February 18

Purity is freedom from contamination, whereas impurity is the constituent that causes something not to be pure. Leviticus is a chapter of the Bible that thoroughly goes through rules. It tells what is pure, what you are allowed to eat, and what is not, what is against tradition to eat. These rules also apply to many other things in life.  According to the footnote, impure items depend on two things: sex and death.  He states that purity rules are based on the curse of Eden. As we read earlier in Genesis, after the tree of knowledge, Adam became cursed in his work and Eve became cursed during birth. This curse then applies to what animals are pure and what are not. The maintenance of this cleanliness is to “ward of spirits” just like germs (Douglas 33). By looking at the purity laws as hygiene and cleanliness, “our washing, scrubbing, isolating, and disinfecting” resemble rituals for purity (33). Douglas also mentions that there are three levels of purity. The highest consists of preparing for an act of worship. The middle level is the expected normal laws. Lastly, the bottom level is impurity. Any contact with a low level purity causes a higher level purity to become impure. However, the highest level can reach purity again by bathing. Looking at food laws, Douglas focuses on purity based on if “pollution” will be passed along. For instance, cooked food can pass on pollution whereas raw food cannot. This means that anyone is allowed to receive raw food. Fruits and nuts are pure unless they are cracked open. That means again members from other castes cannot exchange opened food. Eating even gives off “pollution”. Douglas states that this is saliva pollution and that it can be transmitted through material substances. After eating, the article states that one should wash their hands and feet.