I think you're right (I am Jewish by some default, but very much non-kosher). The practice itself is what makes the Kosher "Kosher". If the animal was killed in

I think you're right (I am Jewish by some default, but very much non-kosher). The practice itself is what makes the Kosher "Kosher". If the animal was killed in a different way, it's not Kosher. I know that as a carnivore I might be frowned upon by militant vegans for saying it, but I'm very aware i'm eating dead animals, not apologetic about it, and would rather eat animals that had a good healthy life and a swift painless death. Kosher slaughter to me is not a swift painless death (not to mention I have a lot of "beef" with the whole "Kosher" rabbinical institute).