thinking about keeping kosher (or any religious dietary restrictions, but im kosher so thats whats relevant) in the modern world and how it being "outdated" is kindof, in fact, the point. its the preservation of how people have lived for thousands of years. its an unbroken chain back through time of recipes and ingredients and ritual. the fact that we "know" that pork isnt "unclean" or that cooking no longer requires gathering firewood (for most people) doesnt actually change the fact that abstaining from pork and not cooking on the sabbath are both integral parts of Living for literally millions of people worldwide.
im proud to keep kosher BECAUSE it isnt intuitive, its not easy and its not always the most convenient or pleasant option, but i dont engage with religion for conveniences sake. i dont avoid pork because pigs are Categorically unclean, but rather because they are unclean for Me. religion carries the stories and art of peoples, it carries their ideals and histories and yes, foods. these foods add context and deeper connection to the experiences of people long dead. in order to grasp those experiences, the entire puzzle must be taken into account, including the 'annoying' restrictions.
