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July 22, 2007
Would Jesus Have Us Eat Eggwhites?
I got a most perplexing comment this morning on the previous entry. For convenience, I'll repost it here:
Now egg whites are being rationed?! My God, what a living hell MR is in! The irony is that, for all this obsession on living forever, you can go out and get hit by a car tomorrow (or today).
I'm all for a low-calorie, healthy diet, and this bog and April's recipes are a great help (thanks April!); but this obsessing over the "latest study" in a bid to live forever is un Christian and mentally unhealthy.
Hmmmm. Un-Christian. Interesting. That's a new one.
I wonder if this is some sort of Leon Kass type of thing.
As to MR being in a living hell, I think he's addressed that one many times. Believe it or not, we're actually happier this way. Making decisions based on a rational evaluation of scientific evidence and thoughtful consideration of our own goals and priorities is actually more fun than responding on a minute to minute basis to social pressure, biological compulsion, and whatever marketers are trying to sell to us.
All religious traditions that I am aware of teach that a disciplined lifestyle can be more rewarding on every level, including spiritual and physical, than a life of simply responding to the environment. That doesn't mean being an ascetic, necessarily. But it does mean making choices in accordance with one's own beliefs and goals. If you're a Christian, it would seem to me that you would want to discern God's will for your life and attempt to conform your actions to same. MR doesn't happen to be a Christian, so he's not on about that project. But even if he were, I doubt that being a Christian would cause him to eat more eggwhites than he is currently consuming.
My father wrote an excellent book called Jesus and the Pleasures that goes into great detail about Jesus' relationship to the pleasures of this world. He frequently cites the passage:
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly".(John 10:10).
Our lifestyle of taking care of our bodies to the best of our knowledge and ability is all about having life more abundantly. Exercising self-discipline doesn't put one in hell.
You know what I think must be a living hell? The way so many people in this country live, where they exercise little or no control over what they put into their bodies. They constantly complain about their weight and watch their health deteriorate, but they lack the information and skills to do something about the problem. Waking up every morning saying, "Today will be different," and then continuing to take the same actions as the day before. Having lived both ways, I find it much more satisfying to do what I do now. Definitely much less hellish.
I've read a few times that the defition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
The more I read these bizarre trollish comments on my blog (though I'm glad the trolls consistently like my recipes) the more convinced I become that people are just plain threatened by the fact that someone, somewhere, lives a lifestyle that involves self-discipline in regards to food choices. The rest of the culture has come to believe that it is right and good to consume anything and everything one can, regardless of the consequences. The same engine of consumerism that drives America's epidemic of consumer debt drives the obesity epidemic. Consume, consume, consume! The second you start to exercise some choice in the matter, instead of responding to the drumbeat of "Consume!" you get labeled disordered, unAmerican, and as of late, unChristian.
I play nice most of the time. I try to consider the feelings of those who post trollish negative comments, and to either a) not respond or b) respond as pleasantly as possible. But sometimes I feel I sacrifice honesty in the attempt to be nice. Who really is the one with the problem here? Those of us who have ordered our lives in accordance with our goals, or those who feel compelled to write nasty comments about us?
We are not trying to "convert" anyone to CR. If you're interested, then do the research and make your own decisions. If you're not, but you enjoy the recipes, then I'm happy to have provided you with something you can use; feel free to leave the rest.
If you feel like posting nasty comments, I might just feel like taking you on.
Or not... sometimes I'm too busy with my work, my life, my wonderful fulfilling interactions with some of the most amazing people on earth, to take time responding to the comments of those who have nothing better to do than spread a little negativity throughout the blogosphere.
But every once in awhile, I just might treat myself to a tart response.
It is, after all, much lower in calories than a tart pastry.
Posted by april at July 22, 2007 8:49 AM
Comments
Religious people throughout the ages have created and adhered to religion because it works for them. It has evolved to explain changing times and new situations so that people can continue to use it, like philosophy or meditation. Or CR. You go along eating your brazil nuts until you learn about what can happen if you get too much selenium. Or you don't pay much attention to supplements until you learn about how magnesium stearate can inhibit absorption. Your CR practice evolves, just like everything else.
That said, while "thoughtful consideration of our own goals and priorities" can reasonably be said to be much of any American Christian's faith, "making decisions based on a rational evaluation of scientific evidence" sure the hell ain't.
Posted by: allswellinhell at July 22, 2007 1:20 PM
It is rude to critizise one's boyfriend by calling him obsessive, and pointing out how fragile all of us are when it comes to being smashed in a car accident certainly destroys the atmosphere. So I'd say Sandy is being impolite which is, in my opinion, worse than being unchristian.
But I suppose that focusing on the quest for eternal life is not what Jesus primarily intended to teach us. So even as an impolite person Sandy might have a point. Of course this doesn't explain why he/she visits your blog to tell you so.
I agree with you, april, that most religious traditions approve of a self-disciplined way of life and of meagre eating. Also I have the vague notion that "trying to cheat death" might be opposed to every spiritual approach to life.
As I grew up with Dr. Faustus and stories about crazy reanissance men who wanted to live forever, I always felt deeply sorry for them because they ended up being the most miserable creatures imaginable. And I still believe that, when our time on earth is over, we shall die.
The most common argument for wanting to live a long life is the following: "Life is great! Why wouldn't I want to have as much of it as I can?"
The most common argument for eating chocolate gateau all day long is the same. It's just so good. It seems to me that the line of thought is the same. And if taken to excess - wanting all the chocolate gateau you can have is - apart from the physical effects - an unhealthy consumer attitude. Perhaps there is a grain of truth in saying that wanting to live forever is a more intelligent, more advanced version of todays consumer attitude.
But perhaps I only think so because I grew up with all these creepy stories. (And to prevent misunderstandings: not that my opinion of your character is of importance, but I don't perceive you as unchristian, just the opposite!) In any case I hope that you and MR will continue to live happily for at least a very, very long time. And congratulations for winning your campaign!
Best wishes, Marianne
Posted by: Marianne at July 22, 2007 1:41 PM
April - I made a road-trip to Philly on Saturday for a girl's day out/shopping trip, and my girl friend (also CR'd) and I decided to try James after reading your post about the food there. Oh my god, it was fabulous! We both had the chilled avocado cucumber soup, I had the risotto (it was as good as you said) and my friend had the porcini and blueberry stuffed tortelloni (I had a taste of hers, amazing). For dessert we split the roasted peaches with honey cream and crispy shortbread - that with coffee was the perfect end to the meal. Each dish tasted so unique and surprising, definitely not a meal you can just get anywhere, which made the meal and our day out that much more special.
Although the food is so tasty, I love the fact that the portions are on the small side. When we left we were full, but not overly full. Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Zana at July 22, 2007 3:05 PM
Whenever any of this rubbish about something being unChristian comes up, I return to Christ's primary teaching, appropriately called The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do these people who insist on taking unkind pot-shots at you and MR actually believe THEY are acting in a Christ-like manner and following His teachings? I think not. Blog on, dear girl! MoMR.
Posted by: Judith at July 22, 2007 7:58 PM
Surely one of the most Christian duties in one's life is to try to live as long as possible, thereby having more time available to perform the individual (spiritual) tasks for which we were put on this earth?
Personally I'd say April is doing pretty well at her life's purpose, wouldn't you?
Posted by: Lindsay at July 23, 2007 9:30 AM
Nice post April. I think the rude poster has a point about defying God by aiming to live forever in an earthly body, but she makes it in a very rude (un-christian?) way. I've been reading the blog for several months now, and I've always felt that you seem to be the more balanced of the two. You seem to see CR as a way to improve your health and life, while MR seems to see CR as a means to somehow live forever and never leave his earthly body. But if he's happy with this fantasy and it keeps him from cracking up, who are we to judge? Sandy should read what the bible says about those who judge others.
Posted by: Rhonda at July 23, 2007 9:54 AM
hi, everyone !!!
each one of us must keep in mind the PURPOSE why we live on this planet.
There is no scientific proof yet that caloric reduction will prolong life in humans. Although there is some evidence that it (Cr) improves health and quality of life.
if the purpose of life is to enjoy it, then any obsession or too much self-discipline defeats this purpose -- life becomes full of drudgery instead of enjoyment.
personally i try to follow a moderate version of caloric reduction, exercise, and stress reduction.
Posted by: nick at July 24, 2007 11:54 AM
I love it that Sandy referred to your blog as a bog. Oh, what a pink and vegetable-y bog it is. Bog on and pass the zucchini!
Posted by: emma at July 24, 2007 12:22 PM