Christians and Halal Products

Just wondering what people think about idolatry in relation to halal products(offering meat to idols) and how they interpret what Paul said about the dietary laws in the Epistles. From a spiritual perspective alone should we be eating halal?

 

Eat whatever you want to eat... it has no bearing on me or any other Christian.

 

I wasn't asking other peoples' opinions on what I should eat. I was specifically asking about eating meat offered to idols in relation to the dietary laws as talked about in the Pauline Epistles.

And what I eat is not the issue. As Paul said 'Who are you to judge another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls'

However the dietary laws have a great deal of importance to some Christian denominations - I was interesting in discussing it. And I'm not sure where you get the hubris to tell me what other Christians think. Let each man speak for himself.

 

On the contrary. You asked "From a spiritual perspective alone should we be eating halal?" I responded by giving you my spiritual perspective. That perspective being "Eat whatever you want to eat... it has no bearing on me or any other Christian." In other words, I am not the one who will either condemn you or bless you... so have a hearty meal with whatever you want.

 

Fair enough. But in that instance Paul was talking about what today is considered 'kosher' food whereas idolatry and 'things strangled'(relating to blood consumption) are treated separately. This is why Jehovah's Witnesses observe their interpretation of the blood consumption laws and why others abstain from halal products, observe a Saturday Sabbath etc The discussion and disagreement over these things has a history dating back to the first century.

 

You are mistaken.. Muslims do NOT accept blood sacrifice on any level.. nor do they accept idolatry in any form.

Why don't you do a comparison of Kosher and Halal... so you have a starting point??

 

To each their own.
Its a custom, religious or otherwise.
Personally, I eat just about anything that's somewhat appealing, but I realize that everyone should be able to decide for him/herself.

 

You clearly don't understand. As a Christian I don't accept that Mohammad was a prophet or that "Allah" is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If I did believe that I would not be a Christian I would be a Muslim. Muslims sacrifice animals that they slaughter to the pagan deity "Allah" - whether moon deity/genie whathaveyou doesn't matter.

And both kosher and halal slaughter are blood sacrifices. Understand?

A starting point for what? I really don't know what you are on about. Why would I want to compare the two when there are no prohibitions on Christians eating kosher products?

 

Well the problem is Christians can't decide for themselves because anywhere from 60%-80% of the meat on the general market is halal and most of it unlabelled.

 

So what?
If its in my kitchen, its my food. I can pick and choose where and what to buy, right?
I can go to the neighborhood store, butcher, farmer's market.
Halal is a label, a concern for those to whom it makes a difference, and since its a label, it can be put onto anything, whether the custom is actually observed, or just in print.

 

Muslims reject ALL blood sacrifice and Halal is nearly identical to Kosher.

Is Kosher blood sacrifice??? You are in error..

There has been NO blood sacrifice since the destruction of the Temple and the entry of Rabbinic Judaism.

 

and in context
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15&version=CEV

 

Well depends what you mean by "blood sacrifice" - Kosher slaughter is exactly the same as the sacrificial slaughter performed on the alter at the temple before the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70CE.

And secondly, yes halal slaughter is nearly identical to kosher slaughter - but you are still missing the essential important difference: kosher is sacrificed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whereas halal is sacrificed to a pagan deity - i.e. All Christians and Jews believe that Allah is a false deity and therefore eating meat that has been sacrificed to a false deity is idolatry. Understand yet?

Now whether or not you believe that Christians are allowed to eat meat offered to idols depends on your interpretation of the Pauline Epistles.

See above. The method of sacrifice is exactly the same as that which was used on the alter prior to the destruction of the second temple. It's only semantics anyway. The main point is that halal slaughter is idolatry.

 

Well depends what you mean by "blood sacrifice" - Kosher slaughter is exactly the same as the sacrificial slaughter performed on the alter at the temple before the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70CE.

And secondly, yes halal slaughter is nearly identical to kosher slaughter - but you are still missing the essential important difference: kosher is sacrificed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whereas halal is sacrificed to a pagan deity - i.e. All Christians and Jews believe that Allah is a false deity and therefore eating meat that has been sacrificed to a false deity is idolatry.

Now whether or not you believe that Christians are allowed to eat meat offered to idols depends on your interpretation of the Pauline Epistles.

See above. The method of sacrifice is exactly the same as that which was used on the alter prior to the destruction of the second temple. It's only semantics anyway. The main point is that halal slaughter is idolatry.

 

So many Westerners rant and rave about Islam, Idols and blood sacrifice without knowing a thing about Islam. Christians like me.. who have lived in the ME get very frustrated with such arcane ignorance. Typically such "pundits" know nothing about Judaism or Kosher either.

There is NO idol worship in Islam.. It is forbidden.. The Kaaba stone is NOT worshipped.. Traditionally it is the remaining stone of an alter built by Abraham. LOLO

Further, the feast of Eid Al Adha is NOT ABOUT BLOOD ATONEMENT FOR SIN... Its about sharing bounty with the poor.

Sometimes it is worthwhile to learn something about your subject matter.

 

Really? I've rarely heard it raised.

Really? I know many Coptic Christians who don't want to eat halal. Here's some Egyptian Coptic Christians who mention it:

http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php?topic=12606.0

They eat it because it's "all they have available"

Again? You still don't understand? Allah is the idol. They don't believe he's an idol but Christians and Jews do. I don't know how I can make it any clearer than that.

See above - Allah is an idol.

And unrelated to halal slaughter.

I agree.

 

You have missed the point too. That relates to kosher food. I am talking about idolatry.

“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ‘For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.’ If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, ‘This is offered in sacrifice unto idols,’ eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: ‘for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.’”

1 Corinthians 10:25–28

 

LOLOL.. Allah s the Arabic word for God the Creator.. You see what I mean about ignorance?

Arab Christians refer to God as Allah.

Are you a Sabra or have you never been to the ME or Palestine?

You should know of course that the French, Germans, Italians and Spanish also have a word other than English for God.

 

Actually there is a great deal of academic debate about the origin of the word and additionally the meaning of the word is irrelevant.

And so do some Mizrahi Jews. What has that to do with anything?

No, yes and yes.

And? What has that got to do with anything?

 

So many of the Western "pundits" have never read the sermons of Muhammed.. They are completely ignorant.

He teaches: Save yourselves, I cannot save you.. Return to the God of Abraham.

Further.. they don't know squat about the Kaaba... or even Jewish history when the Jews worshipped Ashura as a female companion of God.

I take it that you have never bothered to read William Devers or even Samuel Noah Kramer.

Poor scholarship turns people into bigots when they decide to pontificate and expound on religion.

 

So what point are you attempting to make?

 

I wasn't attempting to make a point just interested in discussion. But I will make this point:

Halal slaughter is idolatry - fact. But whether or not you believe Christians are prohibited from eating food offered to idols depends on how you interpret the Bible.

Another point:

Anywhere from 60%-80% of the meat sold and much else besides is halal and a great deal of it unlabelled. I don't like not having a choice regardless of how I interpret the laws on blood/idolatry. Interested in what other people might think about it.

 

LOLOL.. that is the height of ignorance.

There are NO idols in Islam an NO blood atonement for sin... that is the whole premise of Islam.

 

Wow you really are slow aren't you? Let me try just ONE more time:

Muslims believe that they are worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so when they slaughter to Allah in their minds they are not committing idolatry see? Understand?

Jews and Christians don't believe that the God Muslims worship is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so Jews and Christians believe that Muslims are apostates who worship a false God? Any of this sinking in?

 

So who is it then that is denying you your right to make a choice? Is it the Christians, Muslims, Hindus, secular government or God?