Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Given the centrality of food and food traditions in all human actions and interactions, this research focuses specifically on how the innate and universal human preference for sweets/candy manifests itself in varied and diverse religious practices and traditions, which, in turn, create and define group identity. Sweets function both symbolically and practically in the “culinary philosophies” of each of four major religions to be considered here: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. While there are common historical and contemporary meanings and purposes for the various uses of sweets in these four, there are also many traditions that are quite unique to each particular faith, establishing distinct and diverse group identities. Yet, it is the nature of sweets/candy–their universal desirability, portability, and accessibility–that often creates opportunities for these diverse identities to be shared with, and even understood, by others.