Fish on Fridays; how not to be a vegetarian!

[MoreCoffee]

One of our SDA friends asked how eating fish fits into the paradigm of having no meat on Fridays. I thought that was one of those interesting quirks of modern thought that deserved a reply and a thread of its own. Historically meat was a general term for foods of all kinds including vegetables, though meat also could be used to mean flesh. Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians makes a distinction between different kinds of flesh. Here's what he says:

1 Corinthians 15:39 NAB (39) Not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for human beings, another kind of flesh for animals, another kind of flesh for birds, and another for fish.​

Thus we can see that the flesh of animals was not considered to be the same as the flesh of fish and of birds in ancient times. Fish on Fridays is indeed meatless when meat is taken to be the flesh of animals. Even today many vegetarians eat fish and dairy products and eggs. Though some call those who eat fish piscatarians.

Now, how many of you reading this thread think that one can be a vegetarian and eat fish? And do you think there's any kind of religious rule or law that prohibits Christians from eating fish and meat and bird's flesh?

This isn't about the law, by the way, just an inquiry into one's views about things allowed and things forbidden on a religious basis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGB2E0NzO2A

 

[~Anastasia~]

Well you probably know the Orthodox have rather stringent (at times) and also (to me) complicated fasting guidelines!

Fish is allowed - sometimes - when "meat" is not. However, there are also times when no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc. is allowed at all. At least not according to the guidelines.

I don't believe there are any "laws" that say Christians can NOT eat this or that. Well, meat sacrificed to idols might be something "iffy" but I think if I had to guess, I would say it's probably actually allowed, just better as a "don't ask" kind of situation, and if it is announced, better to avoid since it might be misunderstood by someone and stumble them. (?)

I see the fasting guidelines as being for the purpose of ascetical discipline, and something that exists for the benefit of those who embark upon them. But not as a dietary "law".

At least that's how I see it.

 

[~Anastasia~]

As far as the vegetarian question - which I did not answer - it depends on a person's point of view.

Many times "vegetarianism" comes about due to health beliefs, or ideas about what is humane. The reason one becomes a vegetarian is going to affect what one considers "acceptable".

Some vegetarians eat fish, yes. Some vegetarians eat milk and eggs. Some abstain from those foods. Some extend it (though it really relates to diet) to not using leather, for example.

It all depends where you are coming from, what your reasons are, and what your definitions are.

I have talked to vegetarians who eat chicken. The only real criteria of "meat" in their case is "mammal meat" - beef, pork, venison, goat, lamb, etc.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Now, how many of you reading this thread think that one can be a vegetarian and eat fish? And do you think there's any kind of religious rule or law that prohibits Christians from eating fish and meat and bird's flesh?

I don't know if fish was considered necessarily a different form of flesh from meat in the ancient world, but the historic tradition of the church has considered it a substitute for meals of chicken, pork, beef, or other land animals in such a way that eating fish rather than any of the others can be considered fasting if done purposefully and that's good enough for me.

Personally, I love fish, and don't eat meat every day, but I suspect that has been true of many Catholics throughout church history. What really matters, I think, is whether eating fish rather than meat is done purposefully and in a spirit of abstinence rather than out of a desire for delicious seafood or out of rote tradition. Often, I go for the former, which is why I feel my fasts have to be more rigorous, and thus during Lent try to draw off of the Eastern traditions of fasting rather than the Western traditions; but that's just me.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I must admit ... when I have trouble finding foods to fulfill a basic protein need for my weird metabolism, and then I hear someone say they are "fasting" and having lobster or crab legs .... well, I'd rather not know about that.

I don't have perfectly Christian thoughts in response.

I have thought about whether or not the "spirit of the fast" is able to be kept perfectly with only the letter.

Thankfully I have a priest who seems to understand these things well, and has given me good advice for myself personally. If I had only the guidelines and watched too much what other people were doing, it wouldn't be a good thing.

 

[Melethiel]

Fish can count as either meat or dairy in kosher law. Good thing too - can you imagine fish cooked without butter?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Fish can count as either meat or dairy in kosher law. Good thing too - can you imagine fish cooked without butter?

Horrifying thought!

I shall, God willing and circumstances permitting, feast upon a fish and chips dinner this coming Friday