Dr Nicholas Thompson’s lecture was particularly interesting to me as it focused on the religious significance of food and how it defines a group’s identity. Before, I had never really thought about the symbolic and spiritual nature of sharing food. I realized its symbolic significance in the sense that the sharing of food determines who belongs to your community. It also represents the division between your group and another. The rejection of those who aren’t a part of your community has existed throughout history, and it has been represented by the relationship between food and group identity.
Dr Nicholas Thompson explored the concept of “us” and “them” in the context of food within religious communities. Throughout history, who you shared food with indicated who was considered a part of “us.” It also highlighted the distinction between “us” and “them.”
The sharing of food had much stronger implications in biblical times. Food was scarce and difficult to produce. To share with others meant to share a part of your life-force, meaning that food was not just a physical matter; it was spiritual.
“Bread for myself is a material question, but the question of bread for my neighbours is a spiritual and religious one.” – Nikolai Berdyaev
Dr Nicholas Thompson showed us a painting to illustrate this point; Altar of the Eucharist, which I found very intriguing. The painting depicted the burning of a heretic and the Eucharist ceremony. The contrast of these two images illustrates the relationship between religion, food, and group identity. It displayed that there was a very clear and fierce distinction of who belonged to the community. Depicting those who share with “us” (the sharing of bread) and those who will perish. This is further explored as the Bible explains that “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.” in reference to the sharing of food with pagans. Reinforcing the spiritual importance of “us” as a community and to not blur the line that divides these two communities.
This made me think, is the rejection of those who aren’t a part of your community human nature? Is it considered a natural rule that we take care of those who are close to us first? In history, it was considered almost unheard of to share food or resources with those outside of your community in times of scarcity. I’d like to believe that it’s something that we’ve moved past in today’s society as we become more interconnected. But perhaps it has just evolved into something different. Has the concept of “us” and “them” still prevailed? I think so, but the distinction between “us” and “them” isn’t as closely guarded as it was in biblical times. I believe that there is still a divide, but instead of different religious beliefs, it may be our ethical beliefs, political beliefs, or our wealth that causes a divide. The sharing of food represents that divide in our culture. Which is why many go hungry despite the abundance of food in our society.
References:
1 Corinthians 10: 14-30 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10&version=NRSV
