The Bible & Hygiene
Posted on: July 9, 2007 - 10:57am
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The Bible & Hygiene
The Bible can hardly be seen as a science book, but something like taking human waste away from the town and burying it seems a good hygenic rule to have. They must have seen people get ill by being around dead bodies or human waste, and put two and two together. It hardly takes divine intervention. But were they ahead of their time?
I'm doubting it, but can someone help me out and give examples of earlier cultures with these kinds of rules?
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The Chinese of the Yellow River Valley have had very similar rules for longer. They, in fact, stated that waste could not be dumped into water sources.
"Tis better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven." -Lucifer
What an odd topic!
No, the bible was not the first reference to rules about human waste disposal. Here is a link to a wiki article, which references the first plumbing systems developed in India, Ancient Rome, Egypt and China.
Here is an article discussing the laws made in Ancient Rome regarding disposal of human waste.
I am going to wash my hands now.
Thanks. Can you help me out with a link? I can only find Chinese hygiene rules dating back to 500BC.
Actually, hygiene became even worse when Christianity became more widespread. The Greeks and Romans used to have their bath houses and what not but once Christianity dug its heels in, hygiene went down the toilet (excuse the pun). Why? Because it was 'sinful' to be naked, even if for bathing.
If god takes life he's an indian giver
There are examples dating back to 2500 BC there, is that before the OT was written? Dates are the important thing here, it's part of a debate I'm having. It needs to clearly show people took the waste away from humans before those authors started writing. I'm just having trouble.
The OT was mostly composed in the 7th century B.C.
But the OT itself talks about the Hebrews living in Egyptian cities *before* the laws--including those about cleanliness--were traditionally said to have been given to Moses.
We know from archeological evidence what kind of fancy plumbing the Egyptians had long before Moses is supposed to have lived, even by the Bible's own account.
"After Jesus was born, the Old Testament basically became a way for Bible publishers to keep their word count up." -Stephen Colbert
Does anyone really need a book of fairy tales to tell them it's a bad idea to "shit where you eat?"
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