Followers of many religions lay a taboo on the consumption or handling of certain animals; such animals are called unclean animals. Persons who handle such animals may need to purify themselves to get rid of their uncleanness.

History

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The origins of practices in relation to "clean animals" and "unclean animals" are lost to prehistory but are maintained by several large religions. Some theologians hypothesize that such practices have been in place since the beginnings of recorded history. The first lists of such animals appear in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, although some animals are mentioned earlier in the bible.

Historians date the book of Leviticus to sometime between 770 BC and 600 BC, and the book of Deuteronomy to sometime between 640 BC and 609 BC. However the first time the concept of clean and unclean animals actually falls in the book of Genesis is with the story of Noah and the Ark written sometime between 1280 BC and 1250 BC. Modern scholars suggest however that the text of Genesis as we see it today was redacted together around 440 BC from earlier sources:

"Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth" Christianity/The_Bible/KJV/Genesis#Chapter_7

Judaism

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In Judaism, Kashrut (kosher) is the set of dietary laws governing what can or cannot be consumed. These laws are based upon the Torah and the Talmud. According to Jewish law, many animals considered unclean have cloven hooves and ruminate. Jews are forbidden to eat pork as swine are considered to be unclean. In the context of Judaism, the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy from the Hebrew Bible specify what must not be consumed.

The Book of Leviticus states:

"Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you." Bible,_English,_King_James,_Leviticus#Chapter_11

These are the animals considered to be unclean according to Bible,_English,_King_James,_Leviticus#Chapter_11 and Bible,_English,_King_James,_Deuteronomy#Chapter_14.

It should be noted that the translations of some of the aforementioned animals from the Hebrew are a matter of dispute in classical Jewish commentaries. With respect to birds the Torah only specifies ones which may NOT be eaten and the translations of these are also a matter of contention in traditional Jewish texts so it is common practice to eat only birds with a clear tradition of being kosher, eg. domestic fowl:

• Bat
• Camel
• Chameleon
• Coney
• Cormorant
• Cuckow
• Eagle
• Ferret
• Gier Eagle
• Glede
• Great Owl

• Hare
• Hawk
• Heron
• Kite
• Lapwing
• Little Owl
• Lizard
• Mole
• Mouse
• Night Hawk
• Osprey
• Ostrich

• Ossifrage
• Owl
• Pelican
• Raven
• Snail
• Stork
• Swan^,
• Swine
• Tortoise
• Vulture
• Weasel

These additional animals are not mentioned specifically by name, but from the characteristics mentioned in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, may also be considered to be unclean:

• Abalone
• Alligator
• Ape
• Bear
• Cat
• Catfish
• Cheetah
• Clam
• Cockatoo
• Crab
• Crayfish

• Crow
• Dog
• Dolphin
• Donkey
• Eel
• Elephant
• Fox
• Gecko
• Gibbon
• Hedgehog
• Lion

• Lobster
• Lynx
• Magpie
• Monkey
• Mussel
• Parrot
• Penguin
• Prawns
• Rat
• Scallop
• Seal

• Shark
• Shrimp
• Squid
• Squirrel
• Snake
• Starfish
• Tiger
• Turtle
• Wolf
• Worm
• Zebra

Bible,_English,_King_James,_Leviticus#Chapter_11 permits certain kinds of "winged swarming things" (i.e. insects) while prohibiting others; however, today rabbis are uncertain as to which insects were specifically permitted, so now all insects are prohibited to be on the safe side. An exception to this is a number of Yemenite communities that have retained their own traditions with respect to kosher locusts, as a result these particular locusts are considered kosher for the specific community which has the tradition. Bees' honey is however deemed kosher, which is apparently the sole exception to the rule that any product of a non-kosher animal is also non-kosher, for example gelatin. Within the past twenty years "kosher gelatin" has begun appearing; some of this is derived from cows or from fish and made in a manner keeping with kosher traditions, others are derived from a plant or seaweed base using agar or pectin.

In order to eat an animal or bird it must be slaughtered according to Jewish law (Shechita). This involves cutting the animal's trachea and esophagus, the carotid artery and jugular vein are also severed in this operation – as are most arteries and veins leading to and from the brain – with a sharp knife that has been thoroughly checked for imperfections beforehand. The cut must be swift and without pause, to avoid tearing, and must be performed by an expert. Fish must also be killed before being eaten, but no particular method is specified in Jewish law.

The animal must then be determined to be free of treifot – which are 70 different categories of injuries, diseases and abnormalities – whose presence renders the animal non-kosher.

Not all parts of the animal may be eaten; certain fats, known as Chelev, may not be eaten. As much blood as possible must be removed from the meat, either by soaking, salting and rinsing or by broiling over a fire. In addition the sciatic nerve in each leg and the fat surrounding the nerve must be removed.

It is forbidden to cook, eat, or derive any benefit from mixtures of milk and meat (and their by-products). It is also forbidden to cook or eat dairy products together with poultry as a rabinnic injunction against mixing milk and meat.

Islam

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In Islamic dietary laws several animals are considered unclean and not to be eaten (Haraam), while others are permitted (Halaal), as long as they have been killed or slaughtered in the correct manner. Halaal and Haraam are dissimilar to the Jewish Kashrut in that they also encompass behavior, speech, dress, conduct and manner. In non-Arabic-speaking countries however, the terms are most commonly used in the narrower context of Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned, though they can be used for the more general meaning as well.

The Qur'an states:

"Forbidden to you are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gore#Etymology_2d to death; that which hath been eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it; that which is sacrificed on stone [forbidden also is the division by raffling with arrows: that is impiety..." Qur'an_(English_translation)#Al-Maidah_-_The_Table_Spread

The Qu'ran also states:

" And for the Jews We have forbidden all that have claws; and from the cattle and the sheep We forbade their fat except what is attached to the back, or entrails, or mixed with bone. That is a punishment for their rebellion, and We are truthful." WikiQuran#Chapter_6

According to muslims the most important condition is that basmala (pronouncing the name of Allah) be performed at the time of slaughter. Also important is that the meat of those animals were ended by Zabiha (Shar'ee slaughter) of which tasmiyah is a condition. If not those animals are considered Maytah (carrion) and are expressly forbidden. The meat of animals slaughtered by a Kafir (non-believer) or Mushrik (polytheist) is also forbidden, though the Quran does permit eating food of the people of the book:

" Today I have made permissible for you pure things and the food of those who were given the Book (Ahlul-Kitaab) is also Halal for you." WikiQuran#Chapter_5

There is some dispute among Muslims on whether the tasmiyah must be pronounced at the time of slaughter or at the time of eating.

Dogs

Dogs are mentioned in Muslims holy book the Quran several times e.g. in the main story of sura 18 where a dog is a companion of the dwellers of the Cave. The Quran also tells that it is permissible to eat what trained dogs catch (5:4). Nevertheless, many Islamic teachers state dogs should be considered unclean and that Muslims licked by them must perform purification. According to Hadith, anything a dog touches must be washed seven times, the final time in dust. Some religious traditions hold that if a dog passes in front of someone preparing to pray, that it pollutes their purity and negates the prayer.

Some teachers even go so far as to say that photographs, television, movies, and even dog shaped toys, are unclean and require purification after contact. This view is contested by many modern scholars of the Qu'ran. Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl, professor of Islamic Law at UCLA, says this zealous adherence to doctrine led one religious authority to advise a Muslim that his pet dog was evil and should be driven away by cutting off its food and water.

Another exception appears to be made by the Bedouin in the case of the Saluki. They are allowed in the tents and considered special companions. It has been said that the Bedouin will never sell a Saluki, but will give one as a special and precious gift.

Christianity

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In the very early days of Christianity it was debated if converts ought to follow Jewish customs (including circumcision and the dietary laws) or not. The matter was settled at the Council of Jerusalem, where it was decided that new converts are subject only to the Noahide Laws (See also: Bible_(King_James)/Genesis#Chapter_7). In the Acts of the Apostles the "apostles and elders" promulgated the decision in a letter "to the Gentile believers":

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled ..." Bible_(King_James)/Acts#Chapter_15

The commonly held theological position is that with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the "Old Covenant" and its restrictions no longer apply.

In the First Epistle to Timothy it states:

"...commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." Bible_(King_James)/1_Timothy#Chapter_4

In the Epistle to the Colossians it states:

"...Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ....Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." Bible_(King_James)/Colossians#Chapter_2

In Bible_(King_James)/Acts#Chapter_11 Peter was convinced that it would be out of character for the Lord to recommend an unclean diet. (See also Bible_(King_James)/Acts#Chapter_10 for context.) Bible_(King_James)/Acts#Chapter_11 clarifies Peter's vision. These verses indicate that God was instructing him not to refer to gentiles as "unclean" as it was common in Israel. But rather, this indicated that salvation had been extended to the gentiles. Nevertheless, Christians permitted themselves to eat pork, despite the fact that the Torah prohibits it. The main modern day exception to this are the Seventh-day Adventists whose co-founder Ellen G. White was a proponent of vegetarianism. Many Seventh-day Adventists avoid meat for health reasons, though vegetarianism is not a requirement.

There have also been several past groups who made similar exceptions such as the Marcionists, who strictly followed the Jewish tradition of unclean foods.

In the Roman Catholic Church, it was forbidden to eat meat (defined as the flesh of any warm-blooded animal) on Friday, but as a penance to commemorate Christ's death rather than for meat's being regarded as "unclean" (exceptions are few, such as when Christmas falls on a Friday, in which case Thursday is the day of abstinence). After the Second Vatican Council, the Friday abstinence from meat was limited to Lent and Advent, although some traditionalist Catholics still maintain the abstinence year-round. In Eastern Orthodoxy, both Friday and Wednesday were similarly considered off-limits. Protestants on the other hand regarded all abstinence laws as artificial creations of the Catholic Church and have never observed them.

Scientific studies

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In 1953 Dr. David I. Macht, one of the primary proponents of biblical scientific foresight, conducted toxicity tests on more than a hundred species of mammals, birds and fish. He reported that in every case, extracts from meat of unclean mammals, birds, and fish inhibited the growth of lupin seedlings more than those the Old Testament called clean. Macht's methodology, known as phytopharmacology, has not been widely used by other researchers although it was published in the science journal Science. See "Clean animals" for more discussion of Dr. Macht's findings.

In 1966, British anthropologist Mary Douglas published the influential study Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo. In Purity and Danger, Douglas first proposed that the kosher laws were not, as many believed, either primitive health regulations or randomly chosen as tests of Jews' commitment to God. Instead, Douglas argued that the laws were about symbolic boundary-maintenance. Prohibited foods were those which did not seem to fall neatly into any category. Her theory was that pigs were declared unclean in Leviticus because pigs' place in the natural order was ambiguous since they shared the cloven hoof of the ungulates, but did not chew cud.

A 1985 study by Nanji and French found that there was a significant correlation between cirrhosis and pork consumption. Modern day swine raising is very different from earlier times with greater exposure to toxins but reduced exposure to pests and disease.

Notes

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External links

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• http://www.ucg.org/booklets/CU/bibledesignate.htm – A list of clean and unclean animals according to Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Judaism

• http://www.kashrut.com/ – one of the better sources for information on Kosher eating.
• "Soul Food" by Rabbi Mordechai Becher - an analysis of the rules of Kashrut.

Islam

• http://www.submission.org/halal-meat.html Halal Meat (Permitted to eat Meat), The Quranic Truth
• http://www.beautifulislam.net/halalharam/zabiha_slaughter.htm An In-Depth Look at Zabiha

Christianity

• Kline, Monte Ph.D., The Dietary Law
• http://www.abcog.org/food.htm Clean and Unclean meats: a Christian perspective:

Scientific studies

• Ministry Magazine, March 1953, p37-38 "This Question of Unclean Meats" Responses to Macht's study from heads of biology depts.

Islamic law | Islam and controversy | Jewish law and rituals | Christianity | Adventist | Religious law | Diets | Human-animal interaction

Bô chheng-khì ê tōng-bu̍t | Animales impuros en el judaísmo | Animaux impurs | 불결한 동물 | Tak bersih hewani | Unclean animal | 不浄な生き物 | Нечистое животное | 不潔淨的動物