Page - 15 - in Limina - Grazer theologische Perspektiven, Volume 4:2

13 | www.limina-graz.eu LIMINA 4:2 | Food – Religious, ethical and philosophical aspects | Editorial homilies on Leviticus”. She analyses sermons on Leviticus that Origen, an influential early Christian scholar and Church Father, wrote as a presby- ter between 245 and 250 in Caesarea. On the example of pertinent quota- tions, Siquans offers insights into Origen’s scriptural interpretation, which is characterised by drawing links between the Old Testament and the New Testament and the quest for intrinsic spiritual meaning beneath the literal surface of Bible texts. The same spiritual interpretative approach is also evident in Origen’s understanding of dietary rules according to Leviticus. Siquans further shows how Origen frequently used images of eating and drinking in his teachings. Dilek Bozkaya, coordinator for continued education at the Department of Alevitical Religion, and Alfred Garcia Sobreira-Majer, professor and co-di- rector at the Research Centre for Intercultural, Interreligious and Inter- denominational Learning at the University College of Christian Churches for Teacher Education Vienna/Krems, investigate how experiencing and sharing meals from the festive and fasting traditions of Alevist and Chris- tian cultures can complement a comprehensive approach to interreligious teaching. In their article “Interreligious learning through culinary en- counters. Food-based concepts of teaching. On the example of Alevist and Christian traditions”, they explain the concept of ‘culinary encounters’ as a teaching tool for interreligious learning, underpinned by classroom and teacher training experience. The starting point is the meaning attached to food and drink in the Christian and Alevist traditions, which finds expres- sion in religious practice, as illustrated on selected examples. The constitu- ent role of food in identity formation can offer a new perspective for and enrich interreligious learning processes. The authors point out the poten- tial as well as limits of this approach. Isabelle Jonveaux, post-doctoral fellow, sociologist and member of the Cen- tres d’Etudes en Sciences Sociales du Religieux in Paris, concludes the aca- demic discussion with her article on “The transfer of fasting. From monas- tic asceticism to holistic therapeutic fasting”. She explores the transfor- mation of asceticism in religious and secular practices of fasting through a religio-sociological lens. Her analysis is based on field research she un- dertook in Austrian monasteries and observations at Buchinger-Lützner inspired fasting and walking retreats. The Open Space section of this issue offers additional food for thought on the subject. Michael Aldrian, a Buddhist religion teacher, social pedagogue and adult education teacher in Graz, attempts “An investigation of food