Slaughter of Animals?

[pyxiwulf]

I'm full of questions today!

My friend who is a non-specific Christian and is studying many Christian religions and trying to live by the rules in the Bible asked me today about if we eat meat that is strangled. I told her we have no specific rules about slaughter, but that I personally felt strangulation would not be proper stewardship over God's creations.

She asked why we do not follow it as outlined in Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

My response was that #1, as an American LDS it's not something necessary to discuss as animals are slaughtered by knife here, and #2 we don't believe the Bible as published is infallible. But not to take my word for it. So anyway, all this to ask, is there doctrine on this?

[talisyn]

Strangling doesn't seem to be a very efficient way to kill a massive amount of pork, poultry, and beef. I don't know if any of the prophets have said anything about it. Interesting, question, I'll have to research it

[NeuroTypical]

We believe the ancient Jews had certain health codes to follow, and the rules don't really apply to us any more (and seem a bit weird).

We believe that Christ gave his disciples certain health codes to follow, and the rules don't really apply to us any more (and seem a bit weird).

We believe that our modern Prophet has revealed a certain health code for us to follow today, (and some of it might seem a bit weird).

LM

p.s. - And if you don't think "Some of us feel guilty for drinking Coke because our Word of Wisdom forbids hot drinks" is weird, well, I can't help you. :)

[lydlou]

last i heard(i got this from my cusin whos dad works in the packing house) most meat plants hit their cows over the head with a mallet or some other such thing. so no strangling there.

[hordak]

last i heard(i got this from my cusin whos dad works in the packing house) most meat plants hit their cows over the head with a mallet or some other such thing. so no strangling there.

That old school. The have a air powered piston gun now.

[pyxiwulf]

last i heard(i got this from my cusin whos dad works in the packing house) most meat plants hit their cows over the head with a mallet or some other such thing. so no strangling there.

Yeah my research shows that most plants render the animal unconcious with a mallet, pellet gun, or stun gun and then slaughter by knife. Kosher and Halal meat is slaughtered conscious. So there's not a lot of strangling going on in American meat :)

[Wingnut]

We believe the ancient Jews had certain health codes to follow, and the rules don't really apply to us any more (and seem a bit weird).

This was my initial thought. There are specifics in the Law of Moses as currently practice regarding how an animal is killed that make it clean or unclean, but since we don't live the Law of Moses, they don't apply to us.

[pyxiwulf]

This was my initial thought. There are specifics in the Law of Moses as currently practice regarding how an animal is killed that make it clean or unclean, but since we don't live the Law of Moses, they don't apply to us.

But why doesn't it apply if it doesn't, which I am not totally convinced of. We know why the Law of Moses doesn't apply, as explained earlier in Acts 15 before this particular verse. I'm not trying to be ornery (in case I sound like it), I just want to be able to answer questions well.

[Just_A_Guy]

Consider the strangled-meats policy in context. It was quite probably a compromise, borne of friction between Jewish and Gentile converts to the Church.

[pyxiwulf]

Consider the strangled-meats policy in context. It was quite probably a compromise, borne of friction between Jewish and Gentile converts to the Church.

Ahhh, now that is the type of thing that I was looking for! I am certainly no biblical scholar

[Dravin]

3 Nephi 9

3 Nephi 15

Mosiah 13

Galatians 3

Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses

[BenRaines]

I know of the stuff we killed and ate on the farm there was nothing strangled. We did pull the chickens heads off but it was so fast that it was not strangulation but decapitation. All the rest of the animals were either shot and killed or had throats cut.

Ben Raines

[pyxiwulf]

3 Nephi 9

3 Nephi 15

Mosiah 13

Galatians 3

Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses

all great scripture, but none apply the question at hand which is not about the Law of Moses.

[ozzy]

all great scripture, but none apply the question at hand which is not about the Law of Moses.

It actually is about the law of Moses. The end of 3 Nephi 9 is the word of Christ concerning the fulfillment of the law of moses. verses 17-20 specifically.

3 Nephi 15 discusses the purpose and fulfillment of the Law of Moses. As we understand its purpose, we can understand why it no longer applies.

Mosiah 13 discusses why we can't just live by the law of moses anyway

Thats what I gather anyway

[need4peace]

The cow's revenge

[bytebear]

I think we can discuss the methods of the slaughter of animals, and what the Bible says about it, but the simply fact is, there is no law under the restored gospel regarding the methods used to kill animals. The prophets have no specifics on the topic, and any means of death in the current dispensation is acceptable. I would study the concept of dispensational doctrine, and how each era when God has led people (through prophets) at various times in history, He has given them each slightly (and sometimes dramatic) differences in cultural and spiritual practice.

[ozzy]

I think we can discuss the methods of the slaughter of animals, and what the Bible says about it, but the simply fact is, there is no law under the restored gospel regarding the methods used to kill animals. The prophets have no specifics on the topic, and any means of death in the current dispensation is acceptable. I would study the concept of dispensational doctrine, and how each era when God has led people (through prophets) at various times in history, He has given them each slightly (and sometimes dramatic) differences in cultural and spiritual practice.

agreed

[Dravin]

all great scripture, but none apply the question at hand which is not about the Law of Moses.

As Ozzy said, yes it is. The prohibitions mentioned are from the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses is fulfilled. This is why we don't worry about eating blood sausage, or why we don't worry about wearing cloth made from wool and linen, or sowing our vineyards with diverse seeds. Don't get confused over the fact that a discussion about the Law of Moses, and Jewish Members not wanting to let go of the Law of Moses is taking place in the New Testament.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Dravin

[ferretrunner]

We believe the ancient Jews had certain health codes to follow, and the rules don't really apply to us any more (and seem a bit weird).

We believe that Christ gave his disciples certain health codes to follow, and the rules don't really apply to us any more (and seem a bit weird).

We believe that our modern Prophet has revealed a certain health code for us to follow today, (and some of it might seem a bit weird).

LM

p.s. - And if you don't think "Some of us feel guilty for drinking Coke because our Word of Wisdom forbids hot drinks" is weird, well, I can't help you. :)

LM,

Great point. I think it's a bit weird that we abstain from hot drinks but hot chocolate is ok... Hmmm. Well, it does have two food groups- milk and chocolate. :)

Now, getting back to the point of the original thread. I think eating animals killed by strangulation was forbidden in connection with the practices of the pagan cultures of the day. Much of their sacrifices were done by strangulation as well as by knife.

[pyxiwulf]

As Ozzy said, yes it is. The prohibitions mentioned are from the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses is fulfilled. This is why we don't worry about eating blood sausage, or why we don't worry about wearing cloth made from wool and linen, or sowing our vineyards with diverse seeds. Don't get confused over the fact that a discussion about the Law of Moses, and Jewish Members not wanting to let go of the Law of Moses is taking place in the New Testament.

It actually is about the law of Moses. The end of 3 Nephi 9 is the word of Christ concerning the fulfillment of the law of moses. verses 17-20 specifically.

3 Nephi 15 discusses the purpose and fulfillment of the Law of Moses. As we understand its purpose, we can understand why it no longer applies.

Mosiah 13 discusses why we can't just live by the law of moses anyway

Thats what I gather anyway

No it's not about the Law of Moses. My question was based on Acts 15:28-29 which is given just after the Law of Moses is stated as fulfilled. The new guidelines given: 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

There was never any question about the Law of Moses.

[bytebear]

No it's not about the Law of Moses. My question was based on Acts 15:28-29 which is given just after the Law of Moses is stated as fulfilled. The new guidelines given: 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

There was never any question about the Law of Moses.

But, again, this is advice and council given to a church that existed at a different time in the midst of a different culture. We cannot rely on the advice of a church leader given to his flock, when his flock had a different set of issues to deal with that we have today. Today, our leaders tell us to stay away from internet porn, and addictive substances, and about going to college, all things that the NT authors would have no clue about. How often today do we really have to deal with ritualistic animal sacrifice and fornication together? Don't you think it's more important for us to listen to what today's church leaders are saying that trying to decipher the meaning of the church leaders advice 2000 years old.

[pyxiwulf]

I'm not sure how asking when/why doctrine became inapplicable becomes a basis for accusing someone of ignoring current doctrine. I give up, forget I asked.

[ozzy]

No it's not about the Law of Moses. My question was based on Acts 15:28-29 which is given just after the Law of Moses is stated as fulfilled. The new guidelines given: 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

There was never any question about the Law of Moses.

Gotcha. Sorry about the misunderstanding.

To me it almost sounds like they left it open for change. They didn't really command it, they more sort of suggested it. I believe that someone mentioned a compromise between the Jews and Gentiles. This could have a relationship to that.

All of those sound like heathenistic practices. They probably were to refrain from them so that they wouldn't fall into the same trap the Israelites always fell into.

The reasons we don't worry about it today is because such things aren't tied to heathen worship (though we still abstain from fornication and I think blood), and no one strangles animals as a method of killing anymore.

[mnn727]

As part of an EQ lesson, I researched that verse quite a bit and while I was very careful to state that this was my opinion and no one had to believe it, I gave pretty good proof that it meant that the sons of Levi would offer not an animal sacrifice but a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Unfortunatly that was a couple years ago and I doubt I can find my 'proofs'