Clean Food Health

1405 Words6 Pages
Clean Food Health The issues surrounding the laws of clean and unclean food have been heavily debated within the Judea/Christian circles for a long period of time. ‘Why should God be concerned about what we eat? The purpose of my research is to attempt to understand why these laws were set within the Old Testament and to compare and contrast different scholarly approaches to this very interesting topic. Many have reviewed the dietary laws within Leviticus and Deuteronomy, questioning whether they were relevant to a certain nations? For example, Israel, tending to lean to an opinion that the laws were set within the Old Testament, and were obsolete at the point of the New Testament? Some argue that these laws are still applicable today whilst others oppose and question there relevance in today's society. My aim and methodology is to review the primary sources available within this area found in the Old Testament and review the evidence that supports the rationale behind these dietary laws. I will attempt to analyse and compare the evidence taken by selected scholars from various backgrounds, such as, anthropologists, ministers and professors, all who have credible background to share on this topic. I have grouped their views into the following three categories; Health/Hygiene, Symbolic/Holiness and Ritual Purification. The word unclean is defined as ‘dirty, immoral, unchaste' to be clean would imply the opposite definition. When we look closely and analyse the term clean and unclean within the Old Testament Bible, scholars have varied meanings and approaches to this law. Health/Hygiene Health ‘is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity' When we apply good health our bodies are naturally in good shape. Health and Hygiene are closely linked and go hand in hand together. ‘Hygiene is
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