In the Hindu religion, if you take care of cows, your family will prosper and you will have peace. Your children will have a good spiritual life. God will look after them. In India’s capital city there are as many as 3 cow shelters that serve as both barn and sanctuary for thousands of urban cows. And in a city of 17 million, people that is, an estimated 40,000 cows roam freely on the streets.
So imagine my surprise this week when I read in Time Magazine that India is the world’s largest exporter of…beef! In fact India accounts for about 23% of the world’s beef exports with Brazil close behind and the U.S in a distant fourth place at around 11%. (Australia is third)
But how is this possible? Is sacred now a word synonymous with delicious? Well, as it would turn out, with a little more research on my part, what India exports is carabeef, which is another word for the meat of a Water buffalo, which is a relative of the American Cattle from which our delicious and very own cow derives, which of course is what we also call a female Water Buffalo…even in India.
Anyway, It seems to me that all religious belief among humans, as with any other form of belief or worship, present or past, and even among those of us who choose to cling to our beliefs religiously… is all relative in the end…and no matter how devout or casual, probably just as tasty as anyone elses.
ipledgeafallegiance 