Ravage Thoughts

First, before I begin, I would like to extend my apology to Mr. Christopher Hitchen for using the title of one of his chapters in his book, “god Is Not Great”.

The hatred of pigs is more that food issues in some religion. There was even news that the Saudi television banned Miss Piggy. It is not only on Muslims but also in some Christian sects like Iglesia Ni Cristo and Jehovah’s Witnesses. What is with pigs and religion anyway?

The hatred of pigs was neither a Muslim nor Christian original. It all began in Jewish folklore. There are no religions prior to the Hebrews that loathed the swine. In the Book of Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:7-8, God declared the pig unclean for believers. In Isaiah 65:2-4 and 66:17, God issues a severe word of warning against those who eat pork. Today, this religious inanity is being warrant by using science as justification. Believers will attempt to persuade people that eating pork causes diseases such as heart diseases, worm infestation, strokes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

So what make the pig an unclean food?

In prehistoric times, our ancestors hunt wild boars for food. That is what our Filipino ancestor hunt for foodstuff and there is no dietary taboo to eat pork meat on those times. The Hawaiian eats pork before Christians discovered their islands. So does ancient Chinese. Ancient Egyptians even venerated the pig. So what happened?

As superstition and ignorance have spread throughout some part of Judea and the Middle East, everyone started to believe that eating pork contributes to immorality and shame. Thanks to Judaism, pigs were to become synonymous to greed, indolence, indulgence and filthiness. Soon it becomes an insult to call a person a “Pig” because that means he/she demonstrates these negative characteristics. Therefore, when you eat like there is no tomorrow, they will say that you eat like a pig. Sloppy people are pigs. Slow fat people are hogs. Untidy rooms are like pig pens and so on. That is why pigs became unclean. However, that is not all. Even the pig’s cloven hoofs become a reminder of the devil. The cloven hoof, or trotter, became a sign of diabolism. Therefore, the poor pig becomes a symbol of the devil himself!

Because of these common misconceptions about pigs, (that they tend to eat their young, that they are filthy and that they quarrel a lot) they become synonymous with evil and many negative characteristics. However, wild pigs (unknown for many) seem to be very clean and peaceful. They also tend their young and are quite intelligent. Pigs are next to dolphins when it comes to intelligence. They also make good pets. Pot-bellied pigs and miniature pet pigs are gentle. They also are quite useful in the field of medicine. Pig’s heart is use as a good replacement parts on heart surgery.

Now here are the facts: Eating too much “balot” (boiled duck’s embryo) will also increased your cholesterol level. Do you know that if you have eaten at least 3 to 5 “balot”, it is enough to give you a headache? Too much chicken eggs will raise your uric acid level. Beans and legumes also cause high level of uric acid and it is not advisable to eat beans when you are suffering from arthritis. Beef fats are also risky. Too much beef fats will cause harden arteries and blockage, which will lead to stroke. Notice the accumulation of “sebo” (oily gunk and grease) on beef stews as it cools. The issue here is that even with the so-called “clean foods’, if someone ate it in excess, he/she will also notice some ill effects.

Since “religious reason” is not a good reason to damage the reputation of pig consumption, it is time for the believers to use science on their side.

So according to these non-pork eaters, if someone ate pork...well you are an easy victim of trichinosis or worms or worst...other horrible sickness known to humans. Come on! With such logic, (if you call it logic...I call it religious stupidity) everyone who has eaten pork barbeque, bacon, sausage or Escallopes de Porc a la Milanaise has already died a gruesome death!
Every meat (beef, pork, chicken, veal, lamb and fish) are potential health risk when eaten raw or half cooked. You can also suffer tapeworms when eating fish. Many “sashimi” aficionados suffer tapeworm infestation from eating raw fish. There was even a small barrio somewhere in Mindanao where there was an epidemic of some intestinal worms because of eating raw tilapia. Chickens and ducks can also inflict flu (remember the bird flu?). According to believers, consuming large amounts of pork may lead to heart failure, stroke and obesity; due to its high cholesterol and saturated fat content. However, this goes for all sorts of animal flesh as well. In fact, pork meat is quite lean - leaner than most other domesticated animals - as long as its protective layer of fat removed. On the problem of round worms (Trichinosis), the best thing to do is to cook your pork. I wonder who wants to eat raw pork. Anyway, after the invention of refrigeration and the feeding of commercial hog feed on legitimate piggeries, cases of trichinosis have decreased.

That is that on the issue of pork. I did not bother to include the vegetarian’s reason for not eating pork...come on; they do not even eat eggs. Therefore, my stand on the issue of porcophobia is religious. That is the same reason why Hindus does not eat cow. But if you ask me, I will always prefer the three little pigs compare to The Big Bad Wolf who’s wearing a religious priest’s (or Imam’s) clothing.

Until next time,
John the Atheist