Cows may not be directly connected with God or a god, but in the Indian Hindu faith they are dedicated to their (Hindu) religious purpose and so are regarded as Sacred and deserving veneration. Edit: .
I did say it's a matter of semantics, but the term 'sacred' is quite specific, and as cows are not worshiped, they're not sacred to Hindu's. Honest.
Oh no they're not. http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Hinduism/2001/06/Why-Is-The-Cow-Sacred.aspx Q: Why are cows sacred? A: In the chatrooms and message boards of the Internet, there are often bitter disputes between Indians and Pakistanis, which usually deteriorate into vulgar abuse. I have noticed that one of the most common forms of hitting out at Hindus is that they worship the cow. This might as well be cleared up now. The Hindu does not worship the cow, has never worshipped the cow, and is not likely to ever worship the cow. To continue to propagate this delusion is only indicative of ignorance and laziness, but the Hindu has nothing to do with it. The cow is not even sacred, in the way it has been misunderstood by Europeans. The cow is literally taboo, a very different animal indeed from the sacred cow of popular delusion. Taboos in sociological terms are both positive and negative, as in taboos that must be respected and deferred to, as well as taboos that deal with what is abhorrent.
Allowing you the latitude of semantics, which I do accept, sacred is not limited in context to specific worship, it can and does include veneration which is exactly the manner in which it is held sacred to the Indian Hindu population; the slaughterhouses will provide plenty of beef fore the enjoyment of the Muslim and Christian populations of India.
Not according to Hindu's. See previous post. EDIT. It's pretty much irrelevant. I should have known better than to mindlessly toss it in.
When I was in India about 4 years ago I saw a cow give birth casually on the side of a road, (well I say road). There was a young woman there rather distressed as the calf was 'exiting' backwards. She told me that cows were gods children and it would be unthinkable if the calf died. They are certainly held in high regard, if not worshiped. They also roam freely through traffic and on the beaches.
You thought your point worth making, even though it is based on archaic argument that does not reflect the way in which modern Indian Hinduism venerates the beast, even though they do not worship it (as the Shroud of Turin may be venerated, but not worshipped); something that the definition of sacred embraces. Let's consider it tossed back out.
G Of course you are swerving and sidestepping to a standard not seen since the days of David Duckham. You were arguing that sacred meant worshipping. It doesn't. Therefore to say cows are sacred to Hindus is correct and your assertions are incorrect.
It's not MY point, it's the Hindu's that say they don't worship cows, and in fact find that claim offensive. What sidestep's is this? I'll simply respect the Hindu's opinion.
Anyone who's been to India knows full well that cows take priority over people, the ****ing things amble around in the middle of the road and everyone takes their lives in their hands avoiding them and god help you if you drive into one, you can expect to be beaten to death on the spot.
Your sidestep regarding your being incorrect in stating that saying something is sacred means you must worship it.
Okey dokey. I don't see it as I sidestep, but can understand why you would. It takes nothing away from the rather semantic point I was making, and explained with the comment from a Hindu.
So were are chickens in the 'pecking order' Just trying to understand Blackburn Rovers standing.........
