How Religions Impact Food Practices of the Followers - Research Paper Example

 Religion and food are part of life and part of celebration of major milestones in every culture around the world (Dugan, 1994). Religion plays a vital role in the selection and consumption of food. Religious practices and teachings prohibit or promote various foods. While in some religions alcohol is a part of the religious ceremony, others prohibit it totally. In most societies religion plays a vital role in food consumption. Eating patterns evolve as the society evolves but is basically governed by the religious restrictions. The religious group to which people belong determines their food practices. In the contemporary society however, individuals interpret the restrictions to suit their convenience. Muslims generally follow the Koran which has laid down a number of rules concerning food but within Islam itself there are many different sects that observe dietary rules depending upon the degree of orthodoxy. The Koran permits that only animals with a cloven hoof can be consumed. According to this, pigs, carnivorous animals and birds, except chicken are forbidden (Sheikh & Thomas, 1994). The law also states that animals have to be slaughtered in a ritualistic manner by making an incision at the jugular vein and draining the blood. This slaughter has to be accompanied by prayers so that the meat becomes legitimate (halal) for consumption (Dugan, 1994). Otherwise food is prohibited (haram). A prayer during slaughter is to acknowledge that life is sacred and one must kill only with God’s permission (Huda, 2009). Prohibited foods include pork and pork-derived foods, including lard and bacon. Meat that is halal must have the blood drained from it (Dugan, 1994) and must be slaughtered in a humane fashion. Some Muslims eat kosher products because the dietary laws are similar to the Jewish dietary laws. Utensils have to be clean an uncontaminated by haram substances. Shellfish or sharks are not permitted because only fish with scales are permitted for consumption. Alcohol is totally permitted. During the month of Ramadan, which is the fasting month, except young children or very old or ill, have to fast from sunrise to sunset, without any food or drink (Sheikh & Thomas, 1994). Pregnant, lactating women and menstruating women are exempted for the time being but have to make it up some time during the year. Hindusim practices the doctrine of non-violence against any living entity and hence cows are totally forbidden. Cow is in fact revered as a religious symbol. Meat, fish and even eggs are prohibited. While cow is forbidden, ghee, a by-product of cow-milk is held in high esteem and is considered to sanctify food. Fasting is practiced in Hinduism but is not as rigid as in Islam (Sheikh & Thomas, 1994). Fasts are observed to mark important religious days such as the birthdays of deities. Again, fasts need not be complete abstinence from food. In certain cases they have fresh fruits and only grains are prohibited for fasts. Sometimes one normal meal a day is also an observance of fast. Omission of pulses, wheat and rice and consuming just fruits and milk fall under the purview of fast. In Hinduism there are five castes and people can only consume food prepared by someone from their own caste (Dugan, 1994). Leftover food is scattered to the birds so that even accidentally people of other castes do not consume it. Kitchens are located at the back of the homes or in a secluded area so that people of other caste cannot touch equipments of food. Hands, feet and mouth have to be washed before and after eating. Food is consumed with hand and no meat, fish, eggs, garlic, onions, mushrooms or any roots that resemble a head are allowed. Fruits juices are strongly encouraged and pure drinking water. Jewish dietary laws are derived from the Law of Moses and other early Jewish writing. Jewish food laws also forbid certain foods and regulate the cooking process of others (Dugan, 1994). Foods that are permitted are called kosher. The kosher foods must follow the process of cooking foods. Meat products must be from animals that have cloven hoofs just as the Muslims but there is a difference. While beef can be kosher, (if butchered properly), pork can never be kosher. Again, certain parts of kosher animals can be non-kosher and these are forbidden, for instance the sciatic nerve in the hind quarters (Religionfacts, 2009). Insects are forbidden as well. The Hebrew word for non-kosher food is trayf. Kosher refers to foods that meet the strict requirements laid out in the Old Testament (Wagman, 2005). Even by products from non-kosher animals are forbidden. Kosher meat has to be necessarily processed as dictated. It must be killed in a humane manner by a butcher recognized by the Jewish community and carry out the process with specified equipment. After death the animal must be examined that it was healthy and that the slaughter was conducted correctly. Fishes must have scales and fins and the birds to be consumed must be domesticated and not wild birds. Meat and dairy products cannot be consumed together and they cannot even be served together. For instance, serving broiled chicken with a glass of milk would be a violation of the laws. Only six hours after consuming meat can a Jew consume any dairy products. Even the kitchen has two sets of utensils – one for the dairy products and another for the meat items. Cross contamination would render the food non-kosher. During the Passover season no grain products can be served including breads and any other products made with wheat, oats, barley, rice or corn. Even legumes are forbidden during Passover. New food items have to be used during this season. Kitchens have to be thoroughly cleaned for this period and the regular utensils have to be replaced by special Passover equipments. There are six Jewish fasting days and food is forbidden from sundown on the previous day until the start rise the next evening. This takes care of two days of fast and on the other four days nothing is eaten from dawn until night fall. Jewish standards of sanitation and quality are highly appreciated. Fasts are observed in every religion. The basis of fasts in every religion is also the same – it is meant to cleanse the system and purge toxins and purge sins. Food restrictions can lead to feelings of clarity and bliss. Jews fast on Yom Kippur; Muslims observe Ramadan; while Hindus give up food on 18 major holidays (Kluger, 2009). The difference is that Muslims fast for a month at a stretch, while Jews have it on six different days. Hindus too have 18 different days but it is not mandatory for all to observe fast. It is left to individuals to fast or not to fast. Islam and Jewish religions make it mandatory. Again, fasts in Hinduism are flexible and can be observed in different ways. There is no timing stipulated when one has to fast and one can choose to be on a fruit diet, which too is considered a fast. Hence the regulations on fast in Hinduism are not as rigorous as Islam and the Jewish laws. It can thus be seen that all the three religions insist on cleanliness and purity. While meats are permitted in Islam and Jews, Hinduism does not permit meats of any kind. All the three religions emphasize on cleanliness while cooking. There are several similarities in Muslim and Jewish food habits even though the names differ. Islam refers to permitted food as halal while Jews call it kosher. The specifications on the type of meat and fish to eaten are also similar in both these religions but in Islam no specification can be found of a certain portion of the animal being not permitted as in the case of the Jews. Meat and dairy products cannot be consumed together is unique to Jews and which has not been specified by the other two religions. Both Islam and Jewish laws insist that animals have to be butchered in a humane way while Islam also insists on a prayer during butchering. Hinduism considers butchering a sin. While the Islam and Jewish laws permit eating meat, Hinduism considers it a sin. They in fact worship animal cow. Hindus give importance to the purity in cooking as well as in eating as they insist on washing the hands and feet before and after eating. Cleanliness and purity in cooking has also been specified by Islam and Jewish laws. The observance of fast in Islam and Jewish religions are very rigorous while it is very relaxed in Hinduism. In fact Hinduism has not made it mandatory. Hinduism appears to be a free will religion while conditions are imposed in the other two. This is why perhaps today we can find people finding their own interpretations of the religion as well as the dietary laws. As the society is evolving and as people cross borders in search of employment, rules have been relaxed while marketers take this opportunity to produce and package food as pre individual religious requirements. Reference: Dugan, B. (1994). Religion and food service. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 35 (6), 80. Huda. (2009). Islamic Dietary Law. Retrieved May 9, 2009 from http://islam.about.com/od/dietarylaw/a/diet_law.htm Kulger, J. (2009). The Biology Of Belief. Time. New York: Feb 23, 2009. 173 (7), 62 Religionfacts. (2009). Keeping Kosher: Jewish Dietary Laws. Retrieved May 9, 2009 from http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/practices/kosher.htm Sheikh, N., & Thomas, J. (1994). Factors Influencing Food Choice among Ethnic Minority Adolescents. Nutrition & Food Science, 4, 18-22 Wagman, S. (2005). Funny, you don't look kosher. Canadian Business. Toronto: Mar 28- Apr 10, 78 (7), 87 Read More