This week’s forum looks at the symbology and taboos associated with specific foods. We will also explore issues related to horses, dogs, cats and other pets as potential food sources; we will explore fasting as a religious and health/weight loss tactic. Select one of the following questions:1. Pick either Jewish or Muslim dietary laws and explain which foods are forbidden, which foods are most admired and which have special meanings for a life transition, like a wedding, funeral, etc. Explain the meaning of these do’s and don’ts from the perspective of the tradition you chose. References from your texts or another peer-reviewed or high-quality source required.2. Afghanistan, a predominantly Muslim nation, is a nation-state created from several ethnic groups organized in tribes and chiefdoms. Outline the hospitality laws involving visits from friends, family and also visitors/strangers among one of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan [Pashtun, Waziri, Afridi, etc.]. Outline the rules of, and role of, food-related hospitality play in the ethnic group you are studying; be specific. Are specific foods offered to visitors? What is the meaning of the specific foods, if any? Include references to an additional source.3. Examine fasting in the one of the religious traditions discussed this week. What are the meanings of the different fasts from the perspective of the tradition? What challenges does this fasting give to practitioners of this food-restriction? References in your texts or another peer-reviewed or high-quality source required. Have you ever fasted for a day or more? Do you, or have you in the past, followed specific cultural or faith-based dietary laws? How did you experience that?4. How does weight-loss fasting differ from fasting for religious purposes, in terms of the meaning given to the activity? How are the different types of fasts experienced by the practitioners? How are weight loss fasts treated by persons other than the practitioner, in terms of the respect given to the fast, encouragement or discouragement to the practitioner, etc. Reference readings, your LN or a quality external source.5. Americans have an aversion to eating dogs, cats, guinea pigs and other pets, while these animals are a prized food in other cultures. Using at least 3 examples from your reading, lecture notes, or additional source, explain how sociologists and anthropologists theorize that these culturally-created taboos have arisen. Could you ever imagine eating dogs, cats, or other pets?6. Several theories attempt to explain the American aversion to eating horses. Choose two of them and explain their key provisions. Which one seems most well-supported to you, and why? Have you ever eaten horse meat? Would you? Include references to the text or an additional source.7. Hindu sacred texts consider the cow a sacred animal and Indian laws protect these animals from harm in nearly all circumstances. Respect and protection for cattle has become a widely-promoted and deeply-felt cultural value in Hindu society. Anthropologists and sociologists theorize several practical reasons for why this prohibition might have started. Outline these theories and evaluate them, using your texts, your Lecture Notes and your critical thinking.REMEMBER: Quality sources are key. Blogs and non-peer-reviewed sources are not trustable sources of information on any subject.Learning Objectives completed this week include:⢠Evaluate the special meanings of certain ritual foods including those associated with weddings, funerals, blessings, life transitions [puberty, menopause, coming of age, birth]⢠Discuss the meanings of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist dietary laws and religious rituals⢠Discuss why some foods are particularly admired in a society⢠Analyze fasting rituals among Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists