Religious dietary restrictions are observed by followers of various religions, often for food safety or religious beliefs. Fasting is also common, and restrictions on gluttony and intoxicants are advised for health and social welfare. These restrictions can be ignored in emergency situations.
Some world religions have dietary restrictions which are observed by their followers as part of their religious practice. Most of these religious dietary restrictions are laid down in the holy books of the religion, such as the Bible, Vedas, Quran, Sutras and Torah. Depending on the religion, dietary restrictions can be quite severe, as in the case of Jains, or relatively simple, in the case of Presbyterians. There are a number of reasons to implement religious dietary restrictions, but in most cases the restrictions can be ignored in an emergency situation, such as in the case of a Jewish man stranded on a desert island with only ham sandwiches from eat. He would be allowed to eat the forbidden ham, as it would have been preferable to starve.
One of the most common reasons behind religious dietary restrictions is food safety. Many religions were founded in hot climates in an era long before refrigeration. As a result, some have restrictions on eating carrion, as it could be rotten or notoriously unstable fish such as shellfish. Some specific animals are restricted because they are believed to have unclean living habits or because they require a great deal of energy to rear. In some cases, foods are restricted because the native population is allergic to them. In this sense, dietary restrictions protect the followers of the religion, allowing them to grow fruitful and multiply.
Another basis for religious dietary restrictions is religious beliefs. Buddhists and Hindus, for example, believe they have a duty to reduce suffering in the world. For this reason many followers of these religions belong to vegetarian sects, because foods of animal origin often involve suffering. In other cases, such as the sacred cow in Hinduism, a particular plant or animal is sacred or holy and should not be eaten.
Many dietary restrictions are closely related to fasting. Numerous religions around the world practice fasting as a way to increase purity and spiritual growth. It also teaches followers about self-will and helps them resist temptation. In times of food shortages, the practice of fasting may also have helped make life more bearable, as fasting in the name of God is easier to bear than fasting due to famine or poverty.
In some cases, religious dietary restrictions address specific issues, as is the case with gluttony or intoxicants like alcohol and coffee. In these cases, excessive consumption of these products can be dangerous to someone’s health or social welfare. Consequently, priests advise moderation in consuming these products to ensure that their followers lead sober and productive lives. While some of these religious dietary restrictions might seem like overkill, such as a blanket ban on alcohol for devout Muslims, they make sense when you look at the context in which the religion originated. In the case of Islam, the ban on desiccants makes sense for followers of a religion established in a desert environment with limited water.
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