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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Holiday Observances - 9 Feb 2006
By Mary T. Hoffman

Yesterday’s Blog was about people using “culture” and “tradition” to excuse and perpetuate injustice and cruelty.

It seems as though in every country many holidays bring out nostalgia in its citizens for “traditional” dishes as well as activities that scapegoat animals. For any thinking, feeling human being, it becomes evident that the observance of holidays by causing horrific misery to those who can’t defend themselves is shameful.

Especially egregious is the cruel use of animals during “religious” holidays. Rather than honoring the Creator, such abominations surely bring much joy to Satan and his demons! One such activity is the act of pushing a live goat off the top of a tower. As I understand it, this happens (happened?) in Catholic Spain around Easter time. And what about the people who, as a religious observance, swing a live chicken around their heads before slaughter, or mass slaughter animals?

Now, understand that I am not picking on any particular group; I think I’ve made that clear.

It is interesting that some foods served in celebrations are truly disgusting animal by-products. I was thinking about this a few days ago when I saw a program about the serving of haggis during the celebration of Robert Burns Day. It seems to me that sheep’s stomach, heart, liver, and kidney fat were probably at one time the refuse given to the poor. Another such concoction is paunce, a Cajun dish of stuffed pork stomach. I could go on and on with various ethnic dishes: blood pudding, kidney pie, intestines, brains, eyeballs, etc.

Then I thought, why do people keep returning to their vomit? (Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22) We should be changing for the better. It is not disrespectful to try to live by a higher standard than that of our forebears. As I mention in another Blog, we humans outgrew cannibalism. Isn’t it time to start living according to God’s original intent? (Genesis 1:29-31) After all, God’s heavenly banquet will be vegan because there is no death in Heaven. (Revelation 21:3-5)

Go on to: Phantom of the Opera - 10 Feb 2006
Return to: Culture and Tradition - 8 Feb 2006
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