ABSTRACT
The Education Reform Act and majority of Agreed Syllabuses for religious education reinforce the need for a broad-based understanding of religions and religious practices. This chapter discusses Buddhism and their diet, Christianity and their diet, Hinduism and their diet, Islam and their diet, Judaism and their diet, and Sikhs and their diet. There is no religious significance to the layout of a typical Buddhist kitchen either in the temple or in the home. In all religions food is inextricably bound up with festivals, and this is true within Christianity, especially during Lent and Christmas. There are associated foods linked to some Hindu festivals, though the variations locally are enormous. Fundamental to the Muslim attitude to food is the belief that it comes directly from God. Food and diet for the Jew reflect well-established laws which specify which foods are permissible and which are not allowed. Whilst many Sikhs are strictly vegetarian, some, particularly in the West are not.
