Cultural Prohibition of Food in Two Societies
Alexandra Cording
21817508
Anth 102
Exploring cultural diversity
Essay Question: Discuss the cultural prohibition of food in at least two societies.
Many people of different cultures and religions define themselves not only by what their religious beliefs are but also by what food they eat and the different ways in which they prepare it (Campo 2009). Food is one important factor of everyday life that brings people together and links people to the natural and sacred worlds (Campo 2009). Since the beginning of time dietary practices have been incorporated into the religious practices of different people around the globe. Some religious sects abstain, or are forbidden from consuming certain food and drink. Others restrict food and drink in their holy days, while some associate dietary and food preparation practices with rituals of the faith (Waibel 2004). These dietary practices are known as the cultural prohibition of food. In this essay I will discuss the Islamic dietary laws and the Hindu dietary requirements that are practiced around the world.
The Muslim cultural prohibition of food plays a very significant role in the lives of Muslims around the world .The Islamic dietary laws are a matter of both social custom and religion (Campo 2009). In Islamic dietary laws, foods are categorized into different groups. These groups include those that are lawful (HALAL), those that are forbidden (HARAM) and those that are pure (tahir, tayibb) and those that are impure (rajis, najis). These divisions of what foods are lawful-pure and what foods are forbidden-impure are based on the QURAN and HADITH, the Islamic sources of revelation (Campo 2009). The Quran instructs people to eat only lawful and good things from the earth and not to “follow in Satan’s footsteps” (Q 2:168). The most general statement in the Quran about food is one that was intended for “children of Adam”: “Eat and drink, but do not be wasteful, for god does not like wasteful people” (Q 7:31) (Campo
21817508
Anth 102
Exploring cultural diversity
Essay Question: Discuss the cultural prohibition of food in at least two societies.
Many people of different cultures and religions define themselves not only by what their religious beliefs are but also by what food they eat and the different ways in which they prepare it (Campo 2009). Food is one important factor of everyday life that brings people together and links people to the natural and sacred worlds (Campo 2009). Since the beginning of time dietary practices have been incorporated into the religious practices of different people around the globe. Some religious sects abstain, or are forbidden from consuming certain food and drink. Others restrict food and drink in their holy days, while some associate dietary and food preparation practices with rituals of the faith (Waibel 2004). These dietary practices are known as the cultural prohibition of food. In this essay I will discuss the Islamic dietary laws and the Hindu dietary requirements that are practiced around the world.
The Muslim cultural prohibition of food plays a very significant role in the lives of Muslims around the world .The Islamic dietary laws are a matter of both social custom and religion (Campo 2009). In Islamic dietary laws, foods are categorized into different groups. These groups include those that are lawful (HALAL), those that are forbidden (HARAM) and those that are pure (tahir, tayibb) and those that are impure (rajis, najis). These divisions of what foods are lawful-pure and what foods are forbidden-impure are based on the QURAN and HADITH, the Islamic sources of revelation (Campo 2009). The Quran instructs people to eat only lawful and good things from the earth and not to “follow in Satan’s footsteps” (Q 2:168). The most general statement in the Quran about food is one that was intended for “children of Adam”: “Eat and drink, but do not be wasteful, for god does not like wasteful people” (Q 7:31) (Campo
References: Appadurai, A. (1981). "Gastro-Polotics in Hindu South Asia." American Ethnologist, Symbolism and Cognition 8(3): 494-511. Campo, J. E. (2009). Encyclopedia of World Religions. Encyclopedia of Islam. J. G. Melton. New York, Facts on File: 750. ElGindy, G. (2010) Hindu Dietary Practices: Feeding The Body Mind and Soul. MinorityNurse.com 1 Waibel, R. A. (2004). Religion And Dietary Practices. Nutrition nd Well- Being A to Z. D. C. S. James. New York, Gale. 2: 652.