Cats and dogs in Christianity and Muslim religions

[Steve Hayes]

I recently downloaded a 'bible search' software (don't ask). When I did
a search on 'cats' there were zero hits, whereas mention of dogs were
aplenty, alongside cattle, sheep, goats.
It seems Muslims have a different view regarding cats.
"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and is
admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to Muhammad."
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats
Mohammad aside, anyone care to put forward a theory as to why?

This is the kind of topic that cries to heaven for crossposting, since
it is a question of fact and theology, and not one of English usage at
all. So if you don't like the Usenet culture that permits and even
encourages crsooposting, as Maggie Thatcher would have said: Tough!

First: see here:

<https://duckduckgo.com/?q=orthodoxy+animals+cats&t=ffsb&iax=images&ia=images>

and then there are:

St. Gertrude

Saint Gertrude was born in the Belgian city of Nivelles in the year
626. She attended a Cistercian monastery school. She became known for
her generosity and devotion to God and to her faith. She later left
the monastery to take care of those in need.

The abbey that she founded remains today. It survived an attack by
French forces in 1794 and the bombing of Nazi Germany in 1940. Today,
she is the unofficial patron saint of cats. She was born into an
illustrious dynasty in early medieval Europe. Her father was the Mayor
of the Palace of Austrasia, which was a place of usurpation.

<https://www.orthodoxchurchquotes.com/orthodox-saints-for-animals/>

There is also this:

The Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats

The monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats is located southwest of
the Akrotiri salt lake, the largest lake in Cyprus. It is one of the
oldest monasteries in Cyprus, and according to tradition, it was
founded by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine the Great in the 4th
century. It is believed that the monastery was a shelter for fugitive
monks, who had been chased away during the Iconoclastic era.

Recent excavations support the belief that the area was a dock of
great importance for the fleet of the Byzantine Empire. Its role in
imperial policy, hosting refugees and holy heirlooms, could possibly
have been altered and identified solely with the Monastery itself.
Nearby ruins of the chapel of Saint Varas on the shores of the salt
lake are also probably an extension of the northern side of the
Monastery.

The monastery dates back to the 14th century and was always just for
men. It was destroyed by a great earthquake in the 16th century, but
then reconstructed and once again functioned until 1570 when the
Ottoman Empire conquered the island. The monastery was reconstructed
again in the 18th century but abandoned for a century after that. In
1983, it became a convent once again, which today houses only a few
nuns who are dedicated to taking care of the cats and painting icons.

<https://allaboutlimassol.com/en/the-holy-monastery-of-saint-nicholas-of-the-cats-akrotiri>

[occam]

Post by Steve Hayes

I recently downloaded a 'bible search' software (don't ask). When I did
a search on 'cats' there were zero hits, whereas mention of dogs were
aplenty, alongside cattle, sheep, goats.
It seems Muslims have a different view regarding cats.
"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and is
admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to Muhammad."
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats
Mohammad aside, anyone care to put forward a theory as to why?

This is the kind of topic that cries to heaven for crossposting, since
it is a question of fact and theology, and not one of English usage at
all. So if you don't like the Usenet culture that permits and even
encourages crsooposting, as Maggie Thatcher would have said: Tough!
<https://duckduckgo.com/?q=orthodoxy+animals+cats&t=ffsb&iax=images&ia=images>
St. Gertrude
Saint Gertrude was born in the Belgian city of Nivelles in the year
626. She attended a Cistercian monastery school. She became known for
her generosity and devotion to God and to her faith. She later left
the monastery to take care of those in need.
The abbey that she founded remains today. It survived an attack by
French forces in 1794 and the bombing of Nazi Germany in 1940. Today,
she is the unofficial patron saint of cats. She was born into an
illustrious dynasty in early medieval Europe. Her father was the Mayor
of the Palace of Austrasia, which was a place of usurpation.
<https://www.orthodoxchurchquotes.com/orthodox-saints-for-animals/>
The Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats
The monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats is located southwest of
the Akrotiri salt lake, the largest lake in Cyprus. It is one of the
oldest monasteries in Cyprus, and according to tradition, it was
founded by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine the Great in the 4th
century. It is believed that the monastery was a shelter for fugitive
monks, who had been chased away during the Iconoclastic era.

Thank you for the link. This looks more like a YouTube collection of
orthodox priests and cats. We all know the Bible was an early form of
YouTube. The absence of 'cats' in the Bible is where I drew my initial
conclusion.

Post by Steve Hayes
The Holy Monastery of St Nicholas of the Cats
The monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats is located southwest of
the Akrotiri salt lake, the largest lake in Cyprus. It is one of the
oldest monasteries in Cyprus, and according to tradition, it was
founded by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine the Great in the 4th
century. It is believed that the monastery was a shelter for fugitive
monks, who had been chased away during the Iconoclastic era.

I have visited this place, which is not too far from the British
military base on the island. Yes, I had heard of the
mother-of-Constantine story. Can't say if it is true or not, but its a
believable narrative.

Post by Steve Hayes
Recent excavations support the belief that the area was a dock of
great importance for the fleet of the Byzantine Empire. Its role in
imperial policy, hosting refugees and holy heirlooms, could possibly
have been altered and identified solely with the Monastery itself.
Nearby ruins of the chapel of Saint Varas on the shores of the salt
lake are also probably an extension of the northern side of the
Monastery.
The monastery dates back to the 14th century and was always just for
men. It was destroyed by a great earthquake in the 16th century, but
then reconstructed and once again functioned until 1570 when the
Ottoman Empire conquered the island. The monastery was reconstructed
again in the 18th century but abandoned for a century after that. In
1983, it became a convent once again, which today houses only a few
nuns who are dedicated to taking care of the cats and painting icons.

[pyotr filipivich]

I recently downloaded a 'bible search' software (don't ask). When I did
a search on 'cats' there were zero hits, whereas mention of dogs were
aplenty, alongside cattle, sheep, goats.
It seems Muslims have a different view regarding cats.
"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and is
admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to Muhammad."
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats
Mohammad aside, anyone care to put forward a theory as to why?

For one, cats were pagan gods from their time in Egypt.
Probably as well there had been few domestic cats in Canaan when
the Israelites arrived.

Secondly, it is well attested that Mohammed liked cats.

Beyond that, I'd say there is no significance to the difference.
FYI: there are no cats in any of the zodiacs, for what it is worth.
tschus
pyotr

--
For many "I am spiritual, not religious".seems the short form of
"I retain the option to adjust my beliefs to fit my lifestyle,
nor be constrained by prior statements about what I said I believe."

[Peter Moylan]

"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and
is admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to
Muhammad."

Some friends of mine bought a robot cat for their mother, who lives in a
nursing home and has advanced dementia. The cat is remarkably lifelike,
and was a good companion for the mother. Then some idiot, a worker in
the nursing home, told her it wasn't a real cat. The mother got so upset
that she threw the expensive toy into the garbage.

[pyotr filipivich]

Post by Peter Moylan

"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and
is admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to
Muhammad."

Some friends of mine bought a robot cat for their mother, who lives in a
nursing home and has advanced dementia. The cat is remarkably lifelike,
and was a good companion for the mother. Then some idiot, a worker in
the nursing home, told her it wasn't a real cat. The mother got so upset
that she threw the expensive toy into the garbage.

Sigh, as you said "some idiot."

I've learned dealing with "adults of diminished capacity" that
trying to make them "face reality" is often a bad thing.
Elsbeth gran would occasionally refuse to deal with anything
contemporary, and Elsbeth would sit and 'gossip' with her about boys,
clothes, etc. "Interesting enough" gran would often be more "lucid"
afterwards.
My grandma would report that her brother had joined her for
breakfast (never mind he lives 300 miles away) and then shot a lion in
the back yard. Whatcha gonna do?

tschus
pyotr

--
For many "I am spiritual, not religious".seems the short form of
"I retain the option to adjust my beliefs to fit my lifestyle,
nor be constrained by prior statements about what I said I believe."

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by pyotr filipivich
Whatcha gonna do?

Not crosposting to far too many groups would be a good start,

Jan

[occam]

Post by pyotr filipivich

I recently downloaded a 'bible search' software (don't ask). When I did
a search on 'cats' there were zero hits, whereas mention of dogs were
aplenty, alongside cattle, sheep, goats.
It seems Muslims have a different view regarding cats.
"The cat is considered "the quintessential pet" by Muslims, and is
admired for its cleanliness, and was a beloved animal to Muhammad."
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_cats
Mohammad aside, anyone care to put forward a theory as to why?

For one, cats were pagan gods from their time in Egypt.
Probably as well there had been few domestic cats in Canaan when
the Israelites arrived.
Secondly, it is well attested that Mohammed liked cats.
Beyond that, I'd say there is no significance to the difference.

Well, I'm astounded! It appears that there are no mention of cats in the
Quran either. These creatures are ghosted by the Quran, just like in the
Bible.

<https://www.thelastdialogue.org/article/list-of-all-animals-mentioned-in-quran/>

[v***@at.BioStrategist.dot.dot.com]

My closest (secular) Turkish friend has a dog sitting by his feet at his
university office. But I believe islam traditionally disdained dogs.

I for one prefer dogs to cats. They are smarter and more honest because they
are evolutionarily more advanced. Dogs, bears and seals are only one step
below primates. I believe the claim that when they mess up, dogs are
embarassed, but cats boast. Although my wonderful Samoyed is shameless about
chewing anything in sight, often to my horror about his well being.