Animals in Religion

main reasons why animals are used in religion

sacrifice, idols, symbols

five animals that are commonly used as a sacrifice

bull, cow, sheep, goat, pig

the role of dogs in religion

Christianity: mentioned in the bible 32 times, mostly negatively, catholicism pictures saints with their dogs

Judaism: dogs are considered unclean (from diseased feral dogs carried), represented as faithful protectors, respects the bond that people have with their pets, dogs must be fed before you eat, sabbath rest, prohibits neutering, proper treatment (forbids the suffering of living creatures), those who show compassion for animals often will show mercy for humans as well

Islam: dogs are considered unclean, dogs are recognized as beneficial workers, and helping a dog is considered a good deed towards Islam

Hinduism: Shiva is often represented by four dogs, Yama (the angel of death), are protectors of homes and lives

Egypt: sacrificed dogs so they could protect them in the afterlife, buried with their dogs, Anubis

Greece: dogs are messengers of gods or demigods, Cerberus who was the guarder of the gates of Hades and was a three-headed dog

cats and ancient egypt

• helped with snakes/rodents, soon after were allowed into houses and domesticated

• bastet: the power of the sun god; the “good” goddess

• Sekhmet: goddess of war; the “evil” goddess

horses in mythology

greek mythology:

• Pegasus or half-human Centaur

• Poseidon claimed the role of god of horses

• Athena goddess of horsemanship

Celtic Mythology:

• Epona: goddess of horses

horse sacrifice

common in Hinduism: Ashvamedha was regarded as a mini re-creation of the world

Horse in Christianity

strength and speed of the word of the Lord

used to guide souls to the underworld, a symbol of resurrection

Arabian horses

considered a gift from Allah to the Islamic people

• bulging forehead or “Jibbah”- a blessing from Allah, so the bigger the better

sheep in religion

Christianity: sheep are righteous animals and followers of God; Jesus is compared to a sacrificial lamb

Muslim Holidays: are often celebrated with a meal involving lamb.

Sumerians: immortalized sheep; to guard and represent flocks

Duttur: sheep goddess and protector of flocks, a mother goddess of both Dumuzi (lord of shepherds) and gestinanna (goddess of dreams)

Egyptians: same concept of sheep; many Egyptian graves were buried with sheep for sacred reasons

Greek Mythology: a substitute for human sacrifice

Islamic: “festival of the sacrifice”, meat is divided into 3 shares (poor, family and friends, oneself)

haruspicy

a way to tell the future with the use of animal entrails for divination

hepatoscopy/hepatomancy

the reading of omens specifically from the liver

role of cattle in religion

Hinduism: sacrificed to the gods; meat was eaten, the five products of a cow (milk, cheese, butter, dung, urine)

Nandi and Kamadhenu: Nadi the Bull- the vehicle of Shiva; protects Shiva, damadhenu is the divine bovine goddess; mother of all cows

gopastami

the cow holiday, a celebration of manhood, cows are decorated with colorful jewelry and blankets, devotees paint handprints and paint the horns, fed a meal of specially prepared fine grasses

Donkeys in Religion

Christianity: Mary and Jesus rode Donkeys to Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Jewish: mounted on a donkey

chickens in religion

used in sacrificial ceremonies

symbols: rooster for virility, hen for nurturance and fertility, or cowardly

Chinese Zodiac: pride honesty, courage

Hinduism: cremation ceremony, chickens can channel evil spirits away, a religious cockfight, the blood spilled with calm evil spirits and appease them

Judaism: Kaparot, meat from the chicken is usually donated to charity