Old Testament Eating Laws: Why Are We Still Eating Prohibited Animals?

[lwymarie]

in the Old Testament, Moses stated that some animals could not be eaten, e.g. pigs, etc.
So why are we (esp. Christians) still eating them now?
Why does the Church allow people to eat them??

 

[arildno]

Why should ancient, worthless superstitions like Christianity determine what we should eat?

 

[DaveC426913]

Why should ancient, worthless superstitions like Christianity determine what we should eat?

That's an astonishingly disrespectful thing to say. Just because you don't follow a belief doesn't mean it's all right to blithely throw empty insults at it.

 

[arildno]

Oh, I didn't mean them to be empty.

 

[Doc Al]

Oh, I didn't mean them to be empty.

You are a bad boy, arildno!

Perhaps lwymarie was really asking why folks who profess to believe stuff from the bible don't really follow its dictums all that carefully? (Not that I'm complaining. The last thing I'd want to see is people following the "real" 10 commandments as stated in the bible!)

 

[DaveC426913]

Oh, I didn't mean them to be empty.

You probably didn't mean to sound so juvenile either. Why don't you just call them pants-on-fire stupidheads? Namecalling because you like the sound of your own voice (since it sure wasn't for the sake of helping out the OP) is trollish.

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

Oh, I didn't mean them to be empty.

Now that's witty!

The reason, I guess, why Christians may sin at all and still be Christians is that there is apparently some get-out-of-jail-free card that says as long as you accept God's grace before you die he will forgive you your sins. So pork out all you like, just as long as you feel bad about it before you die.

 

[Les Sleeth]

in the Old Testament, Moses stated that some animals could not be eaten, e.g. pigs, etc. So why are we (esp. Christians) still eating them now? Why does the Church allow people to eat them??

You'll have to forgive arildno, he's religio-psychotic and that makes him forget his manners when it comes to religion (otherwise he's a nice guy ).

The commonly accepted explanation for the Jewish (and Muslim too) prohibition of pork was because of the dangers of trichinosis. I'm pretty sure the ancient tribal prohibition came about in the absence of realizing cooking pork more solves the problem (because it kills the trichina larvae). Knowing what we know now about high cholesteorol foods, pork seems like a pretty good food to have avoided. Some of the other food laws can also be seen as aiding digestion, such as not eating dairy and grain at the same time (a principle today among some people who recommend what's called "food combining").

On the other hand, those who complain about people following dictums (from whereever) without understanding the reasons behind them have a point when they suggest it isn't the smartest way to make decisions (although I don't understand Doc Al's problem with the ten commandments, they seem decent enough rules to me . . . or was that sarcasm?).

Anyway, I've found a much better set of rules to live by http://www.storewars.org/flash/index.html . . . what do you guys think?

 

[Les Sleeth]

Oh yeah, I forgot to answer why Christians don't feel like they have to obey some of the Jewish stuff. Paul lobbied against having to become Jewish before being accepted as a follower of Christ. It was quite the disagreement, with the Jerusalem circle (lead by Peter) insistent about circumcision, diet, etc., and Paul out roaming about the Mediterranean telling non-Jews they just had to have faith in Christ. As most people know, Paul won the dispute and so today the details of Jewish temple religion are considered irrelevant by most Christians.

 

[Les Sleeth]

The reason, I guess, why Christians may sin at all and still be Christians is that there is apparently some get-out-of-jail-free card that says as long as you accept God's grace before you die he will forgive you your sins. So pork out all you like, just as long as you feel bad about it before you die.

You probably know religion discussions are not allowed at PF unless one can relate them to formal philosophical issues, and religion bashing isn't a philosophical issue.

There are interesting issues involved with religion, such as why it is people want to be "good," or have some ultimate set of rules they can believe are the "truth," or the hope for continued existence after the body fails, etc.

There are some pretty smart people who are religious, so you can't attribute it to pure stupidity. I'm not religious but I don't believe everyone who is can be written off as mindless sheep.

 

[Kerrie]

this thread directly conflicts with our no religious topics policy.