My impression after reading up on it is that cows are so economically important in a pre-industrial society. They can plow the fields, they give us dairy, and many societies brought their animals indoors with them to stay warm in the winter.
The sacred status of cows seems to have to do with the prohibition of eating meat. If you kill a cow you can’t milk it anymore, it can’t work your fields, and it ceases to become a productive member of society. In this sense, it seems that cattle were recognized as being a vulnerable member of society. It makes sense then that people would want them treated equitably and not be slaughtered. Most people would probably have a similar aversion to eating a steak made out of the family dog.
Cows do more, though. Dogs are wonderful, but the fact a cow can work a field and give milk means pretty much ALL the food in your village is cow-dependent in your stone-to-iron age culture. It’s very symbolic that it feeds everyone without needing to die, I think. All that while being usually gentle. I don’t worship anything but I can understand how they would be seen as sacred.
It almost reminds me of the guy who picked “bears” for the higher power he believed in for AA.
My impression after reading up on it is that cows are so economically important in a pre-industrial society. They can plow the fields, they give us dairy, and many societies brought their animals indoors with them to stay warm in the winter.
The sacred status of cows seems to have to do with the prohibition of eating meat. If you kill a cow you can’t milk it anymore, it can’t work your fields, and it ceases to become a productive member of society. In this sense, it seems that cattle were recognized as being a vulnerable member of society. It makes sense then that people would want them treated equitably and not be slaughtered. Most people would probably have a similar aversion to eating a steak made out of the family dog.
Fair enough, but most of us don’t worship dogs.
Cows do more, though. Dogs are wonderful, but the fact a cow can work a field and give milk means pretty much ALL the food in your village is cow-dependent in your stone-to-iron age culture. It’s very symbolic that it feeds everyone without needing to die, I think. All that while being usually gentle. I don’t worship anything but I can understand how they would be seen as sacred.
It almost reminds me of the guy who picked “bears” for the higher power he believed in for AA.
Cats though…
Yes, but there’s a reason for that. If you don’t worship them, they’ll eat your face when you’re asleep.
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