The Cat and the Bible.

[Alfie]

Taken from the book "Simon and Schuster's Guide to Cats"

In the Middle Ages, the cat became the personification of an evil witch. The hostility began in the middle of the thirteenth century; it seems to have been provoked by the the return to the adoration of a Norwegian divinity, Freya, pagan goddess of fertility. The cat played a part in the rites of this divinity.

To combat this, the Church authorized a total persecution of the cat. The cat is NEVER mentioned in the Bible. The superstition reached the nobility and the cat was taken as the source of all evil.

In Mary Tudor's England, the cat was burned as a sign of heresy of Protestantism, and under the reign of Elizabeth I as the symbol of Catholic heresy. The species was almost extinct in 1400.

The false beliefs and cruelties which faced the cat lasted a few centuries.  The many superstitions facing the cat today are the last traces of ancient fears and superstitions.

My thoughts: If cats are not mentioned in the Bible was this because they were, in fact, deliberately taken out of the Bible by the Church? This would certainly seem to be the case; other animals are mentioned.  

If so, I'm left pondering as to what else might have been taken out of the Bible or "put in" for that matter as to conviently accomodate the Church at that time.

Food for thought as they say.

Alfie

[Whitehorse]

Well, first there would need to be proof that cats were ever in the Bible to say they were taken out. But we know that they weren't, aside from references to lions, because we have the manuscripts. Not the originals but certainly very old ones, very reliable ones, and those far predate the thirteenth century. (Plus we know the Bible is God's inerrant word.   )

[Symphony]

Thank you, Alfie.  Yes, if mention of cats had been removed during Tudor England, it would be exposed with comparison of earlier manuscripts.  I "think" the earliest complete manuscript we have of the Bible, OT and NT, is around the 900s or 1000 A.D.(?), 'tho individual books of course are found much earlier.  For example, a complete scroll of Isaiah was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and that was dated to around 125 or 150 B.C.

Many of the Near Eastern ancients seems to have reverred the cat--the Egyptians, etc.

But I think I know the REAL answer here.  Your cat "Snowy" has you wrapped around her little finger--er, um, "paw"--hehe.

But can you really blame people for persecuting the cat?

I mean, just look at them.  They're fiercely independent.  They nod agreeably in obedience to you, then they go off and do what THEY want to do.

I mean, don't they just DESERVE at least a "dope slap" now and then?
 
(sorry, couldn't resist... )

[Alfie]

Okay,

I give up. Snowy made me do it; her feelings were hurt.  

One thing I can't stand is people who brag about their cats. But, now MY CAT will roll over and stand up to get a treat even without a "dope slap". Here that, Symphony?  

In fact, MY CAT IS the original Cat in the Hat.  
See, she made me do it again!

Alfie

[Symphony]

  Yes, my cat falls at my feet anytime I'm around.

  I liked the Dr. Seuss stuff.  Neat poetry, I thought.

[Alfie]

Hey Symphony,

Of course she does. I know the reason for that kind of feline behavior: you wear Hush Puppies, right?


Blessings to you my friend, and bottoms up on that morning coffee.  

Alfie