animals are preferable to people, much as I love animals, I do not subscribe to that view. Animals do have a valuable place in our hearts and our lives, but I do not believe that they are in any way equal to humans. The religious aspect in this regard is irrelevant, as in any other.....we know the bible is a work of fiction.

Murder is a human concept... As such, it's not relevant to killing for food... All living things take from the environment in one way or the other to sustain their own lives...