Lecture 4 Flashcards
What is the main function of religion?
To explain the inexplicable
What plays the main important role in most religions?
Food
Dietary practices differ within a religious group, therefore stereotyping should be avoided
Every person has the right to practice their religion of choice, or none at all
Why do we need to know about religious dietary restrictions?
As a working professional, you will interact with all kinds of people
Canada represents a diverse population with many practiced religions
Important to understand the implications of one’s religion in terms of food choices
What are the top 3 religions in Canada?
catholic, protenstant, orthodox,
24% of canadiana don’t identify with a religion
What are the main western religions?
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the most prevalent religions in the Western world
What are characteristics of western religions?
Originated in the Middle East
Worship of a single God (monotheism) that is omnipotent
-Capable of anything
Belief that life is everlasting, but humans will be held accountable for their actions in this lifetime
What is Judaism?
Estimated to be 4,000 years old
Established when Abraham received God’s early covenant with the Jews
Originally a nation and religion – Jerusalem
- Destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE
- Birth of Israel in 1948
What are the 2 main sects of judaism?
Ashkenazi (Germany, northern France, eastern Europe)
-Hasidic
Sephardim (southern Europe and Middle East)
-Misrahi
What is the judaism bible called and what books are included?
First 5 books (aka Books of Moses, the Torah, or the Pentateuch)
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy
Includes the Ten Commandments, proper food preparation, charity, and general conduct
What does judaism believe in?
Do not believe in original sin
Sin is attributed to weakness
Can be redeemed if they ask for God’s absolution or by asking for forgiveness of the person sinned against
What are the 3 kinds of jews?
Orthodox Jews – All Jewish laws must be observed in all details
Reform Jews – Ritual laws are not required but moral laws are
Conservative Jews – Middle ground between Orthodox and Reform
What is Kosher and Kashrut?
Kosher = “fit”
Permitted food items
Kashrut
- Pilar of Jewish religious life
- Concerned with fitness of food, health-related
- Spiritual and physical health
What are the 8 food laws of judaism?
- Permitted animals for food
- Method of slaughter
- Examination of slaughtered animal
- Forbidden parts of the animal
- Preparation of meat
- Law of Meat and Milk
- Products of forbidden animals
- Examination for insects and worms
What is sabbath?
The day of rest and prayer
Sundown Friday to Nightfall Saturday
All food must be prepared before sundown on Friday (no food kindled on Sabbath)
What is Rosh Hashanah?
New Year / “Head of the Year”
September or October (Lunar Calendar)
What is Yom Kippur?
The Day of Atonement
Atonement for sins committed against God
Day of fasting (no food or water; medications permitted)
Everyone participates except boys under 13, girls under 12, those who are ill, pregnant women
What is Hanukkah?
8 days of celebration, usually in December
Commemorate recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem in 169 CE
Lighting of 1 candle each night on the menorah
Common foods include latkes and other foods cooked in oil
What is passover?
8 day festival of spring and freedom
March or April to celebrate Jewish exodus from Egypt
Unleavened bread (Matzah) consumed to represent Moses’ claim of no time for bread to rise
No food can be subject to leavening during 8 days
Wheat, barley, rye, oats, beans, peas, lentils, millet, mustard, maize, beer, malt liquors, are avoided
What is the largest religious group world wide and what are the 3 dominant branches?
Christianity
Roman Catholicism
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Protestantism
What does christianity abide by?
10 commandements
-included in old and new testament
What who celebrates roman Catholicism?
Largely based in Germany, Poland, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, and Caribbean
-Immigrants to Canada and US
What are thee celebrations of Roman Catholics?
Christmas: Birth of Christ Easter: Resurrection of Christ Palm Sunday Ascension Pentecost Sunday The Assumption All Saints Day
What does fasting look like in Roma catholicism?
Permits only one full meal per day at midday
Does not forbid eating in the morning or evening, allowing for supplementary nourishment
What is Eastern Orthodox?
Not as prevalent as Roman Catholicism in North America
Two centres of Christianity (300 CE):
- Rome
- Constantinople (Instanbul, Turkey)
Mainly represent Eastern Europe
What is protestantism?
16th century religious movement known as the Reformation, by leader Martin Luther
Questioning of the Roman Catholic Church practices, breaking away from their teachings
Belief that individuals can reach God without a priest or a saint, but through prayer
-Essentially, every believer is their own minister
Belief that every person is inherently sinful, but can be saved by having faith in Christ
-Death of Christ atoned for sins of all people
People encourage to read and interpret biblical scriptures
What are most food choices based on?
Most food choices based on culture, rather than religion itself
What is the mormon law of health?
Restrict tobacco, strong drinks, and hot drinks; sometimes caffeine
Eat meat sparingly, base diet on grains
Fasting: One day per month for charity
What is the way of the sevenths day adventists?
Dress is simple, functional jewellery only
Belief that sickness is a result of violation of laws of health
How do 7th day adventists preserve health?
Avoidance of gluttony
Vegetarianism (lacto-ovo)
Avoidance of tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco
Water to be consumed only before and after a meal
Limited use of spices (e.g., black pepper, chili powder)
5-6 hours between meals
What is the 2nd largest religious group in the world?
Second largest religious group world-wide
Mainly Middle East, northern Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan
Gradual progression in Western countries
What does islam and muslim mean?
Islam = “submission” to the will of God
Muslim = “he who submits”
What is the Qur’an?
Contains stories of the Old and New Testaments, including Arabian folk tales
Contains basic laws of Islam
No priests required; people can speak directly to Allah
Mohammed, the founder, had revelations and was told he was the prophet of Allah
What are the 5 pillars of islam?
Faith
Prayer
- Performed 5 times per day (dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, nightfall)
- Must be facing Mecca
Almsgiving/Zakat
Fasting
Pilgrimage to Mecca
What are the different islam sects?
Sunni -Largest in size Shi’ia (aka Shiites) Khawarij Sufis
What are the dietary restrictions for islam?
Pork, 4 footed animals that can eat prey with their mouths, birds of prey, pork by-products (e.g., gelatin)
Improperly slaughtered animals
Blood and by-products
Alcohol and drugs
What is the difference between halal and haram?
Halal is permitted
Haram is forbidden
What are some rules in islam surrounding eating?
Eating is considered a matter of worship, survival, and good health
Self-indulgence is not permitted
Food-waste prohibited
Hands and mouth must be cleaned before and after meals
-Only the right hand is considered clean
What are the islam feast days?
Eid al-Fitr – The Feast of Fast Breaking
Eid al-Azha – The Festival of Sacrifice
Shab-i-Barat – Middle of Shaban
Nau-Roz – New Year’s Day
Maulud n’Nabi – Birthday of Mohammed
What happens when you fast in islam?
Abstinence of food, drink, smoking, and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset
Ramadan
-9 month of the Islamic calendar
-Required for those past the age of puberty (~15 y.o.)
-Some exemptions apply
What is hinduism?
Belief that humans are not perfect ‘nor can they be
Make humans one with the Universal Spirit or Supreme Being
- Must transition from human consciousness to divine consciousness
- Through reincarnations – law of rebirth
Karma = One’s present life is the result of what one thought or did in one’s past life
What its one of the worlds oldest religions?
Hinduism
-Primarily practiced in India, some Asian countries
What is Brahman in hinduism?
The one supreme being
Hindus choose the form of the Supreme Being that matches their spirit
What are the 3 main functions of the supreme being?
The Creation
The Protection
The Destruction (of the world)
3 Great Gods (The Hindu Triad): Brahma, Vishnu, Siva
What are the main principles of hinduism?
Purity Self-control Detachment Truth Nonviolence
What are the foods avoided in hinduism?
Cow is a sacred animal and prohibited for consumption
Crabs, snails, crocodiles, ducks, flamingos, camels, boars, etc.
Foods prepared by certain people prohibited (e.g., doctors, prostitutes, actors, carpenters, liars, thieves)
No fish or meat unless sanctified by the repetition of mantras offering it to the gods
Garlic, onions, leeks, turnips, mushrooms, red-hued foods
Why are dietary restrictions practiced in hinduism?
Avoidance of foods believed to interfere with physical and mental development
How many feast and fast days are there in hinduism?
18 major festivals per year
Festivals based on geographical location
Fasting: Varies significantly
What Is buddhism?
Protestant revolt against orthodox Hinduism
Belief that asceticism and self-indulgence should both be avoided in the extremes
What are the 4 noble truths in buddhism?
Dukkha
Suffering is part of living
Samudaya
Suffering is caused by a person’s cravings in life
Attachment to pleasure, wealth, power, ideals, and beliefs
Nirodha
Cessation of Dukkha
A person no longer suffers if all cravings are relinquished
Magga
Middle way between search of happiness through pleasure and search for happiness through self-mortification and asceticism
What are the 5 precepts of buddhism?
Abstain from taking a life
Abstain from taking what is not given
Abstain from all illegal sexual pleasures
Abstain from lying
Abstain from consumption of intoxicants to avoid clouding of the mind
What is the ultiamate goal of buddhism?
Practiced perfectly, one achieves nirvana
-State of passionlessness, wisdom, and insight
What re the 2 sects of buddhism?
Theraveda (Hinayana) Buddhism
- Spiritual philosophy and system of ethics
- Little to no emphasis on deities
- Rather, a way of living to achieve nirvana
- Most common in India, Southeast Asia
Mahayanna Buddhism
- Buddha is eternal and cosmic
- Appears in various ways to spread his truth (dharma)
- Most common in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia
What is the common diet of buddhists?
Vary significantly
-Based on geographical location and sect
Avoid taking a life
- Lacto-ovo vegetarianism practiced widely
- Fish may be consumed
