Do you consider yourself a religious person
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Wilfrid Laurier University *
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333
Subject
Religion
Date
Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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4
Uploaded by kennyswag17
Do you consider yourself a religious person? With what religious group do you identify? I belong to a Muslim community. While I have full faith and respect to my religion, but I don’t practice it as an extreme religious person. For how many years have you belonged to this religion? 3. What comes to mind when hear the phrase “religion and food”?
What food are mainly prohibited by our religion to eat.
4. Does your religion guide what you eat? (If so, how?)
5. Do you sometimes fast? If so, when? What do you mean by “fasting” (
e.g., No food and drink from sunrise to sunset? No food after noon? No meat?
)? Can you give me some examples? 6. Do certain foods have qualities that make them special, sacred or holy to you? All I remember about that is Dates, which we eat all the time but mostly during month of Ramadan, which is believed to have many nutrient benefits. 7. Do you have dietary restrictions based on your religion? Are there certain foods that you don’t
eat at all, or that you avoid at certain times, for religious reasons? 8. Does it matter to you, on religious grounds, who prepares your food and how it is prepared? Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) 9. Are there foods that you prepare or eat for special religious occasions? Could you give some examples? 10. Are you, or your religious group, involved in acts of charity that involve food? What are some examples? To what extent does religion play a role in these acts of charity?
. 11. Do you pray before or after a meal? If so, what do you typically say, and how important is that prayer for you? (
Could you give me an example of a prayer?
) 12. Is food served at your place of worship (
for students: or at religious student gatherings
)? If so, for what occasions? Does that food have special significance for you when it is part of a worship context? 13. Think back to your childhood. What religious event comes to mind that you remember having special food? 14. What do you think I should learn about the role that food plays in your religious life? 15. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me before this interview concludes? No, and I hope, my answers are effective for your study. Comparison of interviews
Field Report Religious affiliations
: The participants , Arianna and Fatima both consider themselves to be religious in the interview , Fatima identifies as Muslim , while Arianna had identified herself to be Jewish , these identities shape their practices in relation to food customs Length of Religious Affiliation:
Fatima states that she has been a practicing Muslim for 15 years , suggesting a
relatively new immersion onto Muslim practices . on the contrast, Arianna discusses being a part of the Jewish community since she was born , she stated having a lifelong exposure to Jewish customs and teachings.
Views on Religion and Food:
Both of the Arianna and Fatima highlighted the significant role that food within their religious traditions. Fatima had highlighted the connection between religion and food through a having to adhere to dietary guidelines during Ramadan, Arianna during the interview continued to highlight the importance of food in Jewish rituals, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during family gatherings and
holiday celebrations.
Family Gatherings:
when conducting the interview a key trend was family gatherings holding AN immense importance within both religious communities. Fatima went on to describe the significance of family gatherings during religious occasions like Eid, she had refleced on the communal aspect of Islamic practices. Similarly, Arianna shared some details of specific Jewish family gatherings for milestones like bar/bat mitzvahs, highlighting their cultural and social significance within Jewish communities.
Dietary Restrictions:
When conducting the interview , Both interviewees discussed dietary restrictions which were dictated by their religious beliefs. Fatima had recalled having to adhere to halal dietary laws, which include restrictions on certain types of meat and slaughtering methods. While , Arianna had stated that she followed kosher dietary laws, this involve restrictions on pork and shellfish, as well as provides guidelines for
food preparation in accordance to Jewish customs.
Fasting Practices:
Fasting serves as key spiritual practice within both religious traditions. Fatima describes fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn until sunset,. While, Arianna mentions fasting on Yom Kippur for approximately 25 hours.
Special Religious Foods:
Both Arianna and Fatima spoke about the significance of specific foods in their religious rituals . Fatima had spoken about eating dates during Ramadan, highlighting their nutritional benefits as well as the association with the holy month. Meanwhile, Arianna discusses the importance of hollow bread (challah) and matzah in Jewish rituals, she had highlighted their symbolic significance in religious ceremonies and holiday observances.
Acts of Charity:
Charitable activities play a vital role within both religious communities that were the subject of the interview. Fatima mentions her involvement in charitable activities during Ramadan, these included providing meals for those in need, reflecting the emphasis on compassion and generosity in Islam. Similarly, Arianna describes taking part in charity efforts like volunteering at soup kitchens and organizing food drives.
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Prayer Before or After Meals:
Both Arianna and Fatima had discussed the tradition of prayer before and after meals within their religion Fatima indicates the practice of praying before and after meals, integrating religious observances into daily routines. Arianna points out the tradition of saying blessings before and after meals, expressing gratitude and mindfulness in Jewish prayer rituals.
Food in Worship Context:
A key discovery this interview had led me to was the fact that , Food plays a significant role in worship and celebration within both religious traditions. Fatima mentions the serving of food during special occasions at mosques, reflecting a communal aspect of worship within Islamic communities. While Arianna discusses the presence of food at synagogue events and celebrations, seeking to emphasize its role in fostering community and connection during religious gatherings.
What I learned about food and religion
: upon analyzing the interviews , I had learned about the importance and significance of dietary laws in forming ones religious identities. I had also learned about the role food plays in creating communal bonds within religious communities. I had gained key insights into the symbolic meanings that were attributed to certain meals as well as culinary practices During the interviews I believe I had practiced effective communication and had made them feel comfortable enough to be able to have meaningful conversations and confidently share their perspectives in the process. I was able to do this by asking multifaceted -open ended questions rather than ones that could be answered in a true or false or yes or no format , allowing for free flowing dialogue What I Would Change the Next Time I Interview Someone:
Reflecting on the interviews, there are several aspects of my approach that I would consider modifying or improving for future interviews. Firstly, I would strive to incorporate more diverse perspectives and experiences by interviewing individuals from a broader range of religious backgrounds and cultural contexts. This would provide a more comprehensive understanding of how different religious traditions intersect with food practices.
Firstly , in the future I would strive to do more research on the topic of my interview , in my first interview I had stated that I had not been fully educated on Jewish culture , I recognize that it is important to be educated on the subject matter in which I wish to discuss , this would allow for a more free flowing conversation as I would be able to offer more insights and provide more questions for the interviewee Lastly, I would be mindful of any biases or assumptions that may influence my questions or interactions with the interviewees, seeking to maintain a balanced and respectful approach throughout the interview process. My instructor had stated that o had given out too much information that may have affected the quality of my subjects answers in the first interview, in the following interviews I will seek to avoid this in order to attempt to keep the interviews objective, in order to allow for a more authentic representation of the different religious perspective’s