At 10:35 AM 7/13/99 -0600, you wrote:
>I disagree, The Jewish dietary laws
>had everything to do with health.  Pig
>meet can have all kinds of nastier in it.
>Now we cook it well so that is not a problem.
>The Friday fish also promotes good health.

Oh, please ....

Though my contribution will only prolong this thread, I can't stand it
anymore.  The above paragraph is totally wrong.  The dietary restrictions
in Leviticushad nothing to do with health.  Go to the library, find a work
called _The Abominations of Leviticus_ and read it.

>There was also a spiritual side....
>Pigs were eaten at some of the heathen feasts
>and religious festivals.  By prohibiting Pig
>meat it kept the Israelites separate from the
>other religions.

This is far closer to the truth.  Throw in some taboos about entities that
transgress definitional boundaries (fish that don't swim, etc.) and you
have it.