What to Serve A Goddess
When She Comes For Dinner

A Theology of Food

by
James Robert Deal

James' E-Mail  


ORDER THE BOOK
buy it now through Amazon

Excerpt Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION 1
    VISITATION UNDER THE ARBOR 1
    DEDICATION 1 8
    DEDICATION 2 9
    DEDICATION 3 9
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOL OF PEACE, HEALTH & A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT 10
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOLIC OF THE MYTHICAL EDEN 11
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOLIC OF THE ETHICS OF DIET 12
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOLIC OF THE WOMEN WE MEN COOK FOR 13
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOLIC OF THE MOTHER IN NEED 14
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOLIC OF MEN TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH
          AND THEIR DIET 14
    ENVIRONMENTAL SYMBOLISM: THINGS HAVE GONE TOO FAR FOR A
          MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD SOLUTION TO WORK 14
    MY THESIS IS THIS: 15
    WE ARE WHAT WE EAT 15
    FOOD IS A SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MATTER 16
    PLANT-BASED FOOD: IT TASTES GREAT AND MAKES YOU FEEL GREAT 16

Excerpt Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2 : THE HISTORY, TRADITION, AND
THEOLOGY OF FOOD 17
    DIET: THE RELEVANCE OF THE PAST TO THE PRESENT 17
    THE HISTORY OF DIET, A TUNNEL BACK INTO TIME 18
    THEOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR DOING HISTORICAL ANALYSIS 18
    AN OVERVIEW OF AGES, EPOCHS, AND IMPORTANT EVENTS 19
    BEFORE FIRE 19
    FIRE AND HEARTH 20
    GATHERING AND HUNTING 20
    AGRICULTURE: THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 21
    OUT ON THE STEPPES: THE HORSE, THE COMPOSITE BOW 22
    OLD EUROPE, BEFORE 4300 B.C., A PARADIGM OF PARTNERSHIP 24
    INVASIONS OF THE COWBOYS, A PARADIGM OF DOMINATION 27
    A LOOK BACK AT KURGAN CULTURE 30
    INDIA: BRAHMANS, JAINS, HINDUS, AND BUDDHISTS 30
    THE DELPHIC ORACLE 33
    GENESIS AND JUDAISM 33
    THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL EDEN 36
    THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL DELUGE 37
    MEAT EATING ALLOWED ONLY AFTER THE DELUGE 38
    ANCIENT JUDAISM CHALLENGES MODERN JUDAISM 44
    PYTHAGORAS, MUSICIAN, PHYSICIAN, PHILOSOPHER,
         VEGETARIAN, 569-470 B.C. 45
    THE ORPHIC MYSTERY, THE CULT OF DIONYSUS 48
    SOCRATES AND PLATO 48
    THE ZOROASTRIAN VISION OF THE VEGETARIAN PEACE SURE TO COME 49
    THE ESSENES—VEGETARIANS 49
    THE NASARAEANS—VEGETARIANS 50
    THE OSSAEANS—VEGETARIANS 51
    THE THERAPEUTAE—VEGETARIANS 51
    JOHN THE BAPTIST, VEGETARIAN 52
    MATTHEW, VEGETARIAN 53
    STEPHEN, PROBABLY A VEGETARIAN 53
    SIMON PETER, VEGETARIAN, AND THE CLEMENTINA 55
    JAMES, BROTHER OF JESUS, VEGETARIAN 59
    PAUL - NOT A VEGETARIAN - AND HIS CONFLICT WITH JAMES 60
    THE JUDEO-CHRISTIANS OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN JERUSALEM -
          VEGETARIANS 65
    THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN NAZORAEANS & JESSAEANS - VEGETARIANS 66
    THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN EBIONITES - VEGETARIANS 67
    THE VEGETARIAN JUDEO-CHRISTIANS, BETWEEN THE HAMMER AND
         THE ANVIL 68
    EARLY CHRISTIAN VEGETARIAN FASTING AND THE DIDACHE 70
    THREE WINGS OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, TWO OF THEM VEGETARIAN 71
    THE GNOSTIC CHRISTIANS - SOME OF THEM VEGETARIANS 73
    THE ELKASITES - VEGETARIANS 74
    THE MANICHAEANS, BOGOMILES, CATHARI  - VEGETARIANS 75
    THE TESTIMONY OF 76
    OTHER EVIDENCE OF EARLY CHRISTIAN VEGETARIANISM 77
    MODERN DAY CHRISTIAN VEGETARIAN FASTING 77
    WAS JESUS A VEGETARIAN? 
    THE VISION OBSCURED 78
          THE MESSIAH WAS TO BE VEGETARIAN AND END SACRIFICES 79
          THE JUDEO-CHRISTIANS SAID JESUS WAS A VEGETARIAN AND 
               DID NOT EAT THE PASSOVER LAMB 83
          DID NOT JESUS DECLARE ALL FOODS CLEAN? 84
          JESUS WAS PRECEDED, FOLLOWED, AND SURROUNDED BY 
               VEGETARIANS 84
          ESSENE SURVIVORS SAID JESUS WAS VEGETARIAN 85
          IN BUDDHIST TRADITION JESUS OPPOSED ANIMAL SACRIFICE 87
          IF JESUS WERE A VEGETARIAN: What About... 88
          WHAT ABOUT THE FISH STORIES? 88
          JESUS THE BELLY-SLAVE? 92
          DID JESUS DECLARE ALL FOODS ACCEPTABLE? 92
          IF JESUS DIFFERED FROM THE ESSENES IN CERTAIN WAYS ...? 92
    JESUS, AN ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS 93
    ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY CHALLENGES MODERN CHRISTIANITY 93
    COWBOY CULTURE EXPANDS TO THE NEW WORLD 96
    ARYAN TRIBES WAR WITH ARYAN TRIBES 97
    OTHER HISTORIES OF VEGETARIANISM 98

Excerpt Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3 : EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET—FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS 99

Excerpt Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4 : EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET—ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS 102

Excerpt Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5 : EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET — TO STOP THE POPULATION EXPLOSION 105
    STOPPING THE EXPLOSION IN THE HUMAN POPULATION 105
    A CLEAR CONNECTION BETWEEN DIET AND POPULATION GROWTH 106
    STOPPING THE EXPLOSION IN THE FACTORY FARM ANIMAL POPULATION 107
    TAKING CONSCIOUS CONTROL OF THE HUMAN POPULATION 107
    DIRECT ACTION ON POPULATION — CONTRACEPTION EDUCATION 108

Excerpt Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6 : EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET—HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS 113
    INTRODUCING THE EXPERTS 113
    HUMAN ANATOMY AND PRIMATE DIET 113
    LIFE EXPECTANCY AND A VEGETARIAN DIET 116
    VITAMINS AND MINERALS 116
          Vitamin A, Carotenoids 117
          The B Vitamins 117
          Vitamin B-12 117
          Vitamin C and Bioflaonoids 118
          Vitamin D 118
          Vitamin E 118
          Vitamin K 119
          Carnitine 119
          Calcium 119
          Calcium and Phosphorus 119
          Magnesium 120
          Iron 120
          Zinc, Selenium, Copper 120
     PROTEIN HYPE 121
    CHILDREN FLOURISH EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET 122
    EATING ANIMAL-BASED FOODS: EARLIER PUBERTY, LATER MENOPAUSE 123
    OBESITY 123
    HEALTHY OILS 125
    DAIRY PRODUCTS, OSTEOPOROSIS, AND ANIMAL-BASED FOODS 130
    CHICKEN AND EGGS 133
    CATTLE AND PIGS 134
    FISH 136
    FISH OIL 137
    CHOLESTEROL, HYPERTENSION, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 138
    DIABETES 141
    CANCER 141
    ARTHRITIS 146
    ULCERS 146
    MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 147
    KIDNEY STONES AND GALLSTONES 147
    SODIUM AND POTASSIUM 147
    SPONGIFORM BRAIN DISEASE 147
    RECOMBINANT BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE 151
    FIBER: EAT MORE OF THE GOOD, EVEN IF YOU KEEP EATING THE BAD 152
    EXPOSING A WORLD OF LIES 153

Excerpt Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7 : EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET—ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 154
    THE MYTH OF THE WHOLESOME BARNYARD 154
    HUNTING 155
    BEEF CATTLE 155
    DAIRY CATTLE 156
    VEAL 157
    LAYING HENS 158
    BROILER CHICKENS 159
    DUCKS AND GEESE 159
    PIGS 159
    ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION 160
    LEGAL LIABILITY 160
    ETHICAL ANALYSIS 160
    THERE SHOULD BE A LAW 163
    SPECULATION ABOUT AN UNCONSCIOUS CONNECTION 165

Excerpt Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8 : TWO VERSIONS OF REALITY 169

Excerpt Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9 : VOCABULARY 175
    RELATIVE VEGETARIAN 175
    VEGETARIAN 175
    TYPES OF VEGETARIANS: HEALTH, ETHICAL ECOLOGICAL 176
    LACTO-VEGETARIAN 176
    LACTO-OVO VEGETARIAN 177
    VEGAN 177
    VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, AND STRICTLY VEGETARIAN 178
    RAW FOODS VEGAN 179
    FOOD COMBINING 179
    EATING A PLANT-BASED DIET 179
    SEMI-VEGETARIAN, AVOIDING PERFECTIONISM 180
    VEGETARIANS OF OLD 180
    ORGANIC 180
    ORGANIC GARDENING 183
          VEGAN GARDENING 186
    SPROUTING, INDOOR ORGANIC GARDENING, RAW FOODS 187
    MIRACULOUS NEW ENZYME ELIMINATES GAS 188
    FILTERED WATER 189
    ORGANIZATION: CHEF, COOK'S HELPER, BOTTLE WASHER 189
    STRETCHING, EXERCISE, MEDITATION — FIRST THINGS FIRST 190
    SMOKING 191
    FASTING 192

Excerpt Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10 : MOVING TO A PLANT-BASED DIET 194
    MAKING THE TRANSITION 194
    EXPLAINING YOURSELF AS A VEGETARIAN 195
    VEGETARIAN ACTIVISM 196
    BOBBY BERG'S BURGER BURG BURGERS 197
    WHERE TO BUY VEGETARIAN AND ORGANIC FOOD 197
    EATING OUT AS A STRICT VEGETARIAN 197
    CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE ALL AT ONCE 198

Excerpt Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11 : FAVORITE HEALTHY FOOD TECHNIQUES  199
    COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES 199
          RICE 199
          OTHER GRAINS 200
    OILS 200
          OLIVE OIL INSTEAD OF MARGARINE 200
          FRIED FOODS 201
          STIR-FRYING AND STEAM-FRYING TECHNIQUES 201
          CRAVINGS FOR MEAT 203
          VEGETARIAN BURGERS—TRANSITION FOOD 204
    EATING WELL WITHOUT DAIRY PRODUCTS 204
          GRANOLA WITH JUICE 204
          STRICTLY VEGETARIAN "MILK" PRODUCTS 205
    EATING WELL WITHOUT EGGS 205
    THICKENERS 206
    SWEETENERS 206
    SALT SUBSTITUTES 206
    SOAPS AND HOUSEHOLD CLEANSERS 206
    VEGETARIAN DOGS AND CATS 207

Excerpt Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12 : GODDESS RECIPES 208
    BREAKFAST FOOD 208
           LIQUIDS, JUICE AND TEA 208
           FRUIT AND JUICE 209
           BACKYARD GREENS 209
           JUICING 209
           RICE AND NUTS 209
           SPROUTS 209
           WALNUT RAISIN PANCAKES 210
           TOFU SCRAMBLE 210
           LAST NIGHT'S LEFT OVERS 211
    SOUPS 211
           MISO SOUP 211
           POT HERBS 211
           POT HERBS WITH SPROUTED BEANS 212
           PUMPKIN OR SQUASH SOUP 212
           LENTIL OR SPLIT PEA SOUP 213
           SPROUTED BEAN SOUP 213
           WEIRD SOUP 213
    ENTREES 214
           STEAMED VEGETABLES 214
           STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES WITH TOFU 214
           LEMON-LIME TEMPEH 215
           GRAPE LEAF ROLLS, DOLMATHES 216
           LENTIL PILAF 216
           PASTA WITH PUTTANESCA SAUCE 217
          PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE 218
    MEAT SUBSTITUTES, ENTREES 218
          FALAFEL 218
          STRICTLY VEGETARIAN BURGERS MADE FROM
               MIXES 219
          STRICTLY VEGETARIAN BURGERS READY TO
               HEAT AND EAT 219
          STRICTLY VEGETARIAN PIZZA 220
    CHEWY MEAT SUBSTITUTES AND SIDE DISHES 221
          FIRM TOFUS 221
          OTHER PLANT-BASED "MEATS" 221
          HERBED PUMPKIN OR SQUASH 221
          ZATER PATE ON TOAST WITH OLIVE OIL 221
          TOAST DIPPED IN OLIVE OIL 222
          OLIVES WITH BREAD 222
          STEAMED, BROILED, ROASTED CORN ON THE COB 222
    VEGETABLE DISHES 222
          GREENS 222
          GREEN BEANS AND TOMATOES 223
          POTATOES AND TOMATOES 224
          POTATO SALAD 224
          ROASTED PEPPERS AND OTHER VEGETABLES 224
          SPINACH OR GREEN BEANS 224
          BAKED YAMS, SWEET POTATOES 225
          CARROTS, SWEET POTATOES, AND PARSNIPS 225
    SALADS 225
          TABOLI SALAD 225
         GRANDMA'S TOMATOES 225
     SAUCES, SPREADS, DIPS—FOR STIR FRY, RICE, OR SALADS 226
          LEMON-TAHINI SAUCE 226
          SPICY PEANUT SAUCE 226
          SPICY PEANUT SPREAD 226
          BABA GANOOJH 226
          HUMMUS OR FOOL 227
          TOFU SOUR CREAM 227
          BAKED GARLIC 228
          DRIED CHERRY TOMATO PESTO 228
    DESSERTS 228
          TAPIOCA PUDDING 228
          SOY "MILK" SHAKES, SMOOTHIES 229
          NON-DAIRY ICE CREAM 229
          BANANA COCONUT TOFU PIE 229
          PUMPKIN TOFU PIE 230

Excerpt Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13 : FINAL THOUGHTS 231
    THE GODDESS, SYMBOL OF OPTIMISM AND EMPOWERMENT 231
    WRITE LETTERS AND CHANGE THINGS 234

BIBLIOGRAPHY 236

INTERNET CONNECTIONS 236

VEGETARIAN COOKBOOKS 236

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY 236

  INDEX 241

  Deal Home Page           Return to Goddess Home Page      Excerpt

  Copyright © 2007 James Robert Deal. All rights reserved.