9 ‘These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat. 10 But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. 11 They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. 12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an abomination to you. Leviticus 11:9-12 (NKJV)
Does this mean God talked to Moses, or is it possible that Moses saw a bunch of iodine deficient humans dropping like flies from the shellfish and said he I'll make a law against it because this will keep them alive?
Just wondering, I'm just an agnostic creating a database of questions and answers, not trying to convert anyone. Thanks.
2006-08-09 02:46:06 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, my answer will come as no surprise to you seeing as how it's a stretch for me to say 'God talked to Moses' - for me I have always presumed that most dietary considerations in religions come from exactly what you say - a primitive understanding of health risks at the time. I think some dietary considerations (no milk and meat together) must either be completely arbitrary or the result of some serious misunderstanding (that guy with serious malaria died after eating a cheesburger - must have been the cheesburger).
2006-08-09 02:50:40 · answer #1 · answered by XYZ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I like the line "whatever in the water does not have fins or scales - that shall be an abomination to you."
LOL.
So, approx 40% of the life in the sea is an "abomination" then? LOL. That's ok by me, I find most of the "abominations" in the sea to be quite tasty!
2006-08-09 09:56:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you know that shellfish (lobsters anyway) don't excrete? It's yucky, yes. Because of this, they have alot of toxins in their little bug-like bodies. In the Old Testament God told people to stay away from shellfish and other potentially hazardous foods. Part of it was for ritualistic purposes, to paint a picture of clean vs. unclean, but alot of it was because He wanted them to be healthy. In the New Testament He gave us permission to begin eating "unclean" animals again. It was part of the picture that both Jews and Gentiles alike can have salvation through Christ, that He is ommitting no one from His promises. Probably after having not eaten them for so many years, they were cautious to cook them well, and therefore had fewer health problems from them.
2006-08-09 09:52:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some Old Testament teachings that are replaced and superceded by new teachings in the New Testament. The Old Testament prohibition against eating shellfish is one such teaching.
There are other Old Testament teachings that are not replaced or superceded by anything in the New Testament, though.
These would include the Old Testament's prohibitions against murder, stealing, lying, idolatry, and immoral sexual behavior including adultery, incest, and homosexuality.
In fact, the OT's prohibitions against these things are backed up and reaffirmed in the NT.
2006-08-09 09:52:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the shellfish probably was bad. Under the law certain things were forbidden to eat but Jesus Christ ended all that when he opened the way for the gentile nations
2006-08-09 09:53:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the humans getting sick from shellfish would've had an overdose of iodine or an allergy to it. I think if people now, with the knowledge of allergies and the affects of too much iodine, began getting sick from shellfish it would mean that they need to learn to refrigerate their food and handle it properly.
2006-08-09 09:50:08 · answer #6 · answered by Snark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont believe that God mad Laws to keep us from having freedom, but rather to give us freedom. Shellfish like shrimp, crab, lobster and oysters are all bottom/filter feeders and there is a thing called shellfish poisoning.
Yes, I believe that we should not eat these things because it is against his law, howver, they are soooooooooo delicious!!
2006-08-09 09:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by Shamus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think some of it had to with trying to keep people healthy, and the rules were better enforced if one said they came from "God."
For example, they couldn't eat pigs, which was a pretty logical rule. Since they were nomadic, it would have been very difficult to keep a bunch of pigs around, and a diet of ham would make it difficult for people to travel in comfort. (I don't eat ham, but my understanding is that it can make people sluggish, and they could get ill.)
2006-08-09 09:55:42 · answer #8 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good point, I think that God is fine with us eating sea bugs (shelfish)...he probably draws the ine at earing oysters raw, but then what else are you gonna do with them?!
I wonder what God has against lactic intolerant people as well...there used to be none, now everyone seems to be one!
2006-08-09 09:55:08 · answer #9 · answered by Ichi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, yeah. There are so many shellfish in the desert, and on mountaintops.
I must admit, Jim, you have a great deal of faith. You say that the Bible is made up, then YOU make up your own story. lol.
2006-08-09 09:51:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋