Cats and religion have always had mixed relationships, which depended on the cats themselves and their behavior, and, often, not very clear dogmas and commandments. Today, when the number of religious people and practicing believers of all faiths is growing, we set out to clarify the attitude of various religions to cats.
Cats and Religion: Judaism
In the Torah, the cat is not mentioned, apparently, the Jewish nomads did not need the services of the keeper of the barns, but they also considered the cat a symbol of idolatry because of the honors that she found in neighboring Egypt. In the Talmud, cats catch snakes and are called a model of modesty, although at the same time it is said that they can be dangerous for children (there is a case where a cat bit off a child’s hand) .In general, Jews are not forbidden to keep a cat at home (unlike a dog), the cat needs to be looked after, it needs to be treated and well fed. Cruelty to cats and their castration is forbidden, however, it is not forbidden to apply insignificant physical force to an animal if it is too persistently disturbing a person. And most importantly, love for a cat should not be stronger than love for people, help should be primary. Only ultra-Orthodox Jews (haredim) consider pets to be the lot of goyim, and therefore they can easily stone a cat or a dog if they catch their eye.
Cats and Religion: Christianity
In early Christianity, cats had an exceptionally positive attitude. There was a legend that the baby Jesus was cold in the manger, and the cat came to him to warm her body. In gratitude for the help, the Virgin Mary stroked the animal on the forehead, leaving its sign - the letter "M". And according to another myth, only God allowed the cat to remember the way back to Paradise after Adam and Eve were expelled from him, but in the Middle Ages the attitude towards cats changed dramatically, though only among Catholics. Cats were accused of collaborating with the devil and witches, they became a symbol of witchcraft, lust, sinfulness, heresy and even theft. In Germany, cats were burned at the stake, in Flanders they were thrown off the towers, in France they were killed to death. It is believed that the Inquisition exterminated up to 90% of all European cats. Such a strange attitude towards mouse and rat hunters led to the rapid spread of the plague and to the almost complete extinction of Europe. As a result, Catholicism rehabilitated cats and now treats them positively. In Orthodoxy, cats have never been persecuted and have always been considered pure animals. A cat can live at home and even in a temple, only you can not let it into the red corner and into the altar, respectively.The Copts generally believe that cats take part in the afterlife trial of the righteous and sinners. Probably such a belief - echoes of Egyptian cat worship.Only some Protestants have a negative attitude towards the baleen. Moreover, if Catholics especially did not like black cats, then the Puritans did not please - white. White cats from Scandinavian and Anglo-American Protestants are considered accomplices in adultery and debauchery. Most likely, the reason for this is the Celtic belief about the goddess Karidven, who was served by white cats. And of course, cats have holy patrons. In Orthodoxy, St. Blasius takes care of cats, while veterinarians should pray to St. Frol and Lavra. Catholics bless their pets on the day of St. Francis of Assisi, according to legend, a cat saved him from a plague rat, and the patroness of cats is called St. Gertrude of Nivelles, who needs to pray for deliverance from mice. cats. Just do not forget that animals, even God's creatures, are creatures created for people to satisfy their needs, and therefore it is wrong to make a cult out of love for cats.
To be continued...