The Impacts of Religious Beliefs on Food and Dietary Cultures

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Abstract
The paper reviews the impacts of religious beliefs on food and dietary cultures. The paper introduces the concept of religion as a fundamental aspect of shaping food cultures around the world. The research focuses on Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. In modern society, food has an essential role in shaping our cultures. Different religious cultures around the world associate themselves with a variety of foods and ingredients. Most religions choose their food based on their perception of purity and health. Islamic thought on food is derived from the Quran, which categorizes foods into Haram, forbidden for Islamic believers, and Halal, which are acceptable cuisines. Judaism uses guidelines on their diet from the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy to define Kashrut laws on food. These laws suggest that food must be religiously pure and suitable. According to Hinduism, living things have a soul, and hence it is inappropriate to kill living creatures for food. Hinduism shares the idea of reincarnation, and therefore most of them are vegetarians. On the other hand, Christianity has limited food restrictions; however, the Christian bible dictates the animals that can be killed for food. Furthermore, most Christians make choices on the consumption of certain foods while considering their moral standards. Scholars in the field of religion have made efforts to identify ways that influence the food consumed by that particular religion. The research employs secondary sources such as scholarly books and articles to summarize information on different religions and their dietary cultures. Various regions around the world exhibit distinct food patterns, and the research establishes evidence of the relationship between dominant religions in these areas and their dietary cultures. This paper aims to establish the relationship between different foods and faiths around the world.
Keywords: religion, culture, food
Impact of Religion on Food
Food is a significant aspect of religious and spiritual practices for various faiths worldwide. The role of food varies among different cultures, individuals, and communities. Furthermore, food is viewed as a cultural element that human beings use in expressing the basic perception of reality. Religion is a significant cultural aspect that defines the diverse practices among various communities around the world. Food’s significance to different beliefs worldwide provides evidence on how food ideas have been incorporated in religion to develop dietary cultures. Various societies around the world have distinct dietary patterns, ingredients, and food preferences. As much as cultural activities’ history plays a primary role in defining the diversities in food preferences, religion is also essential. Lévi-Strauss (1970) establishes that some myths and prohibitions dictate the consumption of both cooked and raw foods. Furthermore, the connection between religion and food helps in shaping the ritual experience for the devotees. This connection exists because the religious experience through food establishes a significant physical experience. Moreover, the relationship between religion and food is often quite diverse and complex. The significance of food to a particular faith could also depend on its scriptural meaning. The diverse components of faith may significantly influence the pattern of eating and drinking around the world. Various dietary practices have been incorporated into the religious practices of people. Major world religions such as Christianity prescribe specific dietary behavior, which can be traced back to their historical or geographic origins. Every religion has its preference and culture in food, which has shaped dietary behaviors. Therefore by observing different faiths and their religious traditions, it is possible to establish a connection between religion and dietary cultures in various communities.
In Judaism, the connection between religious practices and food is spelled out in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Torah. Judaism laws on food are referred to as kashrut; they shape the Jewish society’s dietary behavior since there are prohibitions For the consumption of any animal that does not chew the cud and do not have cloven hooves, such as pigs. Eating or drinking any animal’s blood is prohibited, fish that do not have any fins and scales such as crabs are also forbidden, and creatures that are fowl enumerated in the bible, such as owls and Hawks. Animals that have been injured or have a defect was not to be consumed. The kashrut also describes how the specific foods the Jewish people are allowed to eat should be prepared. The various modes prohibited by the Jewish laws are Labeled us unclean, and anyone who consumes such foods is deemed impure and forbidden from entering the Jewish temples. Jewish priests were also not allowed to drink wine or any strong drink. The Passover holiday in Judaism has stricter rules; it will enable the consumption of foods labeled as kosher for Passover (Rosenblum, 2010). Kosher foods that are deemed fit for consumption include meat products such as beef and lamb, products that contain neither milk nor meat, such as eggs and fish, dairy products that contain milk. The Judaism religious practices of offering sacrifices to God channels the idea that the first fruit offering belongs to God; therefore, fruits from trees planted during the first three years may not be consumed since they were sacrifices to God. Newly grown grains in Judaism laws are also not permitted for consumption until the second day of Passover. The dietary customs can also be observed in modern-day Jewish society. Several religious holiday practices in Judaism influence food culture. Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish New Year, is celebrated by members of the Jewish religion; it allows for the consumption of sweet foods throughout the festival, such as honey cake and pomegranates. Hanukah religious celebrations entail the consumption of mainly fried foods and dairy products. The Purim religious festival for the Ashkenazi Jews is eating triangular-shaped foods such as hamantashen pastries.
According to Douglas (2003), foods tend to communicate holiness ideas that provide a particular religion’s identity and order. Islamic law prescribes a set of dietary guidelines that act as a guide for the believers. Islamic take on foods is written in the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. Haram is food that is forbidden in the Islamic religion; they include drinking or of blood all the by-product of blood, meats such as pork cats or monkeys, all birds with talons such as Hawks and vultures. Any animal that dies before being slaughtered in the Islamic way is forbidden for consumption. The consumption of intoxicants, such as alcohol and Tobacco, are entirely prohibited in Islamic law. Abstaining from eating such foods is said to benefit health, cleanness, and following Allah’s rules. Much dietary regulation in Islamic law our borrowe...