Schrödinger's dogs
Isaac Schrödinger will probably be alive whether or not you read his blog. But he sheds some light on what in my book is no trivial indictment of Islamic society: the problem it has with dogs, which are among the noblest creatures on Earth.
Not to beat a dead horse, but in my experience a person's attitude toward dogs (and even more, their evaluation of that person) says a great deal about him or her. And religiously- based cruelty to animals- and dogs in particular- does not say very much that is good about the religion that inspires it.
HT: PajamasMedia
Comments
Psalm 22:
"dogs have surrounded me... a band of evil men have encircled me"
Wasn't "dog" the perjorative term for the Gentile?
FWIW
But the Israelites didn't consider it a duty to torture dogs to death, or sexually abuse them, as the Turkish municipal authorities have been doing (see my earlier entry). But no. I suppose the ancient Israelites didn't share Luther's fondness for man's best friend. But their taste in kings and deities was often less than ideal as well, as I recall.
Perhaps a greater appreciation of the dog might have inspired in them a greater sense of loyalty to their Master.
I just picked up Konrad Lorenz's Man Meets Dog in a used book store. He offers some speculation on the early process of domestication.
The Psalm 22 reference may be more a way of referring to how dogs travel in a pack, and collectively lay in wait for a victim. "Dogs" is used pejoratively elsewhere, but in the other cases, it could be referring to people who act like canines where human behavior is called for.