On Tue, 4 May 1999, Richard Keene wrote:

> There is an extreme difference here in our opinions of what
> "Christianity"
> is, but that would be waaaaaay off topic.  Feel free to email me
> directly
> if you want me to elaborate.

I don't think it's so far off topic, and in fact the subject has
come up before.  The paleodiet idea is compatible with some,
though not all, Christian viewpoints.

> There are two ways to look at
> Paleo Nutrition that are very different.  One is the
>
> "Man evolved from
> apes, and from the theory of evolution we deduce the diet.  Then
> experiment and adapt to make it work in the real modern world."
>
> Another approach ( I've never seen it mentioned on this list ) is
>
> "God created man with the ability to survive on planet Earth
> and modern technology has messed diet up, and through
> experimentation and intelligence we can try to arrive at
> a good healthy diet."

On the assumption that humans are *designed* beings, then it
makes sense to ask whether or not we are in violation of our
design specs.  This has certain theological implications, since
if it is correct that we are designed for a paleolithic diet then
it follows that we are *not* intended to be agriculturalists.

Interestingly, Daniel Quinn (in Ishmael, etc.) interprets the
book of Genesis as an account of the Fall of Man from the
viewpoint of the "Leavers" or pre-agriculturalists.  That is, the
Garden of Eden symbolizes the pre-agricultural mode of existence,
the harmonious coexistence of species.  The "fruit of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil" symbolizes the knowledge arrogated by
agriculturalists: who lives and who dies.  Those creatures that
are friendly to the human food supply live and those who threaten
it must die.  Farmers must ruthlessly enforce this rule on their
land.  And of course, the hard labor of agriculture is not
disguised in Genesis.  The slaying of Abel by Cain represents the
final "victory" of agriculture over the transitional pastoralist
way of life, but of course this is a "victory" of sin.  Cain is a
murderer.

Todd Moody
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