I have a feeling that I'm getting ready to step on a few toes with this one (Oh goody!). For years other religions and their traditions and rules have baffled me. Jehovah's Witnesses and the Catholic church alone boggle my mind. Most of the time I look at other religion's habits with bemusement, but recently I have come across a religious rule that truly confuses me. A couple of kids that I've taken on for the summer are not allowed to eat anything with gelatin because it comes from pigs which is a clove hoof animal which is associated with the devil. (I think I should probably point out a few things: 1.) I can't remember specifically what religion they are. Their mom told me, but I forgot. 2.) Russ and I attend an Assemblies of God church. And 3.) I GET the origin of the "cloven hoof" animal thing.)

Expanding on point 3: Like I said, I get it. Cloven hoof, devil has cloven feet. Gotcha. And I know that certain religions can't eat pork products because of this. Here's what I'm having trouble with-- these kids can't eat Jello or fruit snacks. Maybe it's because I have yet to meet a kid who doesn't like Jello or fruit snacks. Or maybe it's because I consider Jello and fruit snacks a integral part of childhood. I don't know.

Actually, the more I think about it, it's not the fact that they can't eat gelatin products. I can file that into the can't-eat-bacon-and-pork-chops category. Here's what I have trouble with: these little kids (6 and 9) believe that they will go to hell if they eat fruit snacks. Really??? Not, "It's frowned upon." "It's just not a good idea." or "It will give you gas.", but "You will go to hell." I can't wrap my mind around that! And surely I can't be the only one. You can't tell me that God cares if kids eat fruit snacks.

I suppose I'll just have to resign myself to the fact that different religions have different beliefs and we all have to be tolerant and accepting. But, apparently, the kids and I are bound for hell because we love fruit snacks.