On Food Ethics

A few days ago, my dad kindly turned away a plate of leftover food offered by my neighbour from his seventh month sacrifice. I was hesitating to react while having my fill at the dining table; I didn't in the end. But after re-reading Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 6, I was confidently thankful that he did the biblical thing to do.

Anyways, I am currently intrigued about how religious or simply moral beliefs are always accompanied by some sort of puzzling dietary burden.

Some people believe that some animals are not good to eat. There are two reasons for this. One, the animal(s) is 'unclean' to some extent. Two, the animal is venerated beyond measure. It's funny how two entirely different notions can inspire the creation of identical boundaries. But surely pluralism would then proceed to classify all these animals under the same league? Oops...

Some people believe that all animals are not good to eat. It has been argued that animals should be treated fairly, like we are, and killing them for food is just gravely unethical. I certainly disagree with the use of unnecessary violence; thankfully we have the SPCA and the WWF. But I think that animals kill each other in the wild for food too, correct me if I'm wrong. They also seem to consider the use of sharp objects, deadly poison and elaborate traps as legitimate and ethical ways of catching prey. Well, this leads me to conclude that it is not really the means of death with which we're concerned when we consider animal protection. It's actually a matter of who were are - a race above all other races, with a power above all other natural powers, exercising a right to give all other creatures rights. Eh, but that's so ideologically unethical!

Finally, some people believe that all animals are good to eat. Incidentally, some of these people also believe in the spiritual concept of reincarnation. I say, this is too serious to be considered hilariously - how do you know that the next piece of chicken you consume didn't use to contain the soul of your expired great-grandmother? Insofar as hens are being industrially trapped in conveyor belts to lay eggs and die, they are to remain constantly demoted in the spiritual realm because of their lack of opportunity, in this cycle of suffering, to donate some measure of grain to the poor chicken across the road. I guess their male counterparts would be known as reprobate roosters. It's a trembling thought in many ways.

My conclusion: Aiyah, just eat lah.