Buddha in Restaurants

[Maria]

One of my friends, who is very devout, does not want to eat at Chinese or Thai restaurants especially when there is a Buddha or some kind of pagan deity on public display, so if we are traveling and a Chinese/Thai restaurant is the only one open at the time, but they have a Buddha prominently displayed in that restaurant, what should we do?

Is it against the Holy Canons?

Since she does not have internet service, she has asked me to post this question.

Lately, we have been bringing our insulated coolers whenever we go out to visit one of our sick friends.

[jgress]

My own view is that as long as you're not offering incense to the idol, you shouldn't make such a big deal out of it. But if it is of concern, speak about it with your priest or bishop. Don't just take my word for it, and don't just take the word of every lay self-appointed canonist.

[Maria]

My own view is that as long as you're not offering incense to the idol, you shouldn't make such a big deal out of it. But if it is of concern, speak about it with your priest or bishop. Don't just take my word for it, and don't just take the word of every lay self-appointed canonist.

Thank you.

It is not really of concern for me. However, whenever I suggest a good Chinese restaurant where the food is usually much better than that served at fast food restaurants such as Denny's and Coco's, believe me, if there is a Buddha, she will find it. I usually do not look for Buddhas because I try to practice custody of the eyes.

I asked her if we could stop by Whole Foods Market for a tea, and she said that she is boycotting that place as they are pro-choice.

Cannot win for losing.

[joasia]

From what I know of Vladika St. John Maximovitch, he would say just pray for them.

My thoughts are that there is no danger of exposure to non-Orthodox cultures when you have the truth. We are surrounded by them, in our culture. But, just approach with humility and God will take care of the rest. Of course, don't be present during a worship service. But, in public circumstances, you never know what seeds you might plant by just being who you are..Orthodox Christian.

And any other restaurant, without an outward expression of faith, is still questionable. You'll never know what their worship is. The owner may be an Atheist or New-Ager. So, if your friend wants to avoid all that then don't go to restaurant or buy anything in other stores. You can even take it a step further and wonder who sells the produce to grocery stores or clothes stores, etc. If you buy their products, then are you a participant of their worship? At one point, you have to say, this is the limit.

[Maria]

From what I know of Vladika St. John Maximovitch, he would say just pray for them.

My thoughts are that there is no danger of exposure to non-Orthodox cultures when you have the truth. We are surrounded by them, in our culture. But, just approach with humility and God will take care of the rest. Of course, don't be present during a worship service. But, in public circumstances, you never know what seeds you might plant by just being who you are..Orthodox Christian.

And any other restaurant, without an outward expression of faith, is still questionable. You'll never know what their worship is. The owner may be an Atheist or New-Ager. So, if your friend wants to avoid all that then don't go to restaurant or buy anything in other stores. You can even take it a step further and wonder who sells the produce to grocery stores or clothes stores, etc. If you buy their products, then are you a participant of their worship? At one point, you have to say, this is the limit.

Exactly. One can easily become scrupulous.

My friend worries too much.

Thanks for your post, Joanna.

[Matthew]

Hi, Maria, just thought I drop in my two cents. I think Jonathan's advice is spot on. But as to final conclusions I personally have come to, and no clergyman has ever told me differently, privately or from the ambo, but you and Joanna are totally right. Your friend should read the New Testament passages on eating food sacrificed to idols (the chinese restaurants do not have any prepatory rites for their restaurant foods but even if they did...).

Here are a few snippets from Apostle Paul's comments found in 1 Corinthians 8 to 10. He says that the rule of Love (guarding the conscience of our brother or sister and not offending them) is superior to the license of Knowledge (that what we eat is not wrong, even if some brother believes it to be wrong because their conscience or faith is weak). In which case it is better to do the safe thing and abstain. But regarding what is in fact True regarding the eating of foods sacrificed to idols he teaches in chapter 8 that,

"8 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble."

In Corinthians 10:19-33 he concludes:

19 "What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?

23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. 25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved."

And again, in 1Timothy 4:3-6, Saint Paul says, "3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."

So, in all, it seems that the main point guiding our conduct is love of neighbour, but that we should do what is in view of the conscience of our neighbour knowing that in truth we are perhaps not so strictly bound by God himself regarding the eating of foods sacrificed or prepared by pagans and idolators, since all things are from God, the demons and idols are in fact nothing, and because if we have re-offered them to God first by a sanctifying prayer of thanksgiving, we have changed that food into something blessed by God's power and the True Knowledge of God in the Orthodox faith.

So, while I think, Maria, that you and Joanna have it right, Jonathan's advice is the best to follow, and encourage her to ask her bishop or priest about it. Though I wager he will say pretty much what is being said in this thread.

Symeon

[Maria]

7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble."

This is what she quoted, and then she says that I am scandalizing her by not looking for the Buddha before sitting at a table and ordering. Yes, while not doing so deliberately, in effect, she is putting me on a guilt trip.

I guess I could tell her that we should pretend that we are a pair of geese. She can look for the Buddha while I will check out the menu and the place for cleanliness. Ugh. I so love Chinese food. However, I have not seen any overtly Christian Chinese restaurants. Joanna is correct as there could be Satanic or New Age symbols in the kitchen where the food is prepared, but not visible to the public. So what would be worse: the Buddha or satanic symbols?

Yes, we do say prayers before meals. Perhaps I can bring a bottle of Holy Water and sprinkle the table before sitting down.

Not being an Orthodox Christian, my friend does not trust the opinions or advice of bishops and priests as the scandals in Roman Catholicism and in the OCA have shocked and scandalized her. She is still in the Roman Catholic Church. However, she has been to an Orthodox Church and believes that we have "valid" sacraments. Please pray for her and for all those devout souls who are struggling but who have not yet discovered the True Orthodox.