Islam


Islam distinguishes between food that is lawful (Halal) and unlawful (Haram). All this is described
in the holy book of Islam – Qur’an.

Muslims are not allowed to eat the meat of swine and animals dedicated to other than Allah. Animals
that die of themselves are also forbidden to eat therefore, all animals must be slaughtered under
strict rules.

Muslims are also not allowed to drink ethanol or wine. However, it is not a sin to consume any of
the forbidden foods if there is a necessity. E.g. If one is starving or dying of thirst.


                                              Judaism


·     Jewish dietary laws – Kashrut

·     everything must be Kosher


Jewish rules are extremely complex including restrictions on how meat is slaughtered, which animals
may be eaten (most famously pork and shellfish are not allowed), the part of the animal that can be
eaten, who makes certain foods, combinations of foods (meat and milk), avoiding
contamination(utensils), what can be eaten on holidays, and more. Many non-Jewish people prefer
foods labelled kosher because they believe them to be cleaner or more strictly prepared.


Forbidden kinds of animals:

·     mammals – carnivores, animals that lack cloven hooves (camel, hare, horses)

·     birds – scavengers, birds of prey

·     all reptiles and amphibians

·     water animals – those that do not have both fins and scales


                                             Hinduism


Hinduism is the third most popular world religion and as the other religions, Hinduism has its own
eating rules as well. The food is considered a gift from God, therefore it should be treated
respectfully. It is a part of God or Brahman, and it nourishes the entire physical, mental, and
emotional aspects of a human being.


There are strict rules that must be obeyed:

·     beef is strictly forbidden, because cow is sacred and considered Mother in Hinduism

·     pork is a strictly forbidden food too

·     the Hindu religion believe that violence or pain inflicted on another living thing rebounds
on you = karma

·     to avoid causing pain to another living thing, vegetarianism is an option, but not compulsory

·     alcohol, onions, garlic, and red-coloured foods such as red lentils and tomatoes are also
prohibited

·     in the Laws of Manu[1] meat is not always forbidden

·     fasting in Hinduism depends on a person’s caste or the occasion, e.g. serving food to the
poor or a beggar is good karma


Food rituals:

·     cleaning the place where the food will be eaten

·     sprinkling of water around the food, accompanied by some mantras or prayers

·     making an offering of the food, then offering five vital breaths (pranas) – prana, apana,
vyuana, udana, and samanaya and then to Brahman seated in the heart



Vegetarianism in Hinduism

         Vegetarian diet excludes the meat of animals, but does permit eggs. Vegetarian foods
include grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and dairy products.

         Some people associate vegetarianism with Mohandas K. Gandhi. He was a vegetarian by a
conscious ethnical choice, because he believed that one should refrain from being harmful to any
person or any living thing, even to animals. He was a strong adherent of this belief.

         The practice of a vegetarian diet for Hindus is based on the following reasons:

·     Medical grounds – vegetarian diet is easier to digest, provides a wider range of nutrients,
and introduces fewer burdens and impurities into the body

·     Ecological grounds – Earth is not suffering = no escalating loss of species, no destruction
of rain forest to create lands for livestock, no air and water pollution in order to produce meat
in the human diet

·     Ethnical grounds – mentioned above, related to not harming any living thing

·     Religious grounds – the principle of nonviolence, the intention to offer only “pure”
vegetarian food to a deity, and nonvegetarian food is detrimental to the mind and spiritual
development

·     Economical grounds – practices vegetarianism from the philosophical viewpoint, concerning
issues such as public health and curbing world starvation

·     Cultural grounds – in some castes meat is allowed (excluding beef), e.g. lower-caste people
will eat meat, but Brahmins[2] are mostly vegetarians


                                              Mormons


Religious and cult group with centre in Utah, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement
of Restorationist Christianity, the Mormons have also strict rules related to food. They are very
committed to have good health.


It is prohibited to consume:

·     alcohol, including wine and beer

·     black tea, green tea, and other caffeinated teas

·     iced coffee and iced caffeinated tea

·     illegal drugs

·     tobacco



Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints explain their eating commitment to the
cult:

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[1] the most important work of the textual tradition of Hinduism

[2] mainly priests and teachers who attain the highest spiritual knowledge