Its god who created all the animals of the land, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea (Genesis 20-25). Then why is that he tells us not eat certain animals. In Genesis 1:29 God instructs the all living things that their food would be plants. As such if you can see today if you have a vegetarian diet it is easy to digest. On the other hand if you eat a meat product your body takes time to digest. The reason is practically god didn't create us to eat meat. Only after being expelled from the garden or after the flood ( we dont know certainly) have we developed the taste for meat.
Of the all the animals birds and fishes each set of animals have their own duties. The plant eaters eat grass and fertilize the soil, pollinating the flowers, distributing the seeds etc., Some are fresh meat eaters. They hunt and kill. But they do not hunt the healthier ones, instead they go for the weak, old and diseased animals hence maintaining a healthy population of plant eaters. And then we have natures very own undertakers. Who eat all the dead meat.
In this so called modern world we are all aware that a healthy life style is directly related to food we take. If we eat food that is not good of quality or old ones its definitely going to affect us. Right??? So now think of eating a crab who eats dead meat. Would you eat a vulture which does the same jop on land.
In water, land, air and in the incest world there are different organism for some specific purpose. Our god is our creator and he knows what best just like a mother knows whats best for her child. Read the below the article as to why god gave these dietary laws???
God states that cud-chewing animals with split hooves can be eaten (Leviticus 11:3
; Deuteronomy 14:6
). These specifically include the cattle, sheep, goat, deer and gazelle families (Deuteronomy 14:4-5
). He also lists such animals as camels, rabbits and pigs as being unclean, or unfit to eat (Leviticus 11:4-8
). He later lists such "creeping things" as moles, mice and lizards as unfit to eat (Leviticus 11:29-31
), as well as four-footed animals with paws (cats, dogs, bears, lions, tigers, etc.) as unclean (Leviticus 11:27
).
; Deuteronomy 14:6
). These specifically include the cattle, sheep, goat, deer and gazelle families (Deuteronomy 14:4-5
). He also lists such animals as camels, rabbits and pigs as being unclean, or unfit to eat (Leviticus 11:4-8
). He later lists such "creeping things" as moles, mice and lizards as unfit to eat (Leviticus 11:29-31
), as well as four-footed animals with paws (cats, dogs, bears, lions, tigers, etc.) as unclean (Leviticus 11:27
).
He tells us that salt and freshwater fish with fins and scales may be eaten (Leviticus 11:9-12
), but water creatures without those characteristics (catfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, squid, octopi, etc.) should not be eaten.
), but water creatures without those characteristics (catfish, lobsters, crabs, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, squid, octopi, etc.) should not be eaten.
God also lists birds and other flying creatures that are unclean for consumption (Leviticus 11:13-19
). He identifies carrion eaters and birds of prey as unclean, plus ostriches, storks, herons and bats.
). He identifies carrion eaters and birds of prey as unclean, plus ostriches, storks, herons and bats.
Birds such as chickens, turkeys and pheasants are not on the unclean
list and therefore can be eaten. Insects, with the exception of
locusts, crickets and grasshoppers, are listed as unclean (Leviticus 11:20-23
).
).
Why does God identify some animals as suitable for human consumption
and others as unsuitable? God didn't give laws to arbitrarily assert
control over people. He gave His laws (including those of which meats
are clean or unclean) "that it might be well" with those who seek to
obey Him (Deuteronomy 5:29
).
).
Although God did not reveal the specific reasons some animals may be
eaten and others must be avoided, we can make generalized conclusions
based on the animals included in the two categories.
In listing the animals that should not be eaten, God forbids the
consumption of scavengers and carrion eaters, which devour other animals
for their food.
Animals such as pigs, bears, vultures and raptors can eat (and
thrive) on decaying flesh. Predatory animals such as wolves, lions,
leopards and cheetahs most often prey on the weakest (and at times the
diseased) in animal herds.
When it comes to sea creatures, bottom dwellers such as lobsters and
crabs scavenge for dead animals on the sea floor. Shellfish such as
oysters, clams and mussels similarly consume decaying organic matter
that sinks to the sea floor, including sewage.
A common denominator of many of the animals God designates as
unclean is that they routinely eat flesh that would sicken or kill human
beings. When we eat such animals we partake of a food chain that
includes things harmful to people.
As nutritionist David Meinz observes: "Could it be that God, in His
wisdom, created certain creatures whose sole purpose is to clean up
after the others? Their entire 'calling' may be to act exclusively as
the sanitation workers of our ecology. God may simply be telling us that
it's better for us believers not to consume the meat of these trash
collectors" ( Eating by the Book, 1999, p. 225).
The following list, based on Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14,
identifies many of the animals God designates as clean and unclean. The
list uses their common names.
Clean Animals
Mammals That Chew the Cud and Part the Hoof
Antelope, Bison (buffalo), Caribou, Cattle (beef, veal), Deer
(venison), Elk, Gazelle, Giraffe, Goat, Hart, Ibex, Moose, Ox, Reindeer,
Sheep (lamb, mutton)
Fish With Fins and Scales
Anchovy, Barracuda, Bass, Black pomfret (or monchong), Bluefish,
Bluegill, Carp, Cod, Crappie, Drum, Flounder, Grouper, Grunt, Haddock,
Hake, Halibut, Hardhead, Herring (or alewife), Kingfish, Mackerel (or
corbia), Mahimahi (or dorado, dolphinfish [not to be confused with the
mammal dolphin]), Minnow, Mullet, Perch (or bream), Pike (or pickerel or
jack), Pollack (or pollock or Boston bluefish), Rockfish, Salmon,
Sardine (or pilchard), Shad, Silver hake (or whiting), Smelt (or frost
fish or ice fish), Snapper (or ebu, jobfish, lehi, onaga, opakapaka or
uku), Sole, Steelhead, Sucker, Sunfish, Tarpon, Trout (or weakfish),
Tuna (or ahi, aku, albacore, bonito, or tombo), Turbot (except European
turbot), Whitefish
Birds With Clean Characteristics
Chicken, Dove, Duck, Goose, Grouse, Guinea fowl, Partridge, Peafowl,
Pheasant, Pigeon, Prairie chicken, Ptarmigan, Quail, Sagehen, Sparrow
(and other songbirds), Swan*, Teal, Turkey
* In the King James Version, Leviticus 11:18
and Deuteronomy 14:16
list "swan" among unclean birds. However, this seems to be a mistranslation. The original word apparently refers to a kind of owl and is so translated in most modern Bible versions.
and Deuteronomy 14:16
list "swan" among unclean birds. However, this seems to be a mistranslation. The original word apparently refers to a kind of owl and is so translated in most modern Bible versions.
Insects
Types of locusts that may include crickets and grasshoppers
Unclean Animals
Animals With Unclean Characteristics
Swine
Boar, Peccary, Pig (hog, bacon, ham, lard, pork, most sausage and pepperoni)
Canines
Coyote, Dog, Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wolf
Felines
Cat, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion, Panther, Tiger
Equines
Donkey (ass), Horse, Mule, Onager, Zebra (quagga)
Other Animals
Armadillo, Badger, Bat, Bear, Beaver, Camel, Elephant, Gorilla
Groundhog, Hippopotamus, Kangaroo, Llama (alpaca, vicuña), Mole, Monkey,
Mouse, Muskrat, Opossum, Porcupine, Rabbit (hare), Raccoon, Rat,
Rhinoceros, Skunk, Slug, Snail (escargot), Squirrel, Wallaby, Weasel,
Wolverine, Worm, All insects except some in the locust family
Marine Animals Without Fins and Scales
Fish
Bullhead, Catfish, Eel, European Turbot, Marlin, Paddlefish, Shark,
Stickleback, Squid, Sturgeon (includes most caviar), Swordfish
Shellfish
Abalone, Clam, Conch, Crab, Crayfish (crawfish, crawdad), Lobster, Mussel, Oyster, Scallop, Shrimp (prawn)
Soft body
Cuttlefish, Jellyfish, Limpet, Octopus, Squid (calamari)
Sea mammals
Dolphin, Otter, Porpoise, Seal, Walrus, Whale
Birds of Prey, Scavengers and Others
Albatross, Bittern, Buzzard, Condor, Coot, Cormorant, Crane, Crow,
Cuckoo, Eagle, Flamingo Grebe, Grosbeak, Gull, Hawk, Heron, Kite,
Lapwing, Loon, Magpie, Osprey, Ostrich, Owl, Parrot, Pelican, Penguin,
Plover, Rail, Raven, Roadrunner, Sandpiper, Seagull, Stork, Swallow,
Swift, Vulture, Water hen, Woodpecker
Reptiles
Alligator, Caiman, Crocodile, Lizard, Snake, Turtle
Amphibians
Blindworm, Frog, Newt, Salamander, Toad
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