Why do many religions have dietary restrictions?

Question

Like No Pork, no meat on fridays, keeping kosher, etc.

Answer 1

Otherwise how do you distinguish one from the other!!

EDIT: Mawarda, when you say that pork is unclean let me enlighten you that you're saying so "purely" from an Islamic perspective, and not a rational (or universal) one.

Out here in India, Jainism considers all forms of meat as unclean. So, I guess if a Jaina were to respond to this question; he'd have a different answer, because in his opinion all meats, whether beef, pork, chicken, or fish are unhealthy from his perspective. And it is not mere dogma, they provide scientific evidence in support of their claim.

Also, you say that alcohol is bad. But quite a few medical experts opine that alcohol, if consumed "appropriately" is beneficial to one's health. It helps in stress reduction and sometimes is prescribed as a sedative.

I just want to drive home the fact that we're all 'biased' when it comes to religion. We always look at things from our own frame of reference and condenm anything that do not fit it.

Answer 2

There are some food restrictions that don't make sense but in Islam for example.. pork isn't allowed because let's face it, it's not exactly the cleanest animal is it? Alcohol is forbidden because it is intoxicating and impairs a person's good judgement. Alcohol addiction has led to many problems in society.

There is wisdom behind everything if you think about it.

*edit*
It is not a matter of being biased. It's a matter of fact. Why do people constantly need to be convinced anyway? Sure religions have 'restrictions' as you call them, but people have something called 'free will'. If you want to consume all these things by all means go right ahead! Only God can stop you, right?

Answer 3

The power of the man made tradition. 1 Timothy 4; 1 -3 gives a reason for this.


edit; for Soft and fuzzy: abstain means to keep away from or to refrain. That means not to use it at all. In that same verse u quoted it also mentions things strangled( an animal that is strangled cannot be properly bled)

Answer 4

A religious form of worship entails certain qualifications, certain expectations resulting from a belief or claimed revelation in diety. Specifically concerning God, in His eyes this life is a battle between us and satan. He is not directly involved in the battle because He has already won, and therefore it is left to us to fight our own battles, with His divine influence of course. When it comes to the dietary restrictions, this is usually a form or avenue that a certain creed will adopt so as to outwardly show or display an inward faith. For example, fasting is a way of showing God that we are willing to put off the "natural" or human man, and abstain from food. Thus, showing God that we are willing to fight satan and submit our wills to the Father.

Answer 5

Jewish - no pork and certain other meats as well as shellfish
Muslim - No Pork, and I no alcoholic beverages
Christians are told to abstain from blood, things strangled and
things sacrificed to idols.
Mormons abstain from caffeine
Hindus abstain from beef
Catholics - used to abstain from meat on Friday and deprive themselves of a food item during Lent
Not sure of any others

Answer 6

They use to but most have let those go away.
I have a question, it use to be a sin to eat fish on friday.
Then the Catholic Church says it is no longer a sin.
So do those people who ate fish on friday get out of hell?
I think only Jews don't eat pork. And Adventists

Answer 7

Rules like forbidden foods, and required dress, distinguish the group from other people, and so act to strengthen group cohesion.

At least I THINK that's what I recall a sociologist saying.

(I clicked on this question to read the answers, but most of them are either wrong or irrelevant, so thought I'd chime in.)

Answer 8

Same reason that any type of sex that can't produce children is outlawed in them. Religious leaders want more followers. Most of the foods that are restricted are foods that can be harmful if cooked improperly. They didn't know the reasons why, but they knew it could be harmful, so they simply declared it "unclean".

Answer 9

It's like an owners manual for the care of the body. Put in this kind of fuel and it will run well. You can use other fuel but you will probably run into trouble down the line.

Answer 10

because, people like power and will use it even to the smallest degree. (i bet it had more to do with the fact that those foods were more "scarce" and the higher in power wanted it for themselves, so they used religion as a way to keep the masses from taking all the supply)