I just heard over the news that yoga is banned. I found the same news on Malaysiakini. Malaysiakini reported :
“The fatwa (edict) is meant solely for the Muslims to follow. Non-Muslims need not question or debate this because they are free to do whatever they wish. It is the Muslims who have to adhere to this rule,” he added.
Shukor said once the edict was gazetted, it would be up to the state governments to plan implementation and enforcement laws.
“Malaysia is not the only country which has declared yoga as haram in Islam. Singapore and Egypt have come out with the same edict as well.”
Well, in my opinion, if we are non-Muslims, we should just reserve our comments. I have also mentioned in my previous post yoga and islam that even Christians are cautioned on the kind of yoga they practise. I asked a Catholic priest the other day if yoga is acceptable and he said, “Yes, provided it is a Christian yoga where no chanting like ‘ohm’ is involved.”
According to the Star, council chairperson Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said although the physical aspect of yoga, excluding worshiping and chanting, might not be wrong in Islam, the exercise should be avoided by Muslims as “doing one thing could lead to another”.
“We discourage Muslims from practising yoga as a form of exercise because it will ultimately lead to religious worshiping and chanting which is against Islam.
(more news on Malaysiakini)
Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan hari ini mengharamkan umat Islam mengamalkan yoga secara sistematik, yang melibatkan unsur-unsur fizikal dan spiritual kerana ia bertentangan dengan syariat Islam.
Pengerusinya Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin bagaimanapun berkata, amalan fizikal iaitu senaman dalam yoga, tanpa adanya unsur-unsur mentera dan pemujaan pada zahirnya tidak menjadi kesalahan.
Namun, menurut laporan Bernama, beliau berkata, ia tidak digalakkan kerana dikhuatiri boleh menghakis akidah seseorang Muslim memandangkan ia merupakan salah satu komponen daripada keseluruhan amalan yang diharamkan itu.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I really wish people of other religions will practice their own religion and leave the Hindu religion alone. Yoga has and is never meant for people other than Hindus. Hindus are not interested in teaching other people about Hindusim or Hindu related practices and are not interested in converting other people into Hindus. Stop commenting on our religion. Leave Hindus and Hinduism alone. You are not welcome to learn anything from us.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Yes, I agree with Raja, please leave Hinduism alone, no one has compel those from other faiths to practice Yoga, some wanted to keep pace with the development happening in Western countries where Yoga is popular among these westerners.Those people are interested to learn the ancient art of Yoga, In Indonesia, Yoga is very popular even in urban areas. Look around in Malaysia, Yoga centers are operated by mainly professionals, they realise the benefit, no one is compeling or preaching religion to anyone. Please ponder the origination of Keris and Silat, from which culture, Please leave the Hindus alone.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Good one, Raja! I agree and please leave hindusium alone to the Hindus’ and stop commenting and giving opinions on how we practice our religion. Just look into yours and improve in your own religion and try not to adapt anything form Hinduism.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I concur with Raja, yet have to point out that actually no one cares if it is banned or not. Yoga has benefited many and will keep on benefiting many more. Yoga is simply a form of worship and it works!
Just as the Creator is universal, so is Yoga. It transcends the race, religion and even the gender barrier, benefiting all. Banning it is like removing piss from the pool, simply futile.
Now show me a form of worship, in any religion for that matter, that is truly universal, truly beneficial and accepted by all(almost!)?
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
LOL, I am afraid you are telling the wrong person.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
when human scared they will see all as threat,now yoga next ballet soon hair colouring.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
once the malays find out every bit of their culture they will realise that they actually have no culture.
once everything is banned there will be no reason to call anyone malay………malays will dissapear from the surface of the earth……so much for what Hang Tuah supposedly said ” tiada melayu hilang di dunia ”
Hang Tuah himself was a Chinese …………..
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Chill lah, braders….Why get offended if you think yoga is the best? Not like the ruling affects the rest of us. I am merely sharing the news.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I agree with you Raja, leave Hinduis alone. Others might feel insecure that there is a lot of truth in Hinduism and afraid that their people might deviate. There is no need for Hinduism to use Yoga for make others convert. Let Hindus do what they know best. This is probably the only religion which says if u r born as a muslim be a good muslim ,if u r bone a christien be a good Christien etc…
Now they say there is Christien Yoga..may be Islamic yoga soon after this.
Look at all the cultural practises of Malaysian muslim = malays, I can bet (as pointed by malaymuda)they will be left with so so called culture. All the origins from….? Look at all the so call istiadat pertabaln raja in malaysia…..I think one can see it all
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Well Lilian, you posted this article on your “faith” site and claim we are flaming you? What bullshit! Fortunately, this particular page has links to your own views on yoga, doesn’t it?
So you are “merely sharing the news”? I think not. And please don’t keep lying.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Yoga Meditation is Fundamental Yet Leads Towards Most Advance Human Achievement
INDIA IS CRADLE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR MAN KIND
Written with un-conditional compassionate and love for man kinds especially looking at what happen for Malaysian Muslim friends.
I think now JAKIM need to have open meeting with Yoga expertise, Medical Experts and openly declare that Yoga is Pure Sciences. Conditional the training should be without mantras, deity photos and rituals. Then all will find save, not shame and without inferiority practicing yoga.
THE TRUTH IS ONLY ONE MAN PRESENT DIFFERENTLY
SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A VERY LOVELY STATEMENT NEXT JAKIM WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO IMPOSE FATWA BAN ON THE FOLLOWING BECAUSE IT HAS INVENTED FROM INDIAN YOGIS/SIDDHAR/SAGES:
1. All Muslim should not use number ‘0′ this is originated philosophy of Suniyam (Nothingness). There is indirect approach to accept the truth of universal creation. It may not suitable for Muslim.
2. Muslim shouldn’t practice NLP
3. Muslim shouldn’t use ‘pi’ formula.
4. Muslim shouldn’t use ‘Chess Game’.
5. Muslim shouldn’t use Arithmetic and Geometric maths formulas.
6. Muslim shouldn’t use medical knowledge and cannot be doctor. Because the entire human’s endocrine gland system well known and documented perfectly by Indian philosophy in various Vedas, which yet not discover into final detail by modern scientist.
7. Muslim shouldn’t use curry to cook.
8. Muslim shouldn’t cook/eat toosai, because it shapes like starting of ‘AUM’
9. Muslim shouldn’t R&D anything because everything link to ATOM=ANU which first founded and introduce by Indian Veda.
10. Everything copied/duplicated required modification and reducing it to hide the original. Its happen to all including to languages which copied from Tamil which only language have oldest and un-destroyed Literature/Dictionary in the world.
11. Muslim shouldn’t use / do anything.
I highly suggest and urge JAKIM will FATWA:
1. Fatwa ban on all sports which remove skurfs (TUDUNG)
2. Fatwa ban on women/girls who take part sports which only wearing swim suite & underwear (gymnastic/quash/badminton/volley ball/etc).
3. Fatwa ban on women who wear shorts like Badminton.
4. Fatwa ban facebook for Muslim who expose photos to public.
5. Fatwa ban for medical student who have expose and explorer both sex human body.
6. Fatwa ban for all Malaysian MOVIE which expose BODY from release for market especially Malay, Tamil & Hindi.
7. Fatwa ban for all TV show which singing, dance, games which mere exposing body, action, talks which beyond ethic.
8. Fatwa ban for all liquor company like Carlsberg, Guinness, etc. Ask them stop operation immediately.
9. Fatwa ban for all cigarette firms.
10. Fatwa ban for all massage/spa by rejecting all LICENCE.
11. Fatwa on Muslim using the numeral which invented by Indian. ‘0′ is Suniyam concept of Indian nothingness philosophy which will leads towards Hinduism principle.
12. Fatwa from Muslim girls going out for shift works.
13. Fatwa from Muslim girls to go out without a family man together.
WHAT SUPPOSE TO BE DONE FOR MUSLIM IS IGNORE BY JAKIM AND ALL GOOD THINGS ARE BLOCK WHAT A PETTY SITUATION FOR MUSLIM’S IN MALAYSIA. JAKIM or its immature officer IS NOT CAPABLE OF PROVIDE POSITIVE RESULT FOR MAN KIND. Let’s people express it.
You know what will happen the land of lovely Malaysia will empty desert where not only Indian & Chinese will migrate but first of all Mature Muslim Malays will migrate earlier.
DETAILS:
All reference here by Sanskrit (Euro-Indo) language document if refer by Tamil Document as original Indian language and only language qualify 11/11 criteria for pure language then knowledge have trace back history of Kumari Kandam which dated back 15,000 years ago. World’s entire knowledge unfold from Indian Yogis breathe while in meditating. Proof being discover by latest researchers inside Indian Ocean.
Vedic Philosophy
The Vedas are the oldest written text on our planet today.
They date back to the beginning of Indian civilization and
are the earliest literary records of the human mind.
They have been passed through oral tradition for over
15,000 years, and first appeared
in written form between 2500 – 5,000 years ago.
Veda means “Knowledge” in Sanskrit which derived from Tamil Vetham.
The entire invention before and yet to come is origin from the source of Greatest Indian Siddhar, Yogi, Munivar’s writing which arise from the result of practicing the Yoga & Meditation.
A few to list:
India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.
Aryabhatta was the first to explain spherical shape, size ,diameter, rotation and correct speed of Earth in 499 AD.
The World’s first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. Students from all over the World studied more than 60 subjects.
The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Sanskrit is considered the mother of all higher languages but it has trace back to Tamil as oldest language. Sanskrit is the most precise, and therefore suitable language for computer software – a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Ayurveda is the only medicine academic where all other old as well modern health caring technique grown from. Ayurveda is purely Indian and if you want to tell the truth in JAKIM’s context it’s HINDUSIM base.
Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in civilization.
Christopher Columbus was attracted India’s wealth and was looking for route to India when he discovered the American continent by mistake.
The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The word ‘Navigation’ is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
In Siddhanta Siromani (Bhuvanakosam 6) Bhaskaracharya II described about gravity of earth about 400 years before Sir Isaac Newton. He also had some clear notions on differential calculus, and the Theory of Continued Fraction.
Madhavacharya discovered Taylor series of Sine and Cosine function about 250 years before Taylor.
Madhavacharya discovered Newton Power series.
Madhavacharya discovered Gregory Leibnitz series forthe Inverse Tangent about 280 years before Gregory.
Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days
Infinity was well known for ancient Indians. Bhaskaracharya II in Beejaganitha(stanza-20) has given clear explanation with examples for infinity
Theory of Continued Fraction was discovered by Bhaskaracharya II.
Indians discovered Arithmetic and Geometric progression. Arithmetic progression is explained in Yajurveda.
Govindaswamin discovered Newton Gauss Interpolation formula about 1800 years before Newton.
Vateswaracharya discovered Newton Gauss Backward Interpolation formula about 1000 years before Newton.
Parameswaracharya discovered Lhuiler’s formula about 400 years before Lhuiler.
Nilakanta discovered Newton’s Infinite Geometric Progression convergent series.
Positive and Negative numbers and their calculations were explained first by Brahmagupta in his book Brahmasputa Siddhanta.
Aryabhatta also propounded the Heliocentric theory of gravitation, thus predating Copernicus by almost one thousand years.
The value of “pi” was first calculated by Boudhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians. This was ‘validated’ by British scholars in 1999.
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were propounded by Sridharacharya in the 11th century.
The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 1053 with specific names as early as 5000 BC during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10 power of 12.
Maharshi Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like caesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery.
Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipments were used.
Detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, aetiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in the Sindhu Valley Civilization.
Most worlds curry base cooking originated from India.
Rig Vedas (1.50), a hymn addressed to the Sun, refers quite clearly that the Sun traverses 2,202 yojanas in half a nimesha. This is in fact refers to the speed of light.
The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ‘80-tonne’ piece of granite.
The world famous and priceless “Kohinoor” diamond, which is set in the Crown of the British monarch (Queen Victoria, and Elizabeth II), was acquired from India.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world.
Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was reportedly invented in India.
The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called ‘Mokshapat.’ The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices.
THE FOLLOWING KNOWLEDGE ALREADY AVAILABLE 10,000 THOUSANDS YEARS AGO BY INDIAN BUT MOST OF IT NOT EVEN DISCOVER TILL 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY BY MODERN SCIENTIST.
India’s ancient achievements in Medical Science
Knowledge
Artificial Limb
Number of Chromosomes (23)
Combination of Male and Female
Analysis of Ears
Beginning of the Foetal
Parthenogenesis
Test Tube Babies ( from the ovum only)
Test Tube Babies ( from the sperm only)
Elongation of Life in confirmed Space Travel
Cell Division (in 3 layers)
Embryology
Micro-organisms
A material producing a disease can prevent or cure the disease in minute quantity
Developing Embyro in Vitro
Life in trees and plants
16 Functions of the Brain Eitereya
Definition of Sleep Prashna-Upanishad
Chromosomes
India’s ancient achievements in Physical Science
Knowledge
Velocity of Light
Trans-Saturnean Planets
Space Travel to another solar system
Gravitational Force (Prashnopanishad)
Ultraviolet Band
Infra-Red Band
Tachyons faster than light
Nuclear Energy
Black Holes
Embryology
Monsoon at Summer Solstice
Entry in South America by Aeroplanes
Phosphorescent Trident at the Bay of Pisco, Peru, S.America
Aeroplanes
Robot
Atom (Divisible) & (Indivisible)
The 4 kinetic ideas behind Hindu Vedic Spirituality (Modern world call NLP)
Karma
Maya
Nirvana
Yoga
Majority Religious Fail because:
ACCEPTING THE TRUTH IS PEACE, MANIPULATING THE FACT IS DISASTERS FOR MAN KIND ALL RELIGION IS ENFORCING COMPASIONATE & UN-CONDITIONAL LOVE BUT IT DOESN’T CUTIVATE OR FEEL BY FOLLOWER BECAUSE SHIELD BY EGO, SHAME, INFERIORITY AND LEADS TOWARDS IN-COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE WHICH BORROWED FROM INDIAN. PLEASE OPEN THE MIND, HEART SINCERELY AND THE CREATOR (what ever you call) WILL FURNISH PEACE LIVE)
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
How come no fatwa to say no money politics, no bribery, no ISA, no letting out a suspect (murder suspect) without trial etc etc which is so lead/ so rampant amongst Muslims…mmmm…may be the masters need to give the religious scholars grren light!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Why is everyone commenting like they ‘represent’ the religion? You all are followers of a faith. Do not comment/speak like you represent the faith. Shame on you people!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
What is going on here?
Yogo like Wushu has no ownership and has no connection to any religion, wjy suddenly people claiming ownership over it?
And all these comments aren’t even related to the posting!
Hai! So many defenders when Hinduism isn’t even mentioned.
Read the posting lah, don’t simply tembak
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
Mr. Jeremy – Can you stop using that name, tiu. Later, I get indexed by Google for his name, die wei.
sans – I wonder how many of them are yoga centres gurus?
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 am
sans, you really bodoh one ah? Read the actual fatwa lah, stupid.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 am
Pooran – Ok, Ok, I save you your time. So, you represent the Hindus and represents those people who practise yoga, right? Ok, thank you very much. Go enjoy your Sunday. May God bless you.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:52 am
No, I don’t, you fool!
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 am
What, you thought I’d be easy on ya? F*ck you!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:06 am
Ingat kalau perempuan boleh cakap suka hati ka? Sekarang baru tau kan. nak censor kita punya comment pulak. Saya pun Penang jugak. Don’t f*ck around with our beliefs ok?
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 am
And I got ALL NIGHT! I maintain servers! Too bad for you!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 am
What? You thought we had static IP? Hahahahaha!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 am
As I said, censor ALL you want! A 3 inch chink dick would severely offend Ron Jeremy, for sure! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
Still can’t block me can’t you? Hahahahahaha!
As I said, censor ALL you want! A 3 inch chink dick would severely offend Ron Jeremy, for sure! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Chink nak belagak jadi Ron Jeremy konon! Sampai minggu depan la aku gelak! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 am
Still can’t block me can’t you? Hahahahahaha!
As I said, censor ALL you want! A 3 inch chink dick would severely offend Ron Jeremy, for sure! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Chink nak belagak jadi Ron Jeremy konon! Sampai minggu depan la aku gelak! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 am
Duplicate comment detection! hahahahahaha!
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 am
Still can’t block me can’t you? Hahahahahaha!
As I said, censor ALL you want! A 3 inch chink dick would severely offend Ron Jeremy, for sure! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Chink nak belagak jadi Ron Jeremy konon! Sampai minggu depan la aku gelak! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Pooran, read your own comments.
What in Hinduism are you meant to represent?
Love all, serve All?
And are you commenting on the Fatwa or the posting here?
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Go take a Hike >;;;pOOraN;;;= and stop being so sensitive man.
you are acting worst than a baby. Be matured and think like a man..
Gosh. ! Grow up!
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
last i came there weren’t many flame wars lol.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Quoted by : Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin
“It combines physical movements, religious elements, chanting and worshipping for the purpose of achieving inner peace and ultimately to be one with God,”
and that is wrong? for heavens sake it is exercise. Dr Abdul which diploma mill did you get your title?
Muslims are expected to enjoy the risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases. Pray away your ailments. Prayer is an exercise? Is Islam is under threat? Sounds like insecurity among Malay Muslims.
It is not worship. It’s not religious at all. Yoga is universal. All
religions can practice yoga. You can practice yoga and still be a good Christian or a good Muslim.
As your PAS research chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said: the council should not make a blanket ban but “lay down what is or is not permissible about yoga.”
“This allows a Muslim to be critical of their own faith and empower
them to make judgments based on convictions.”
So stop this siege mentality.
By the way stop your Muslim wedding, looks soooo Hindu.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
We have to just relax here, Lilian was just posting what had been reported in Malaysiakini, This is not the first time such sensitive issues had emerged in Malaysia, event the word “Allah” which were used by the Christians during the ancient time in the Middle Eastis now being questioned.The Fatwa Council should only ban Muslim in Malaysia from practising Yoga and not elaborate on how the exercise techniques linking to other religion that it is not their own, they should confine any statement to their own religion.Anyway its sad to note that many people out there is ignorant about religion, During one mass I attended, an acquaintes told me that Roman Catholics actually was a believe that emerged after protestants, When I explained about the meaning they of “protest” ant, the guy could not accept it and was very argumentative.I read indepth about Torah, Buddhism, Sikhism and Bahai Faith and guess that through my “soul searching” every religion have it own advantages, so we cannot comment about other faith and those who have read the four Vedas would understand that Hinduism is an ancient religion and root for some of the major religions in the World.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:26 am
LoLz. Don’t fight lar…. The muslim will do anything to protect their religion from corruption. Malaysia is not the best example of islamic country but we still have Islam as main religion. We respect yours and we’ll hope you do the same. Yes I’m aware some muslim leader and several important muslim may say something that hurt others feeling but they do not represent true idea of Islam. Islam is complicated yet simple.
As for Yoga, we can’t take chances. Like Mr. “peace” says, we should let out fatwa about banning the media because promoting sex & violence but that will not be appropriate as Malaysia is multi-cultural country. But banning curry and tossai? Please lar macha, those are my favorite, dun ban them(T.T) Research and discussion have been done before giving out fatwa. The only problem is explaining to the other religion the reason of action. Seem to me the more the gov try to explain the more you all try to argue. We know, they know what is best for the muslim.
The risk of doing Yoga? I don’t think we’ll get any health problem with it and in fact any exercise, if properly done, is life enhancing. The problem is just we scared that we get a bit diverted from ‘our’ true path. It’s hard to explain but basically it’s just about protecting the faith of the believer.
And 4 ur info, banning yoga does not mean we hate hindus. I’m an engineering student so I know both science and religion. Human learn cause they want to know. The ancient researchers do not make discovery just to keep it for themselve but for other. So, don’t ever raise issue about knowledge just because of your emotion.
“Knowledge is power. Human can rule the world because of power. Think about it”
November 25th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Eh yugimodo – You better get your facts right before you comment, ok? Read my post and see if you have commented correctly or not? I said this :
“Well, in my opinion, if we are non-Muslims, we should just reserve our comments. I have also mentioned in my previous post yoga and islam that even Christians are cautioned on the kind of yoga they practise.”
and in my previous related post, I said even Catholics were cautioned from yoga and the Vatican has a document on that and other new age things. And David C agreed with my points as well because we found peace in God.
You don’t go campur aduk with the gang of people who tembak buta-buta lah. In the first place, I do not understand why Hindus were offended because it has nothing to do with Hindus, only Muslims were affected by the fatwa.
Read properly lah, don’t tembak buta buta like the rest.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
lolz. It is not intended to you actually. It is for someone else. I respect your opinion. Maybe it’s because of my english is bad enough until I can’t target the right person (“,)
November 25th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I really don’t see what’s the big deal of this nor how should we (regardless of religion) be offended by it. If the Muslims thinks it against their religion then so be it. It’s not like everyone is ban from practicing yoga. We just need to be tolerant of others like how we are tolerant of food for different religions.