Perhaps everyone will agree that dogs are the best four-legged friends of a person and a more devoted animal are hard to find. However, from a religious point of view, everything is not so clear. What place occupy these animals in different beliefs?
Content
- 1. Dogs in Orthodoxy
- 2. Dogs in Islam
- 3. Dogs in Buddhism
- 4. Dogs in Zoroastrianism
Dogs in Orthodoxy
According to Christian, including Orthodox, views, all are creatures of God. The great sin is cruel, derogatory attitude to any living creatures. Justifiable the indignation of believers against the negative attitude of the church towards dogs and their presence in a person’s home.
But higher sin is even more terrible than cruelty. reverence for anyone other than God. However, often their dogs devotion, ability to assist and others positive qualities deserve human love, more stronger than he feels for his neighbors. Due to similar concerns the church ranked dogs as unclean animals. Many people think that this is due to the excessive sympathy of people for these pets.
Opinions on whether or not to keep dogs in the house, diverge. After all, many clergymen do not just live in the dwelling is kept in the bedrooms. They believe that the Orthodox can live with dogs in the same house, but put them on a level with children and parents – a real sin.
Despite the ban on dogs inside the temple, more associated with their unpredictable behavior, the modern church considers dogs useful and necessary pets. Today you can often hear about shelters for stray dogs established in the territory Orthodox churches. Priests teach children respect to all animals, including dogs.
However, dogs, like other animals, cannot die after death. to go to heaven, because only man has the Spirit, a particle of God. Orthodox can not pray for their pet, but can only ask for a person who can help in difficult times. Also you cannot ask God to take care of the soul of a sick or departed favorite, since immortality concerns only the human Spirit.
It will be interesting: life expectancy dogs.
Dogs in islam
In this religion, dogs are considered “unclean” creatures. but such an attitude was not inherent in the sources of belief, but It developed gradually until it became fundamental. In modern Islam treats these animals negatively, and sometimes even hostilely. It is necessary to clarify that the opinion of two Islamic movements about the uncleanness of dogs vary. Shiites support this point view, but not Sunnis.
It is believed that the attitude towards these animals began to change by the background of the conflict of religions – Zoroastrianism and Islam, which took place in ancient times. Then the Muslims seized the territory of the Zoroastrians and began to convert residents to their faith, of course, destroying existing cults, including a cult regarding dogs. because of prosperous intolerance came up with the idea that dogs are ritual unclean animals. Subsequently, such an opinion about canine has become an entrenched tradition.
In the Holy Quran, dogs are mentioned three times, and each time only in a positive way, but respect for them by all means eradicated and over time it became only a formality. Moreover this contradicts many hadiths indicating that all living creatures that the Most High created deserve the merciful relationships and compassion. One of the legends of Solomon says that For their merits, the dog and the horse were worthy of special mercy. – to act as an eternal companion of a person, occupying before Almighty deity second place after people.
According to Sharia rules, the sale and purchase fell under the ban any dogs (an exception is made only for greyhounds), but give them allowed. The use of these pets is only possible in practical purposes – in hunting, as security guards, watchmen, shepherds, as well as guide for the blind. Pet content for entertainment – aesthetics or dog fighting, it is strictly forbidden, in otherwise violators will receive a significant reduction in grace Allah.
The manifestation of kindness towards four-legged pets condemned, so often animals do not receive from their proper care owners. And those, in turn, explain this the requirements of faith. The person touching the dog will not admitted to prayers until the full ritual of purification has passed. Koran clearly indicates respect for these animals, however, most followers of Islam have a different opinion on this score.
Dogs in buddhism
In Buddhism there is no concept of “supreme god”, and the followers This religious movement worships the Buddha and believes in the transmigration of souls of all beings. Man himself, committing bad or good deeds, determines one’s own karma. After death a person is reborn, and into any creature, or interruption of rebirths is possible.
Buddhists do not exclude the possibility of further rebirth in animal, therefore, consider them ill-treatment unacceptable, and the offender will significantly spoil his karma and may degenerate into this animal.
The Buddha is often portrayed surrounded by various beasts, and it is believed that even the most ferocious predators will not be able to cause him harm. According to the Buddhist faith, animals have worse karma, but having improved it, they get a chance to undergo rebirth and become people. This view leads many Buddhists to become by vegetarians.
But the theory is theory, but in fact in states with a given religion is a lot of stray dogs, because people often are indifferent. They do not offend animals, but they are not in a hurry to help them, believing that they themselves are to blame for their bad karma.
Read also:
- as dogs see;
- Is it possible for dogs to have a sweet tooth?
Dogs in Zoroastrianism
This is probably the only world religion in which to dogs They are extremely respectful and only positive. Dog called “gracious creation” and put almost on one step with a person, she was considered the second holiest living creature, after the person. And besides, the Zoroastrians believed that dogs there is a soul.
Zoroastrians of Antiquity left a rich documentary a legacy reflecting how religion was related to dogs, and which they played a role in the life of the ancient peoples of Iran. These pets were connected with the world of the dead, higher powers, grandparents. And such them qualities like courage and vigilance have allowed dogs to become true companions of the followers of Zoroastrianism.
The process of feeding dogs is a ritual action, because Zoroastrians believe that the souls of dead people move to the body dogs. Therefore, the food they are given is actually intended for ancestors. Of course, pets are given the most tasty and high-quality, in tribute to the souls of departed people.
In one of the religious works it is written what should be given to dogs and at what time. In another, the torments of hell waiting those who do not feed dogs and offend them. Dogs get food first from the hands of the oldest family member, and afterwards to a meal the whole family sets about.
According to faith, dogs not only go through life with humans, but also accompany him after leaving. Dogs entrusted with an important mission – to stand guard, driving away otherworldly dark forces. Special vigilance is expected from them during the hours of tribulation, when demons can abduct soul at the time of his death. Therefore, during the funeral ritual four-eyed dog (with white hair, having black spots under eyes) must constantly be next to the body of the deceased, making special rite – watch and drive away a special demon – deva cadaver filthy.
If death overtakes a woman in childbirth and a child, then they lead two dogs, endowed with four eyes so that they can watch two souls. Often to a person on his deathbed, They stretch the puppy so that the soul can pass into it. Moreover, pet care is equivalent to human care and requires not only attention, but also the same rites that are used for burial people.
For injuring a four-legged human’s pet cruelly punished. Even dog feeding deserves reprimand inappropriate food. If the dog is injured in the process activities, the damage is compensated by punishment, but for death animal owner brutally beaten with a lash used to horses. If a person kills a dog, then his entire family is exposed a curse to the ninth knee, and the killer himself after death crowds of hellish demons, but no one will come to his aid, since light forces turned away from him.
But equality with man imposes certain requirements on dogs. The dog is also tried and punished if she attacks person. One bite costs the dog’s ear, for the second the dog loses second ear, after comes the tail, limbs— If the dog doesn’t corrected, the death penalty awaits her.
Different attitude to friends of our four-legged in many ways depends on religious beliefs, however, helping one’s neighbor and support the weak is not condemned by any religion and more refers to human qualities.
