On 01 Jan 2005 13:45:11 GMT, (Iris Cohen) wrote:

Obviously observation had taught them valuable lessons which were inculcated
in future generations via the mechanism of religion. (I imagine something
similar dictated many of the Jewish dietary laws). BRBR

Actually, not many of the kosher laws are known to stem from health
observations. Ancient people did not have the statistical mechanisms available
today. According to one theory, pigs are not kosher because they were
worshipped by the Egyptians.

Also (later, but important) the Greeks.

Another theory is that raising pigs forces compromises in your
lifestyle. Pigs cannot be driven the way cattle, sheep, and goats are;
if you are going to raise pigs, you are going to have to stay put. A
pastoral people that takes to raising pigs will settle down and become
too much like its farming neighbors.

--
Chris Green