WORLD RELIGIONS, FOODS PRACTICES AND RESTRICTIONS, AND RATIONALE FOR BEHAVIOR Type of Practice or restriction Rationale religion Buddhism Natural foods of the earth • Refrain from meat, vegetarian diet is • desirable Moderation in all foods are considered most pure • • • Fasting required of monks Monks avoid all solid food after noon Eastern Restrictions on Meat and Fish Fasting Observance of Holy Days • • • Orthodox Selectively includes fasting and Christianity restrictions to increase spiritual progress Hinduism Beef prohibited All other meat and fish Cow is sacred and can't • • • restricted or avoided Alcohol avoided be eaten, but products of • • Numerous fasting days the "sacred" cow are pure and desirable Fasting • promotes spiritual growth Islam Pork and certain birds prohibited Eating is for good health • • • • Alcohol prohibited Coffee/tea/stimulants Failure to eat correctly • avoided Fasting from all food and drink minimizes spiritual • during specific periods awareness Fasting has a • cleansing effect of evil elements Judaism Pork and shellfish prohibited Meat and Land animals that do not • • • dairy at same meal prohibited have cloven hooves and • Leavened food restricted Fasting that do not chew their cud • practiced are forbidden as unclean (e.g., hare, pig, camel) • Kosher process is based upon the Torah
WORLD RELIGIONS, FOODS PRACTICES AND RESTRICTIONS, AND RATIONALE FOR BEHAVIOR Type of religion Practice or restriction Rationale Buddhism • Refrain from meat, vegetarian diet is desirable • Moderation in all foods • Fasting required of monks • Natural foods of the earth are considered most pure • Monks avoid all solid food after noon Eastern Orthodox Christianity • Restrictions on Meat and Fish • Fasting Selectively • Observance of Holy Days includes fasting and restrictions to increase spiritual progress Hinduism • Beef prohibited • All other meat and fish restricted or avoided • Alcohol avoided • Numerous fasting days • Cow is sacred and can't be eaten, but products of the "sacred" cow are pure and desirable • Fasting promotes spiritual growth Islam • Pork and certain birds prohibited • Alcohol prohibited • Coffee/tea/stimulants avoided • Fasting from all food and drink during specific periods • Eating is for good health • Failure to eat correctly minimizes spiritual awareness • Fasting has a cleansing effect of evil elements Judaism • Pork and shellfish prohibited • Meat and dairy at same meal prohibited • Leavened food restricted • Fasting practiced • Land animals that do not have cloven hooves and that do not chew their cud are forbidden as unclean (e.g., hare, pig, camel) • Kosher process is based upon the Torah
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