The Lippard Blog: Dogs and the Bible

Friday, July 28, 2006

Dogs and the Bible

Odyssey Truett, a Springer Spaniel, comments on the Bible's negativity about dogs.

(Hat tip to Ed Babinski.)

6 comments:

Blue Coyote said...: I dont like that link and i think the writer of that "blog" is a complete ignoramus and doesnt understand dogs himself.
True that there arent many nice things in the Bible about dogs. Most of the references i've read about them were comparing them to bad things.. dogs eating scraps in the street or the dead people who are sinners unworthy of burial. aka Pariah dogs, living on the fringes of society and not really doing much good for anyone but themselves. However in a lot places in the world this is still true today. the homeless dogs are thieves, scavengers, carriers of vermin and disease, and not very well liked among the locals.
Being cast out among the dogs in the Bible was never a good thing for that reason because there is no one to care for you and you are scorned.. and one that i see again and again proven true by people i know personally is in Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly". Yes dogs can regurgitate FOOD but there is a clear distinction of FOOD and VOMIT. When you vomit its because there is something wrong with the food. wouldnt you think you should probably not eat it....? If you barf up steak and eggs are you going to scrape it off the floor and put it back on your plate for a second chance? There are usually good medical reasons why a dog returns to its vomit.. they would rather re-eat tainted food than starve to death because thats the only option a pariah dog has. One way or the other he is going to die.... but at least he can die with a full belly even if its poison rather than dying a slow death by starvation.
I dont believe the Bible is saying ALL dogs are bad. i believe it speaks mostly about street dogs. and if you've ever lived in a place where stray dogs were a danger or destroyed your property then you would understand why the comparison fits with sinners and thieves.; November 7, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Lippard said...: Street dogs' condition is entirely the fault of human beings, not the dogs themselves. Why doesn't the Bible put the blame where it belongs? Instead, it seems to take for granted that such dogs are part of the natural condition. Kind of like the Bible's position on slavery.

And regarding dogs eating vomit, the Bible also speaks of rabbits chewing their cud, or rumination (Leviticus 11:6). In fact, they eat some of their own droppings (cecotropes) in order to re-digest them and obtain nutrients they need, a process called refection. The Bible gets it wrong.

The Bible's not a reliable guide to morals or science.

Thanks for stopping by and expressing your opinion.; November 7, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Blue Coyote said...: I also want to point and CORRECT their context in Matthew 15:21. infact this person should probably read the entire chapter... Jesus said "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" and the chapter goes on to say "The woman came and knelt before him 'Lord help!' she said. He answered 'It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 'Yes Lord' she said, 'but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.' Then Jesus answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour."
What does that all mean? She wasnt a Christian but she was willing to accept the master. She was a lost soul, a stray, a dog without a home... and yet she had sense enough to seek help from the right master and was rewarded for her blind faith and trust.... also a common trait in dogs.

Its all very easy to follow if people will actually read the entire chapter and attempt to see past their own prejudices and uneducated judgments. Whether or not you believe in the Bible... its pure and simple "reading and comprehension" .. stuff they used to teach in grade school..; November 7, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Blue Coyote said...: I agree that the street dogs condition is the fault of humans... but what sort of idiot wants to breed animals with no purpose? obviously someone who hasnt got very good morals in life or a sense of "cause and effect" a dog with a purpose is one that works. he hunts, he guards, he herds.... in those times there was no use for a common man to have a pet. a pet dog was useless and used up resources and did nothing in return. What good is a comforting companion when you are giving it your food and starving your family to death? Again i refer to the "giving the children's bread to the dogs"
If you have never hit hard times and been broke and not know where your next pay check is going to come from then you may never understand my POV. having a pet at such a time is insane.. especially if you have children. You've got a weird set of priorities if you insist on bringing a dog home when you have no money to care for it AND your children.

And there is STILL a difference in chewing cud, vomiting and regurgitation. cud is regurgitation... only for one's own personal benefit. regurgitating food for young is obviously helping the young to survive and thrive and prepare them to eat real food. vomit is still vomit. it doesnt belong. the food is bad.

Rabbits eat droppings but in the same sense that a cow burps up its dinner. the rabbit doesnt just take a dump then turn around and eat it. I own rabbits and i know what i'm talking about. Rabbits dont normally chew their cud until late in the evening. A lot of old timers refer to those "Special" pellets as Night Droppings. its different than usual pellets they drop all day long. Rabbits CANT control where they poop but they can control where they pee.. because they mark their territory with urine. They poop as they hop along. The easiest way to litter box train a rabbit is to determine where he hangs out the most and keep litter pans in the path. But that is beside the point.; November 7, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Blue Coyote said...: and in parting... i want to point out the differences between the OLD Testament and the NEW Testament.. which makes a point in telling the people to eat what they want as long as they bless it. it also denounces circumcision telling Gentiles not to conform to that trend and the Jews to stick to their own traditions.
There is plenty of scientific fact in the Bible. but you must remember... this is all coming from people using ONLY common sense... Pigs eat all kinds of nasty, disgusting things... including their own kind AND people. Certain types of shell fish and muscles can kill you if they become tainted. Crabs and shrimp also eat all kinds of rotting dead things. And these people are living by the saying "You are what you eat" ... and who wants to be fish crap?
But once again... in Matthew it talks about cleanliness... not just about dogs.

Anyway... good day.; November 7, 2007 at 12:41 PM
ponch78 said...: "... but what sort of idiot wants to breed animals with no purpose?" Answer: can you spell -- g-o-d?; August 19, 2009 at 7:27 PM