Would it ever be OK under any circumstances to eat human flesh?
Like, say a person died or got killed and there was no foul play.
And you were starving.
Is that ever acceptable?
Most of us were immediately convinced that just ain't cool!
But what was the reason?
One person speculated that flesh might be delicious and immediately addicting. :
(which was humor but not alot funny, really)
This led to a discussion of drinking blood.
(apparently people do, do this!)
The Bible specifically speaks against eating blood in Leviticus chapters 3, 7, 17, 19.
back to the point can I eat someone?
Murder - bad. OK
Blood - not at all good. OK
what about the Donner party?
Apparently people have eaten other people.
Nobody ever thought this was at all a good thing.
A man was charged with murder and convicted in Germany and sentenced to life in prison as recently as May 2006 for killing and eating another man with his permission.
(Which is insane as well as disgusting, really)
(Sorry moms this is purely googlable information)
What about the Bible?
The Bible mentions Cannibalism several times, usually regarding the siege of Jerusalem. Always as a dreadful consequence of disobedience
Historically, we see God letting people choose to rebel and ending up in the hands of enemies who would trap them and starve them to desperation...to cannibalism
Then there is Jesus saying " I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:53-4
But Jesus' words are generally agreed upon as allegorical.
except for a particular denomination which ascribes a mystical, sub-particle transformation of communion to actually the flesh and blood of Jesus.
In Judaism the priest that makes a sin or guilt offering (of an animal) will also eat from it.
Similarly, people were expected to eat from peace offerings.
Jesus was implying 'unless you agree that this sacrifice I am going to make counts for you, you will not live with me.'
There is no commandment: 'thou shalt not eat your neighbor.'
But, really, it doesn't appear to be the loving thing to do, either?
BAG says "keep clear of human meat!"
(this is sort of wierd to read over, but it was the question today and it was mostly a tongue in cheek discussion. Seriously, don't be a cannibal! and if you have strange cravings, we would recommend asking friends/family/church to pray for you and/or urge you to get confidential help.)
If you have already eaten human meat, God still loves you and is able to help. Get help!
