I can't answer all the questions involved, but the reason kosher meat cannot have blood in it is that, according to the Torah, (Genesis 9:4-5; Leviticus 17:11-14; Deuteronomy 12:23) the blood represents the animal's life, and it should not be consumed. I imagine that the same idea dictated the rules of halal butchery.
BTW, that same idea is behind the legends of evil creatures that unnaturally extend their lives by stealing the life-force of other by drinking their blood, so it is not unique to the Bible.
A thought occurred to me that may be of comfort to the OP. Certain portions of the animal are difficult-to-impossible to properly drain, and can never be sold as kosher or halal. And the entire pig is considered unclean. So if you stick to pork, and cuts from the hindquarters when you buy your beef, lamb, and mutton, you should be OK.
__________________ Do I claim that I am never wrong in what I've come to believe from my study of the Scriptures? Of course not. Then I would not be open to learning the truth when I still have so much more to learn. If I ever believed I knew all of God's truth, I'd be claiming to know the whole of God's mind -- I'd be, like Eve under the Serpent's influence, and like Nimrod, or whichever early king of Babel ordered the building of the Tower, and like the mad emperor Caligula, trying to become God
Why not? I know I sound belligerent, but they're honest questions: if the goal is to separate yourselves from non-Jews/Israelites, what difference does it make to God how you slaughter animals?
What I am kind of wondering is.. What if all the pagans and non-jews decided to start eating Kosher on some kind of fashion trend. Would that mean the jews would need to stop eating kosher in order to differentiate themselfs for the rest of the world again?
Why was that important?
Why not? I know I sound belligerent, but they're honest questions: if the goal is to separate yourselves from non-Jews/Israelites, what difference does it make to God how you slaughter animals?
There is a commandment that we are to slaughter meat in the way that was shown to Moses. That's why it is important. I know you probably think our religious beliefs are foolish, but give us credit, we stick to ourselves and don't usually bother people with them.
As for the purpose, that is my idea why it was done. As to Exiledoomsayer's question, I don't think we'd change even if everybody else adopted it. It is still a commandment regardless of how others behave. We will keep the Sabbath even if everybody else decided it would be fun to not do anything from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
I'm more convinced of going vegetarian full-time with every passing day.
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There is a commandment that we are to slaughter meat in the way that was shown to Moses. That's why it is important. I know you probably think our religious beliefs are foolish, but give us credit, we stick to ourselves and don't usually bother people with them.
That's actually why I prefer Judaism to the other Abrahamic faiths - Christianity professes to be a personal relationship with Jesus, yet insist on shoving it down everyone's throat, and Islam doesn't even pretend to be subtle.
Like I said, I'm not trying to be belligerent. I just don't understand why God would create dietary laws. It doesn't seem to serve any purpose.
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Like I said, I'm not trying to be belligerent. I just don't understand why God would create dietary laws. It doesn't seem to serve any purpose.
There are plenty of laws that, on the surface, don't make sense. It could also be simply that it is a way of showing that you are willing to follow the commandments even if you don't know why. It is important to note that by following these things, you are reminded of G-d in such a mundane act like eating. To be reminded of the role G-d plays in your life, you may be able to keep the more important laws regarding the treatment of others.
Understand that I don't believe, nor do most Jews I meet, that you cannot be a good person and treat others correctly without the commandments. However, for some people like me, it provides a great framework to understand how I should act. I am, pretty much by nature, standoffish and somewhat hostile. Being reminded not to do that on a daily basis really can help bring those commandments to mind.
There are plenty of laws that, on the surface, don't make sense. It could also be simply that it is a way of showing that you are willing to follow the commandments even if you don't know why. It is important to note that by following these things, you are reminded of G-d in such a mundane act like eating. To be reminded of the role G-d plays in your life, you may be able to keep the more important laws regarding the treatment of others.
Understand that I don't believe, nor do most Jews I meet, that you cannot be a good person and treat others correctly without the commandments. However, for some people like me, it provides a great framework to understand how I should act. I am, pretty much by nature, standoffish and somewhat hostile. Being reminded not to do that on a daily basis really can help bring those commandments to mind.
That makes sense. Another question: in an emergency, would it be OK to eat non-kosher food? I'd hope the answer is "Well yes, obviously", but you never know
__________________ I am a scientist... when I find evidence that my theories are wrong, it is as exciting as if the evidence proved them right.
Stargate: SG1
A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, -- a mere heart of stone.
Charles Darwin
What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.
Christopher Hitchens
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That makes sense. Another question: in an emergency, would it be OK to eat non-kosher food? I'd hope the answer is "Well yes, obviously", but you never know
Life always takes precedence over commandments except for a very few. You cannot perform idolatry, you cannot murder, you cannot commit adultery, and you cannot commit incest to save a life. I have my doubts if those situations really come up often. Outside of those four things, you can break the commandments in order to survive or help another survive.
It actually goes a step beyond: You are actually commanded TO save the life rather than keep the commandment. For example, on Shabbot, if a man needs medical care to stay alive, a doctor is required to assist that man.
Life always takes precedence over commandments except for a very few. You cannot perform idolatry, you cannot murder, you cannot commit adultery, and you cannot commit incest to save a life. I have my doubts if those situations really come up often.
Agreed. Though why those four sins? Murder is obvious, but why idolatry or adultery? A crazy lady who says "Sleep with me or I kill your wife", seems to have an obvious solution - sleep with her, to save your wife.
Originally Posted by b&wpac7
Outside of those four things, you can break the commandments in order to survive or help another survive.
It actually goes a step beyond: You are actually commanded TO save the life rather than keep the commandment. For example, on Shabbot, if a man needs medical care to stay alive, a doctor is required to assist that man.
So when people say that Jesus broke the OT law to heal a man, they're wrong - he was keeping in line with the law by saving the man in spite of the Sabbath. Right?
__________________ I am a scientist... when I find evidence that my theories are wrong, it is as exciting as if the evidence proved them right.
Stargate: SG1
A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections, -- a mere heart of stone.
Charles Darwin
What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.
Christopher Hitchens
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