[ Using christianity as an example, you get
[ different stories about what to eat depending on which testament you read.

Coming from the raw vegan lifestyle, I was very nearly "conned" into
adopting dietary requirements for a religion which allows raw dairy
to supplement its interpretation of fruitarianism. As it turns out, I
was never attracted to the essence of the faith and so I was able to
continue MY dietary evolution.

But what would have happened if my spiritual growth hinged on the
aforementioned faith as its vehicle? Would I have disregarded my
body's cry for more fats and proteins in order to abide by the
minister's "request" of the congregation to stick with largely raw
plant sources? Or wracked with guilt, would I have found myself
secretly stuffing my face with toro sashimi while all eyes were
averted? Had I been caught, surely my partner would have left me and
informed the minister. And I would have left the town or commune, a
meat-eating outsider, looking in my rear view mirror to see the
minister, resplendent in all white, with his arms around two women.
Ah, for such politics is the world a more fascinating nest!

But I do wonder if there are followers of religions with drastic
dietary tenets who are caught between the fear of being unique and
the fear of group disapproval; who are paralyzed from making choices;
who damage their long term physical health because of those fears.

[ If you're going to follow it, new testament quotes Jesus
[ as saying that it doesn't matter what goes into your body it's what goes into
[ your soul that matters. So does the food affect us or not?  Not for spiritual
[ purposes I suppose.

Contrary to the assumption in the raw vegan community that my food
choices would draw me closer to God, I haven't experienced nor
observed in others this clear correlation between spirituality and
diet. I believe a person can have an intimate relationship with God
on SAD or Paleo or fruitarianism. Of course his physical health will
vary with his food choices. I've decided to nurture both aspects and
it seems exploring Paleo is contributing to an increase in my health
and fitness.

We finally have a nice weekend. Time to roll out the barbecue.