halal beer

Submitted by myth (Germany), Aug 24, 2013 at 06:38

Germany knows one rule that borders on the strict literal understanding of the Koran. I read it on almost every German bottle of beer. The "commandment of purity" originating 1516.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinheitsgebot

( I translate Gebot->commandment, not -Gebot->law as wikipedia does. The German bible translation uses "Gebot" to refer to the ten commandments. )

This commandment survived the centuries intact and Germany defends it from a dogmatic standpoint. It defines the ingredients of beer. In Islamic terms one may call it "halal beer". There have been many attempts to relax or extend the restrictions made on the ingredients. But still it says "1516" on the beer bottle in they year of the Lord 2013.

Some breweries in the south of Germany originate from monasteries. Monks drank the beer for it allowed to consume nutrition in lieu of eating during times of fasting. An inspiring way to relax religious rules.

The Christian culture enjoys some strange adherence to dogma and creative adaption at the same time. Sadly the believers of Islam cannot drink to that as I do.

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