Kosher Halal And Vegetarian

Kosher, Halal and Vegetarian are each food groups or classifications that have played significant roles in three unique religions. Each having a controlling effect on the practicing religious community it relates to. The link between religious belief and the regulations on specific foods continues to be a divisive issue. Over time the demands of religious or spiritualist groups on the range of acceptable food has both created and divided communities. With some sighting that such restrictions are founded in outdated logic that is no longer applicable. Others sight unique spiritual principles and practices as preordained and above secular consideration. It is the position of this essay that the duality of food as symbol and substance has taken …show more content…
This takes into account a wide range of factors that are all of which included in religious practice and promoted by adherents. Most religious or spiritualist groups will follow a set of cannon, dogma or ritualistic practices. These form, shape and define the core identity of the group. Such practice can range (though not limited to) to such aspects as the day or time of communal worship, the format in which worship is followed and the inclusion of music or lack of music as is the case (Thapar, 1989). It is in the ritual that many may find comfort and familiarity. Aspects that do not need to include restrictions or dictates on food …show more content…
Stephen Pretorius explains that it is the “prescriptive and authoritative nature of a belief system” that can “supersede rationality” (Pretorious, 2014, p. 3). So that ritual without contemplation may become ritualistic control, in which case the subjugating of food restrictions may fall into this classification. Such a condition could be deemed as a form of community control. Pretorius explains that in alternative religious communities that were interviewed (those that had left such groups) there was a feeling of a special belonging and purpose. Individuals were “bonded together [through ritualistic practices] in a special way” (Pretorious, 2014, p. 6). In order to come to terms with this plausible conflict with regards to the value of ritual, it may be important to understand that in the end it is the individual who makes the choice of adhering to ritual food restrictions. Or for topic, any restrictions or construct that is created for the purpose of identifying the religious group as separate from the ordinary everyday