Why don't you eat pork?

[betsy]

At least I know that Jews and Muslims do not eat pork. And only recently I found out that the The Bible's Old Testament had also included pig among the animals/fish that we shouldn't eat....although I don't think this is being practiced at all by Christians.

So it's quite interesting that three major religions have this one thing in common. I am really intrigued by the similarity in this.

The reason given in the Bible is that pigs are "unclean."

So I'm curious. What is the reason why Muslims and Jews...and other religions (if any)...do not eat pork?

Edited August 24, 2007 by betsy

[M.Dancer]

So it's quite interesting that three major religions have this one thing in common.

Who's the third?

[guyser]

Mmmmmmmmmm ribs....

If you go on youtube and search "pork and coke" , I can tell you that plenty of people will give up pork. Me not one of them of course, but I know a few who have seen that video and will not touch it now.

You have been warned though.

[M.Dancer]

There are plenty of protestant sects who won't touch pork. Myself, I see it as the one tangible earthly benifit to being a christian.

[marcinmoka]

In regards to this question, I believe Chris Rock had a point in saying:

Some people don't eat pork for religious reasons, but I refuse to believe that on judgment day, my diet's gonna come into question.

What you eat don't got sh*t to do with who you are as a person.

Religious books were written by man thousands of years ago. Before there were Reynold's Wrap, refridgerators, freezers, seasoning, a pork chop might kill ya. 5,000 years ago, they're like, 'Damn, this pork is killing everybody. How can we get people to not eat pork? OK; tell them God said don't eat it.'

But times have changed; now a pork chop's your friend.

And I bet you 9/10 Soviet Jews agree with me.

Edited August 24, 2007 by marcinmoka

[margrace]

At least I know that Jews and Muslims do not eat pork. And only recently I found out that the The Bible's Old Testament had also included pig among the animals/fish that we shouldn't eat....although I don't think this is being practiced at all by Christians.

So it's quite interesting that three major religions have this one thing in common. I am really intrigued by the similarity in this.

The reason given in the Bible is that pigs are "unclean."

So I'm curious. What is the reason why Muslims and Jews...and other religions (if any)...do not eat pork?

Betsy I believe the reason these people did not eat pork was because there was no refrigeration. Not very safe.

[M.Dancer]

Betsy I believe the reason these people did not eat pork was because there was no refrigeration. Not very safe.

Or modern agricultral practices. Pigs will eat their own shit. People used to get all sorts of parasites from fresh pork, which is why so much pork is prepared as ham.

[Bonam]

Yup, guidelines as to what is unclean to eat originated from real life experience as to the possible risks.

[kimmy]

Those who would seek to keep me from all the delicious pork foods out there can go do a backflip into an empty pool.

I don't care whether ye be Jewish, Muslim, or PETA: stand between me and some dry garlic ribs, and I will fight you.

Tell me not to eat something because it will make me sick or kill me, and I'll give that strong consideration. Tell me not to eat something because the Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't approve, and I will tell you to go choke on some tofu.

-k

[geoffrey]

Agreed Kimmy. Even if they did make me sick, I'd still eat some back ribs or bacon with my eggs. I can't do dairy (lactose intolerant), but I still eat pizza because it tastes so good. Being sick be damned, good food takes priority.

That said, pork is now completely safe to eat, as much as any other meat. Mmm mmm.

That coke and pork worms thing is a myth, by the way. I'm actually thinking about how good of a marinade coke might be on some chops?

[betsy]

Who's the third?

It was in the Bibles Old Testament. so the thrid would be that of the Christian Religion. But as I don't think this is generally practiced among us. I never knew of this until only recently.

[betsy]

Yes I understand that pigs nowadays are not "unsafe". And I've heard from the news sometime ago that they are trying to come up with pigs that would be carrying Omega-something, that is known as the "good cholesterol."

What I would like to know though is the reasons behind the Jewish and Muslim religion why they don't eat pork. That the Old Testament, the Jews and Muslims have this one thing in common is interesting. This could be one incident that shows the link between these peoples.

[buffycat]

In regards to this question, I believe Chris Rock had a point in saying:

Some people don't eat pork for religious reasons, but I refuse to believe that on judgment day, my diet's gonna come into question.

What you eat don't got sh*t to do with who you are as a person.

Religious books were written by man thousands of years ago. Before there were Reynold's Wrap, refridgerators, freezers, seasoning, a pork chop might kill ya. 5,000 years ago, they're like, 'Damn, this pork is killing everybody. How can we get people to not eat pork? OK; tell them God said don't eat it.'

But times have changed; now a pork chop's your friend.

And I bet you 9/10 Soviet Jews agree with me.

Well said!!

You are also quite right about the 9/10 Soviet Jews - there is a ruckuss going on in Israel right now about where to put the pork sellers - I read one poor guys shop got fire bombed.

To answer the first question about why pork is not allowed I would tend to agree with others here wrt it making one sick due to poor preservation technologies. Coupled with the fact that many diseases of pigs are very close to those that infect humans I would imagine that crossovers were more likely with pork than say beef or chicken.

Also, I know a few Jews and Muslims that have no problem with pork and eat and enjoy it regularily.

IOW Chris Rock is right.

Edited August 24, 2007 by buffycat

[margrace]

The anatomy of a pig and human anatomy are supposedly very close. So it is feasible that we could get the same diseases. My son in law just had a new valve put in his heart, a pigs valve.

Since so many of you do not have any idea of farming practices you probably would not have grown up with the tradition of Pork being only eaten in the winter, no refrigeration, and when we got the January thaws the pork was salted.

The middle east is very hot, why would they promote something that could make them very sick?

[theloniusfleabag]

The pork thing goes way back, as it was the last major food animal to be domesticated by man. Since it could not digest grass, i could not 'graze', and had to be fed grains, etc...good food that the humans could have eaten.

I also read some somwhere (in the Bible or the Koran) that one shouldn't eat a cloven-hoofed animal, which was seen as 'Satan-like'.

As to Betsy's comment that there are commonalities about the major religions, this is very true. Islam does not discount the Old Testament, nor it's historical figures, (there is a book about Abraham, or 'Ibrahim' in the Koran) but diverged later.

[M.Dancer]

Yup, guidelines as to what is unclean to eat originated from real life experience as to the possible risks.

There is also the thought that taboos help keep societies segregated. IE we only were red pants while the lockovians wear all sorts of disgusting colours.....

But there are other aspects of jewish dietary law that are interesting. Consider the ban on combining milk and meat. Comes from a biblical ban on boiling a kid in the milk of its mother. Some suggest that was an acknowledgement of the sacredness of the mother child bond or even perhaps a nod towards humane treatment of animals. I don't know, I have never had boiled in milk goat, but it sounds yummy.

[M.Dancer]

That coke and pork worms thing is a myth, by the way. I'm actually thinking about how good of a marinade coke might be on some chops?

In the deep south they use coke to baste ham........

[gc1765]

It was in the Bibles Old Testament. so the thrid would be that of the Christian Religion. But as I don't think this is generally practiced among us. I never knew of this until only recently.

From Matthew 15:10-20:

10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. 11What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' "

12Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"

13He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

15Peter said, "Explain the parable to us."

16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "

I think this is why Christians are allowed to eat pork.

[M.Dancer]

From Matthew 15:10-20:

I think this is why Christians are allowed to eat pork.

In part.....this passage refers to the Pharisees flipping out when they saw Jesus followers sitting down and eating without washing their hands. My kids get the same treatmnent from me when they try to eat without handwashing...'member they didn't have terlet paper back then and my 3 year isn't to adept at wiping his arse.....

The specific text that allows gentiles to continue to eat what they have always eaten comes later in Acts .....

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

...at this point the evangelists open up their efforts to Gentiles as well as Jews.....

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Later there would be further conflict between Jewish followers of Jesus and Non jews over circumsion.....

[White Doors]

I love pork.

I like beef too, but to me anything pork is better for grilling.

mmm mmm

[M.Dancer]

I love pork.

I like beef too, but to me anything pork is better for grilling.

mmm mmm

Yes but what about a nice pork roast with crackling? Of a cottage roll?

[White Doors]

Yes but what about a nice pork roast with crackling? Of a cottage roll?

Love pork roasts too. But it's still summer. Too hot for a roast.

[betsy]

From Matthew 15:10-20:

I think this is why Christians are allowed to eat pork.

Thanks gc. Never seen that one. Another thing for my husband and I to discuss.

Btw, I love pork! It's my second favorite meat (beef's no. 1)!

[AngusThermopyle]

I also enjoy a good bit o pork now and again. It's not my favourite, but it is very good. actually I'm a non repentant unashamed meat eater. I have a 16lb Buffalo roast in my freezer right now. I think I'll BBQ it with sweet potatoes, Cauliflower and Broccoli with cheese sauce, mashed potatoes, etc. etc. Then I'll invite some of the guys from work over, they'll just have to bring their own beer.

[jefferiah]

Thanks gc. Never seen that one. Another thing for my husband and I to discuss.

Btw, I love pork! It's my second favorite meat (beef's no. 1)!

Have you ever had buffalo?