SC - dietary restrictions

[Christina van Tets]

Hello the list!

Just my thoughts on religious dietary restrictions (no, this is not a 
commentary on religion itself):

I cannot imagine that anyone in the modern western world follows religious 
dietary restrictions out of fear of being struck down by lightning for not 
following them.  Therefore, I surmise (long words today!) that they do it 
from choice, just as vegetarians do.

Just as vegetarians are allowed to follow their chosen diet without being 
told what fools they are for doing so, I suggest that those of us who choose 
to follow religious diets be allowed the same freedom.

Yes, I do fast during Lent, even though my denomination does not require it. 
  I do it as a personal expression of my religion, and object to being told 
not to.  Sorry if I'm being touchy, but here people are gearing up for 
Pesach, which allows the things Lent doesn't, and bans the things Lent 
allows...

As regards food while fasting, I think it pefectly reasonable to ask why a 
restriction may disallow something, without getting into culinarily 
irrelevant politico-religious discussions (I said I was using long words 
today - eek!).

Cairistiona

P.S.  Is it called fasting because the funny diet goes through you quicker?? 
  Sorry...

>Cousin Phillipa asks:
>
> >I know I asked not to discuss religion on list but I really need an
> >intelligent anser for this one.  Could someone please explain to me how a
> >mustard seed is a legume.
>
>Because it's a seed, stripped from its pod?
>
>Dear cuz, people often depict and describe things in terms which are
>familiar to them, regardless of the logic applying otherwise- I have no
>doubt that you've observed our discussions on the fact that Medieval folk
>often felt that rabbit embryos and cetaeceans were fish rather than meat-
>I'm sure that, if we took the time, we could find a thousand other 
>instances
>in many cultures, not just in your dread-locked Kosher folk.
>
>My suggestion is for you to take the entire situation with a grain of
>(Kosher) salt, and not worry about it too much, unless your habits include
>relying on other folk's interpretation of the Torah, and the Laws, despite
>your own traditions.....
>
>Phlip
>

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