After discovering how food can become a religion in my previous post, I was curious to find out what different people say about the role of food in religion. During my online search I found a
rather interesting YouTube video by Susan Marque.
rather interesting YouTube video by Susan Marque.
In this video she explains different religion’s view point on the role of food. What is so interesting is the fact that in many religions, food is a vital component and was used over the centuries not only to keep one
alive but to have a deeper connection with spirituality. It is this deeper connection that helps
one to concentrate on his/her belief no matter what religion they follow. This is the
point which I think helps us to reflect that food is not just something to fill
our stomach but means to lift our spirit.
alive but to have a deeper connection with spirituality. It is this deeper connection that helps
one to concentrate on his/her belief no matter what religion they follow. This is the
point which I think helps us to reflect that food is not just something to fill
our stomach but means to lift our spirit.
But if food is a mean to lift out spirit, then the question is; how far are we prepared to go? Are we satisfied with this deeper connection, or are we prepared to go to extreme measures? The following video
reveals some people killing and eating bats to satisfy their spiritual needs. Horrifying for
some but not for these villages. Landing bats on a dinner plate to keep
misfortune away is considered a religious ritual by these villages!
If this is not horrifying enough, watch this next video. This video shows how some people can go as far
as eating human flesh and drinking from a human skull, to satisfy their religious belief and to gain
spiritual power. Unbelievable! But it is happening!!! A warning before you decide to watch,
it is quite disturbing and shocking, you could lose your appetite for a long time (I did)!
Disgusting! Would anyone even consider eating to such an extent, especially in the name of religion? I certainly believe this is pushing the boundaries of religion too far. What do you think?
I agree! Although cannibalism is a common rite in some tribal sects, it is definitely a step too far in the name of religion. Defeats the purpose of gaining spirituality or closeness to a diety due to the fact that human remains are mistreated and abused.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly my point. As far as I am aware, in all the Monotheist beliefs cannibalism is frowned upon. However in my on-line search I found some tribal sects particularly (Aghori Sadhus) in India seeing cannibalism (consuming dead human's flesh) as a mean to get spiritual power and get close to their dieties. How and Why they do this is beyond imagination?
DeleteAlthough people refer to such actions as religious I personally think they are cultural habits which over time have evolved into religious practices.
ReplyDeleteThat's right, most of the practices are cultural practices, which vary from place to place, whereas the core values of any faith are universal which are bound to be the same regardless of the place. To some extent, it is as though the culture has taken over the religion therefore it seems difficult to differentiate between the two.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete