Does Your Religion Have Dietary Requirements?

[Thana]

I'm not sure I do either. It's a good thing I don't like either coffee or tea, though, so it's not a problem for me.

Fair enough.
Personally though I wouldn't let it lie, I'd specifically want to know why since it's not scriptural. And if I were going to let someone tell me what I'm allowed and not allowed, then I'd expect a thorough explanation. But that's just me.

 

[jeager106]

Yes. Thy shalt eat no blood of any kind in any way.
Blood transfusions are prohibited as is eating blood or blood products.
I'm not a baptisted J.W. but mother and all her siblings were/are.
That said my cousin Mike, has dialysis 3X weekly but they use HIS filtered
blood when needed. This is evidently o.k. as his blood never really leaves his
body as it's continuously filtered outside him and run right back inside him.
3 X a week! What a pain that must be.
Poor chap isd weak and sick all the time and this has been going on for 3 years.
I doubt he can hold out much longer as complications will kill him.
I offered him one of MY kidneys if they were a match but he didn't want to put
me through the painful removal. The donating party often has very bad complications
and sometimes dies.

 

[arthra]

If so, what are they? Why do they exist?

Baha'is don't have any dietary restrictions but vegetarianism is considered desirable...

"In regard to the question as to whether people ought to kill animals for food of not, there is no explicit statement in the Bahá'í Sacred Scriptures (as far as I know) in favor or against it. It is certain, however, that if man can live on a purely vegetarian diet and thus avoid killing animals, it would be much preferable. This is, however, a very controversial question and the Bahá'ís are free to express their views on it."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 9, 1931)

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 296)

and this is interesting as well:

'Abdu'l-Bahá has indicated that in the future human beings will be vegetarians, but abstention from eating meat is not a law of this Dispensation. The laws of God are attuned to the needs and possibilities of each age.

(The Universal House of Justice, 1998 Dec 16, Traditional practices in Africa)

We do abstain from alcohol.

And during the Nineteen Day Fast we abstain from food and drink after sunrise until sunset ....

 

[Aupmanyav]

Chakra and George-Ananda have stated the general Hindu position. Beef is strongly prohibited. Vegetarianism is appreciated though not a mandate. Strong objection to any mind altering thing, though wine/liquor is not prohibited for certain sections of the society. The majority of prohibitions are for brahmins. Marijuana drinks are permitted at user's risk.

What about cold drinks with caffeine in them like Pepsi or Iced Coffee?

Is not appreciated. Not popular with villagers even now. Lemon water, sherbets, milk, whey, lassi (yoghurt drinks), with salt or sugar, are what India and Hindus are happy about. Another popular drink is 'Sattu', refreshing, nutritive.

"Sattu is used in regional cuisine to varying degrees. In Bihar and Punjab, use of Sattu is extensive and is used in several dishes. It is commonly served cold for breakfast as a porridge or soft dough. Sweet dishes combine sattu with fruit slices, sugar and milk. In savoury dishes sattu may be flavored with green chili, lemon juice and salt. It is a popular stuffing in parathas. In Bihar, Sattu is prepared with toasted gram flour. In the Punjab region, Sattu is prepared with toasted ground barley grains which are ground, mixed with salt and turmeric and rolled into balls. Millet and corn grains are also used."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattu

Sattu drink, Jal Jeera (Cumin water - left, salt) and Mango Lassi (right, sweet), Litti - Sattu is one of the ingredients along with wheat flour..

 

[Rick O'Shez]

In my religion ice-cream is compulsory.

 

[Liu]

No, on the contrary: There are some that even encourage to once in a while intentionally eat food that is either considered taboo in your culture or that you personally don't like, to try and overcome psychological restrictions. Moral rules imposed by the outside should be questioned and torn down until only your own personal morality remains.

Others say, simply eat what you enjoy, as long as it doesn't become compulsive.

One could however say that there is a recommendation to have not a too unhealthy diet - or if you have, be aware of the consequences and have accepted them. Actually a healthy diet is very in tune with our focus on strengthening the self - a sound body shall lead to a sound mind.
But for the sake of experience an intentional decline into gluttony or alcohol etc. would also make sense, for example to test your limits or to learn about what effects it has on your psyche - as long as you don't completely lose control of that experiment. There's no requirement to try anything like that, though.

 

[illykitty]

No there isn't but since I value and revere the ethics of compassion and ahimsa, I prefer to try to have a diet which seeks to cause the least amount of suffering to animals.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Islam is a way of life too, not just for worshiping, even tho it is revealed for the purpose of worshiping. It has much to say about diet.

1- There is the well known advice of not filling the stomach but in worst cases it is 1/3 for food, 1/3 for drinks and 1/3 to breath.
2- Fasting. Many studies show how good fasting is for the health. Fasting in Islam cover avoiding all consumables. That's generally speaking.
3- Forbidding consuming alcohol, which is a potential health risk by nature.
4- Hurting yourself in Islam is a general sin, including with diet; overeating.
5- Dead not slaughtered animals are generally forbidden to eat, except for some very few and in specific cases.
7- There is a verse in Quran that tells to eat and drink without exaggeration, which includes overeating (Quran 7:31).
8- Is honey healthy, and does it have healing effects? The Quran specifically says so (Quran 16:69). I believe people do use it with throat infections? Just the other day a non Muslim in the RF chat room advised me to have honey for my throat problem, and I do see medicines with honey used in it.
9- The Islamic slaughtering gets the blood out of the body of the animal as much as possible. I think this makes the meat healthier taste better and?
10- It is advised in Islam to break fasting specifically with dates. I believe dates have a high dietary value?

This is what I know so far. Sorry for the short list.

 

[NewChapter]

If so, what are they? Why do they exist?

Just spiritual dietary requirements; not eating the knowledge of good and evil.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

In my religion ice-cream is compulsory.

Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie?

That is spiritually advanced.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

That is spiritually advanced.

 

[Akivah]

Animals must be killed quickly to minimize their pain.
Eating of blood is forbidden.
Not allowed to eat scavengers, such as shell fish and pig.
Not allowed to mix meat and dairy.

 

[Altfish]

In my religion ice-cream is compulsory.

Add fish, chips and beer and you may have a convert

 

[Baladas]

I said "certain sects do". Daoism is highly decentralized. There is no single "right way" to do Daoism, and so there are no restrictions on diet.
Many are vegetarians, but not all are.

 

[eiskalt]

No. I liked Christianity for its abolishment of this silly "Thou shalt only eat animals with cloven hoof who chew the cud." stuff. Or the shrimp and oyster prohibition. I think everything in moderation is good, even poison.

 

[Rival]

No. I liked Christianity for its abolishment of this silly "Thou shalt only eat animals with cloven hoof who chew the cud." stuff. Or the shrimp and oyster prohibition. I think everything in moderation is good, even poison.

Christianity disallows blood. This means no rare steak or black pudding

 

[eiskalt]

Christianity disallows blood. This means no rare steak or black pudding

Are you sure? Perhaps what they meant by "dont eat blood" was to not eat blood, as in to have a dish of fresh blood. But a rare steak is primarely eaten for the meat and the black pudding is also a sausage which is not meant to be eaten for its blood but for the meat. Maybe christians didnt like vampires.

 

[Rival]

Are you sure? Perhaps what they meant by "dont eat blood" was to not eat blood, as in to have a dish of fresh blood. But a rare steak is primarely eaten for the meat and the black pudding is also a sausage which is not meant to be eaten for its blood but for the meat. Maybe christians didnt like vampires.

What? Black pudding is primarily blood, there is no meat in it. It uses filler. Paul and the others came to the conclusion that one should not eat blood, things strangled/offered to idols, and refrain from fornication. Acts 15:29.

 

[eiskalt]

What? Black pudding is primarily blood, there is no meat in it. It uses filler. Paul and the others came to the conclusion that one should not eat blood, things strangled/offered to idols, and refrain from fornication. Acts 15:29.

I dont even know what black pudding is or have eaten it. I know blood sausage and its pretty good. But i doubt Paul was familiar with blood pudding. Maybe James, Peter and Paul were having some pagan barbarian natives in mind, who actually drank fresh pig/cattle blood during a slaughter celebration, while mentioning these things.

Just curious: Do you have a preference for black pudding or raw steak?