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Blood in Judaism and Christianity
Judaism
| Kashrut |
Christianity
Mission Statement:
This site is designed to investigate the role which blood plays in the religious traditions of Judaism and Christianityand how this role intersects with concepts of gender and power. In Judaism, blood can be regarded as a holy formof sacrifice or covenant, as in the case of circumcision. Blood is also seen as polluting when regarding the lawsof Kashrut and Niddah. Blood in Christianity seems to always hold sanctifying properties, such as in the bloodof saints and martyrs and in the blood frequently evidenced in Eucharistic miracles. Blood also has gendered implications;circumcision, for instance, marks the covenant between God and people. However, only males are included in thisblood-shedding ritual. Menstruation and bloodshed can also be seen from a gendered perspective; does the emphasison women and purity during menstruation rather than men and their purity make a statement about women, blood, powerand gender?How can blood be both sacred and impure? The following information explores this issue through perspectivesof both gender and power. The reader may wish to begin by understanding the concepts of Sacrificein Judaism and Sacrifice in Christianity.
In Judaism:
Kashrut:
Kashrut refers to the Jewish laws which prescribe which foods should and should not be eaten. It also dictateshow animals should be slaughtered to insure safe for consumption.
This page discusses Judaism's views on sexuality and blood as a polluting substance. The laws of niddah areused to determine times during the month that sexual intercourse between a man and woman is appropriate.
Here we discuss the Jewish ritual of circumcision. Circumcision is a purely gendered act. It represents power,and blood is an integral part of the ritual.
This page examines the sacrality of bloodshed from Christian martyrs. The emphasis upon the virginity ofsaints and martyrs is also explored, along with the lives of several important martyr saints.
Stigmata is a very relevant miracle to this site. Stigmata are the experience of the wounds of Christ. Theiroccurrence is extremely powerful and is often accompanied by a sacred blood. Although gender does not seem to playa role in this miracle, it has occurred predominantly in women.
The practice of the Eucharist represents to Christians a partaking and rememberance of the sacrifice of Jesus.The bread and wine serve as the reminder of the body and blood of Christ as dictated in the gospel accountsof the Last Supper. Eucharistic Miracles are also discussed with special relevance to the notion of the "RealPresence" of the body and blood of Christ within the sacrament. Also analyzed is the Protestant concept ofCommunion, which downplays the sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist.
--Maggie Fielding, Pierce Flanigan, Anne Paulsen (1999)
--Rebecca Grimes, Amelia Johnson, Charles Lynch, Emily Murray, DavidStephens (2000)
