Religion and food - Genesis 1,29 and Leviticus 11.

Religion, morality and profits have played a heavy role on dietary recommendations. Religion is a heavy lever because it connects with morals and values - a pretty powerful influencer.

But, the true origins and complete set of facts are forgotten and not whole presented, so we get a biased picture of the truth. You might also review this post "Nutrition and Medicine - shaped by religion, morality and profits". In this post you will learn the role of Ellen G. White (1827–1915), founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and John Harvey Kellogg (1852–1943), a prominent Seventh-day Adventist and physician. (yes, that is the same Kellogg as in the food company)

One nutritional approach is a pescetarian diet which is primarily a plant-based eating style that includes seafood as the main source of animal protein. It is a variation of a vegetarian diet, allowing fish and other seafood but generally excluding meat from land animals like beef, pork, and poultry.

The pescetarian diet has a connection to the Seventh-day Adventist religion, as it aligns with the Adventist emphasis on healthful living, which is an integral part of their beliefs. While not all Seventh-day Adventists are pescetarian, the dietary guidelines they follow often include or resemble a pescetarian approach. Adventists base their dietary recommendations on biblical principles, particularly from Genesis 1:29, which emphasizes plant-based eating, and later allowances for clean meats, including fish, as outlined in Leviticus 11.

Its not the intent of this article to attack someone's religion. It is the intent to provide more complete information on the "motivations" (as you see in the post "Nutrition and Medicine - shaped by religion, morality and profits"), and the complete set of information Genesis 1:29 and Leviticus 11 since they do not dictate a non-meat diet.

What follows is Genesis 1,29 and Leviticus 11 related to food and nutrition:

Genesis 1:29 and Leviticus 11 both address food and nutrition in the context of biblical teachings, but they reflect different perspectives within the Bible.

Genesis 1:29

In Genesis 1:29, God speaks to humanity after creation, saying:

“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”

• Context: This verse reflects God’s provision of plant-based food for humanity. It emphasizes the abundance and sufficiency of plants and fruits as sustenance.

• Nutrition Implication: The verse suggests a diet centered on natural, whole foods—grains, seeds, fruits, and vegetables—indicating a vegetarian diet in the original state of creation.

Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11 provides detailed dietary laws for the Israelites, specifying clean and unclean animals:

1. Clean Animals: Animals that chew the cud and have a split hoof (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats) are deemed clean and fit for consumption.

2. Unclean Animals: Animals that do not meet these criteria (e.g., pigs, camels, rabbits) are considered unclean.

3. Seafood: Only those with fins and scales are considered clean (e.g., fish like salmon), while shellfish (e.g., shrimp, crab) and other aquatic creatures are unclean.

4. Birds: Certain birds, like eagles and vultures, are unclean, while others like chickens or doves are clean.

5. Insects: Locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers are clean, but other insects are not.

• Context: These laws were part of the covenant between God and Israel, providing guidance on holiness, health, and cultural identity.

• Nutrition Implication: The distinction between clean and unclean animals may have health and hygiene implications. For example, avoiding scavenger animals or certain shellfish might protect against foodborne illnesses. These guidelines also encourage mindfulness about food choices.

Comparison and Perspective

• Genesis 1:29: Focuses on a plant-based diet for all humanity in an ideal creation.

• Leviticus 11: Reflects a later stage where specific dietary laws are introduced, likely considering cultural, spiritual, and health factors.

Together, these passages reveal a progression in biblical dietary guidance, from universal provision in Genesis to specific cultural laws in Leviticus.

What follows are the passages where in religion, the Bible, where God suggested that animal proteins such as beef were acceptable.

The Bible contains several passages where God explicitly or implicitly permits the consumption of animal proteins, including beef. Below are key examples:

1. Genesis 9:3 – After the Flood

“Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”

• Context: After the flood, God expands humanity’s diet to include animals. This marks a shift from the plant-based diet in Genesis 1:29.

• Implication: Animal proteins, including beef, are now permissible for consumption.

2. Leviticus 1:2-3 – Sacrificial Animals (Implied Consumption)

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect.’”

• Context: While this describes offerings, many sacrificial animals were eaten by priests and the offeror after the sacrifice.

• Implication: Animals like cattle (beef) are both acceptable for sacrifice and suitable for food.

3. Deuteronomy 12:20-21 – Eating Meat in the Promised Land

“When the Lord your God has enlarged your territory as He promised you, and you crave meat and say, ‘I would like some meat,’ then you may eat as much of it as you want. If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His Name is too far away, you may slaughter animals from the herds and flocks the Lord has given you as I have commanded you, and in your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want.”

• Context: This permits the Israelites to eat meat from their herds (including cattle) outside of sacrificial contexts.

• Implication: Eating beef and other animal proteins is explicitly allowed.

4. Leviticus 11:3 – Clean Land Animals

“You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.”

• Context: This passage defines dietary laws for the Israelites. Cattle, which chew the cud and have split hooves, are explicitly classified as clean and acceptable for consumption.

• Implication: Beef is permissible as food according to the Mosaic Law.

5. Numbers 18:17-18 – Priests’ Portions from Sacrifices

“But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. Their meat is to belong to you, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh belong to you.”

• Context: The priests were permitted to eat the meat of sacrificed cattle, which further demonstrates its acceptability as food.

• Implication: Beef was part of the priestly diet as a result of sacrificial practices.

6. 1 Kings 4:23 – Solomon’s Provision

“Ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle, and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl.”

• Context: This passage describes the daily provision of King Solomon’s household, which included beef from cattle.

• Implication: Beef was a staple in royal diets, indicating its acceptability and value.

7. Luke 15:23 – The Parable of the Prodigal Son

“Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.”

• Context: In this parable, the father prepares a celebratory feast with a fattened calf, symbolizing joy and abundance.

• Implication: Eating beef was associated with celebrations and blessings.

Summary

These passages illustrate that God permits and even celebrates the consumption of animal proteins, including beef, in various contexts:

• Genesis 9:3 establishes a general allowance for eating meat.

• Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 12 explicitly define cattle as clean and fit for consumption.

• Sacrificial practices (Leviticus 1, Numbers 18) imply the acceptability of consuming beef in religious contexts.

• Royal and celebratory meals (1 Kings 4, Luke 15) affirm beef’s role as a valued food.

These references collectively indicate that beef and other animal proteins were considered acceptable and sometimes even significant in biblical teachings.