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From: SX43@liverpool.ac.uk
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Question regarding Pork
Message-ID: <1990Dec3.145133.381@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 3 Dec 90 14:51:33 GMT
References: <1990Nov29.175800.9470@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
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In article <1990Nov29.175800.9470@nntp-server.caltech.edu>,
bakken@cs.arizona.edu (Dave Bakken) says:
>Could a cultural reason also be that, in Arabia (and many other
>places) at the time of Muhammad, pigs were disgusting, filthy animals
>that ran around eating garbage and everything in sight?  I've heard
>this but I can't remember where.

Two points..

1) The Islamic injunctions usually go counter to the prevailing customs
in Arabia. One only has to look at the extreme persecution and
intolerance with which the first muslims were treated..

2) In the wild, pigs are supposed to be quite clean and hygienic
creatures; it's when they are put in overcrowded pens in farms where
more pigs = more profits that they become the dirty animal we see them
as.  For example, in the wild, pigs bury their excrement, far as I know,
but cannot do that in the confined space of  a farm. On farms, there is
usually so little room that the sow is perpetually stuck in one position
feeding the young.. it's a very cruel system.

Oh, and I believe that pig meat has been forbidden in previous
scripture too; Jews and Christians (early ones at least) didnt eat
pig flesh.

And I am suprised and  saddened to see so many questions appearing
in the vein of .. 'do muslims believe in the previous scriptures..'.
I knew Islam was misunderstood, but not to this extent. I hope that
this discussion group can serve a useful educational purpose.

I have also seen lots of discussion on Islam in the s.c.arabic board.
Maybe we could advertise the existence of s.r.islam (plus the fact it is
moderated..) on s.c.arabic for people to post their questions here ?

Peace,
     Fazal.