Im not religious. then why do i feel guilty for eating non-halal meat?

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I tried running a search on this topic but found nothing, instead I found enormous hostility towards Islam and Muslims. I'm aware I'm probably going to get a lot of hatred and venom for this, and that's fine. If out of 20 comments 18 were malicious but 2 were genuinely insightful and helpful, I'd take it.

I'm not religious; I'm agnostic, liberal, and all that jazz. I kind of have my own set of morals and principles. However the one religious thing that's remained constant and embedded in me is that I've always and only eaten halal meat. I moved to Australia 4 years ago and still only ate halal because it was a 17-year old habit. Not easy to just up and break such an old practice like that. The country I grew up in every restaurant had halal meat and making the change suddenly seemed weird. Plus I was mildly religious then (probably 30% to the 0% now). So when I came to Aus, and was at restaurants that didnt serve halal (nearly all of them), I'd eat something vegetarian or seafood. I'd cook halal meat at home.

2 weeks ago I was out with a couple of new acquaintances for lunch and I couldnt be arsed to pick where to eat so I told them I was fine with whatever. They ended up picking a hamburger place. In my mind I thought, "uh oh. you should have made a suggestion. now that place will most definitely not have veg or seafood options." But then I thought, "wait. you're not religious. So what the hell"

We went in and all ordered hamburgers. During the entire wait I was mildly awkward and preoccupied. I ended up eating the burger, which was tasty by anyone's standards. But within the first bite I felt so weird eating it that I had lost my appetite. I downed the whole thing anyway, cause I dislike wasting food. This was the first time ever I ate non-halal meat. Later I felt guilty the entire day and thinking back to that day literally makes me cringe in embarrassment. Funny part is I am accountable to no one! Why the guilt?

So I'm pretty confused now. Clearly it seems I am most comfortable only eating halal meat but being a logical person how can I justify this principle or practice when I'm not religious to begin with? It makes no sense.

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Based on 28 votes (11 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • reminiscent
    9 years ago

    It could be because you are so used to living one way. Habits are hard to break and it is hard to change.
    Maybe go about the change slowly like once a month have hamburger or something...then once a week.

    Or another reason might be if your parents are religious maybe you feel that way because of them?

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    • TheDudeAbides
      9 years ago

      Dad's not religious. Mum sort of is.

      Though family is a good point. I remember once wanting to fast not for myself or religious reasons but so my cousin sister who was visiting me wouldnt feel weird fasting all by herself

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  • mafum
    9 years ago

    Habits are hard to break but view it logically. I refuse to eat any halal meat because animals are slaughtered without stunning. Seriously, go to an halal abattoir, it will put you off for life.

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  • pixie_dust
    9 years ago

    I think I might have an idea what's going on. In David Wilcock's book, called the synchronicity key, he explains how there was this guy that put a plant on a polygraph and the plant being alive it will cry in agony in anticipation of being burned by a match. He furthered this by doing it with all kinds of food and it turns out that even meat, it's still alive and it will cry out in fear of being cooked, eaten, etc. This is why in Indian culture I believe they have to repeatedly bless their food before they eat it. Also, it is said that if the animal is abused in any way, by eating the meat, we inherit its abuse. Try watching the movie called food inc and you get an idea how livestock is used and abused. You inherit this by eating it. I think that the muslim's version of the halal meat must recognize this.

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  • handsignals
    9 years ago

    That's great OP, I'm gunna go get a Bacon sandwich.

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  • myspace84
    9 years ago

    I fit a similar description as yourself...the sooner you let go of the "guilt" of eating what you want the better...I also had a tough time in the beginning now I can eat everything even the all forbidden one...

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  • [Old Memory]
    9 years ago

    I've always found muslim or whatever you call it, to be one of the most irrational religions of them all. I have no idea why you feel compelled to eat halaal meat, but I will say I find it slightly ridiculous. Don't buy into their bullshit man, you're going to make yourself miserable.

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    • TheDudeAbides
      9 years ago

      I've been able to derive an idea why I'm compelled

      Years ago in my microbiology class a professor (who was aussie and nonmuslim) talked shortly about the health benefits of eating halal meat from a pathogenic point of view. And then I've read how the process of slaughtering halal meat by ways of severing the blood vessels and not spinal cord is not painful for the animal.

      That's part of my problem. The practice of eating halal meat is not only embedded into my conscience, but scientific logic too.

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      • smartbunny
        3 years ago

        If you find it logical, ethical, and pure, why is it a problem to eat halal? For people being 100% against halal meat usually they're just against Islam itself and don't want to hear of anything associated with it.
        Almost the same way some people make fun of vegans because of some stereotypes and therefore make fun of vegan food choices. But the vegan is going by their moral compass. Also, not all vegans are doing it out of a moral standpoint, they could also be vegan from other reason like health reason.
        In the same way, many people who eat halal meat do it because of the clean, ethical and scientific reasoning. If someone isn't Muslim it doesn't mean that they can't eat halal the same way someone can be vegan but not necessarily for moral reasons.

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  • OtherSide
    9 years ago

    Even though you're a logical person, it can still be tough to purge all the superstition from your head, particularly if you had a religious upbringing.

    I've found that a good way to cleanse any residual Christianity from your brain is to listen to death metal and read Richard Dawkins.

    I think traces of Islam or Judaism are even easier to wash out. One word: Bacon.

    Eat bacon and you'll be cured.

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