cats and religion
Publié le 22/02/2012
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The symbolism and role of
the cat in religion. The cat, an animal at once
mysterious, independent, and familiar, has long
been felt to have special spiritual power. In
ancient Egypt, the GODDESS of pleasure, Bast, was
symbolized by a cat, and her temple was full of
sacred cats, which were mummifi ed after death
(see EGYPTIAN RELIGION). On the other hand, in
medieval Europe, cats, especially black ones,
were sometimes thought to be demonic, envoys
or even personifi cations of the devil and familiars
of witches, and sacrifi ced to ward off ill-fortune.
The HALLOWEEN black cat is a carryover from
those unhappy days for cats. In ISLAM, the prophet
MUHAMMAD is said to have been especially fond
of cats and so they are well regarded. In Japan
it has been considered bad luck to kill a cat. For
many people in the modern world, a pet dog or
cat remains their closest contact with the wonder
and mystery of the animal world.
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