We do see there are places where it is more or less forbidden to help homeless cats.
Lets look at the religious aspects and what our major religions says.
Judaism says a lot for caring for animals. Many places in the Old Testamente witness of this.
Islam is known for caring of pregnant camels, but I know at least one tale of the duty to help a homeless dog to get water even if it is troublesome - if the dog cant get water from the well himself. And mind you, the dogs had a very low standing in the arabic society in these time...
Our problem is Christianity is supposed to spread decency yes, etc. But as I know Christianity doesnt say much about animals. Christianity is about our relation to God and our relation to other humans.
Does this means christian americans are forced to point back to the Old Testamente?
Not only!:
There is the very central tale of the good shepherd and his sheeps. The shepherd caring about ALL the sheeps, even - especially -that sheep which get stray. There is also the similiar tale of the father and the son who went astray but is returning back.
This tale is about God and His followers - the humans..
Sometays it is also interpreted as the parish´priest and the people in his town.
But where in the Bible is it written it must be taken only as such? Nowhere.
So it may very well also be about a real shepherd taking care of his sheeps!
Or a cat-lover taking care of hers cats - even - and especielly - cats who went astray or were abandoned.
Ie helping abandoned, astray, or feral cats should be good work according to Gods will and Christians ideals.
Of course, helping people in distress is important yes. But nobody can help all, but all can help somebody. And we are helping the cats, therefore doing our share in Gods holy work.
Either we are Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddists or even atheists.
So is my firmly believing, so help me God.
Comments and filling in are welcome.
Lets look at the religious aspects and what our major religions says.
Judaism says a lot for caring for animals. Many places in the Old Testamente witness of this.
Islam is known for caring of pregnant camels, but I know at least one tale of the duty to help a homeless dog to get water even if it is troublesome - if the dog cant get water from the well himself. And mind you, the dogs had a very low standing in the arabic society in these time...
Our problem is Christianity is supposed to spread decency yes, etc. But as I know Christianity doesnt say much about animals. Christianity is about our relation to God and our relation to other humans.
Does this means christian americans are forced to point back to the Old Testamente?
Not only!:
There is the very central tale of the good shepherd and his sheeps. The shepherd caring about ALL the sheeps, even - especially -that sheep which get stray. There is also the similiar tale of the father and the son who went astray but is returning back.
This tale is about God and His followers - the humans..
Sometays it is also interpreted as the parish´priest and the people in his town.
But where in the Bible is it written it must be taken only as such? Nowhere.
So it may very well also be about a real shepherd taking care of his sheeps!
Or a cat-lover taking care of hers cats - even - and especielly - cats who went astray or were abandoned.
Ie helping abandoned, astray, or feral cats should be good work according to Gods will and Christians ideals.
Of course, helping people in distress is important yes. But nobody can help all, but all can help somebody. And we are helping the cats, therefore doing our share in Gods holy work.
Either we are Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddists or even atheists.
So is my firmly believing, so help me God.
Comments and filling in are welcome.