Food, Feasts, and Faith : An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions [2 Volumes]

An indispensable resource for exploring food and faith, this two-volume set offers information on food-related religious beliefs, customs, and practices from around the world. • Provides up-to-date factual information, introduces concepts of food as being more than just nutrients, and enables an understanding of diverse religious traditions and the importance of food in people's lives • Includes coverage of less well-known rituals and religions that are often skipped in world religion texts • Presents material in a way that is accessible to readers without previous exposure to, or command of, sociological or anthropological language and concepts "General readers at the high school level and above will appreciate the admirably clear and accurate writing. This richly informative work, introducing ties among food, culture, religion, and history, efficiently and accessibly adds to readers understanding of diverse religious traditions and provides a solid jumping-off point for further research." - Library Journal, Starred Review. An indispensable resource for exploring food and faith, this two-volume set offers information on food-related religious beliefs, customs, and practices from around the world. Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays? Why are there retirement homes for aged cows in India? What culture holds ceremonies to welcome the first salmon? More than five billion people worldwide claim a religious identity that shapes the way they think about themselves, how they act, and what they eat. Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions explores how the food we eat every day often serves purposes other than to keep us healthy and stay alive: we eat to express our faith and to adhere to ethnic or cultural traditions that are part of who we are. This book provides readers with an understanding of the rich world of food and faith. It contains more than 200 alphabetically arranged entries that describe the beliefs and customs of well-established major world religions and sects as well as those of smaller faith communities and new religious movements. The entries cover topics such as religious food rules, religious festivals and symbolic foods, and vegetarianism and veganism, as well as general themes such as rites of passage, social justice, hospitality, and compassion. Each entry on religion explains what the religious dietary laws and guidelines are and how these were interpreted and put into practice historically and in modern settings. The coverage also includes important festivals and feast days as well as significant religious figures and organizations. Additionally, some 160 sidebars provide examples and more detailed information as well as fun facts. Provides up-to-date factual information, introduces concepts of food as being more than just nutrients, and enables an understanding of diverse religious traditions and the importance of food in people's lives Includes coverage of less well-known rituals and religions that are often skipped in world religion texts Presents material in a way that is accessible to readers without previous exposure to, or command of, sociological or anthropological language and concepts Cover ......Page 1 About the pagination of this eBook......Page 2 Title page......Page 5 Halftitle page......Page 3 Copyright page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Entries......Page 9 Guide to Related Topics......Page 13 List of Documents......Page 17 Preface......Page 19 Introduction......Page 23 A......Page 27 B......Page 81 C......Page 115 D......Page 167 E......Page 183 F......Page 207 G......Page 255 H......Page 273 I......Page 313 J......Page 329 K......Page 345 Title page......Page 363 Halftitle page......Page 361 Copyright page......Page 364 Contents......Page 365 List of Entries......Page 367 Guide to Related Topics......Page 371 List of Documents......Page 375 L......Page 377 M......Page 387 N......Page 427 P......Page 453 Q......Page 467 R......Page 473 S......Page 511 T......Page 577 V......Page 589 W......Page 599 Y......Page 607 Z......Page 609 Primary Documents......Page 619 Recommended Resources......Page 669 About the Author......Page 673 Index......Page 675 Cover 1 About the pagination of this eBook 2 9781610694124_Volume_1 5 Halftitle page 3 Title page 5 Copyright page 6 Contents 7 List of Entries 9 Guide to Related Topics 13 List of Documents 17 Preface 19 Introduction 23 A 27 B 81 C 115 D 167 E 183 F 207 G 255 H 273 I 313 J 329 K 345 9781610694124_Volume_2 363 Halftitle page 361 Title page 363 Copyright page 364 Contents 365 List of Entries 367 Guide to Related Topics 371 List of Documents 375 L 377 M 387 N 427 P 453 Q 467 R 473 S 511 T 577 V 589 W 599 Y 607 Z 609 Primary Documents 619 Recommended Resources 669 About the Author 673 Index 675