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Sacred, Symbolic, and Contested
Critical Perspectives on Human-Animal Relations in Culture and Society
Series: - Human-Animal Studies, Volume: 31
Author:
Sacred, Symbolic, and Contested explores how animals are revered, represented, and disputed across global cultures. Through vivid case studiesâfrom sacred cows in India to ritual slaughter in Judaism and animal commodification in industrial societiesâthis book reveals how human-animal relationships express deep ethical, religious, and political tensions. Youâll encounter surprising contradictions: animals celebrated in myth yet mistreated in practice or protected in law yet consumed in daily life. Drawing on sociology, religious studies, and critical animal studies, this timely work invites you to rethink the role of animals in shaping human identity, culture, and moral responsibility.
Gregory S. Szarycz is a cultural sociologist whose interdisciplinary work spans human-animal studies, ritual, and symbolic identity. He has written about animal metaphors in the Old Testament in Between the Species and animal performativity in Brillâs Theorizing Animals (2011).
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Tables and Figures
Introduction
Introduction to Part 1
1 Sacred Souls, Cursed Beings: Unveiling the Treatment of Animals across World Religions
â1âReligious Roots of Utilitarian Treatment of Animals?
â2âAncient Egyptian Beliefs and Their Reverence for Animals
â3âSeparatism or Harmony with Nature? Re-evaluating Prehistoric Ideologies and HumanâEnvironmental Relationships
â4âConfronting Taboos
â5âCeremonial Purity
â6âSlaughter
2 Traditional Folk Beliefs and the Role of Animals in Polish Rural Rites
3 From Tradition to Modernity: the Evolution of Ritual Slaughter in Islamic Culture
â1âCommands Regarding Ritual Slaughter of Animals
â2âControversies Regarding Dhabihah Ritual Slaughter
â3âThe Debate Regarding Ritual Animal Slaughter in France and Worldwide
4 Of Gods and Gills: a Historical Exploration of Fish in Culture
â1âFrom the Sacred to the Profane
â2âAncient Gods
â3âTwilight of the Ancient Gods
Introduction to Part 2
5 Between Rationalism and Sentimentalism: Philosophical Considerations Regarding Ethical Norms Concerning Animals
â1âBiological Chauvinism and the Concept of Speciesism
â2âAnthropocentrism and Hominism in Philosophy
â3âNew Bio-ethics: a Paradigm Shift
â4âFinal Thoughts
6 From Companions to Companionship: Navigating HumanâAnimal Interactions and the Rise of Animaltronics in Japan
â1âPhilosophical Systems and Religious Influences on HumanâAnimal Relations in Japan
â2âThe Evolution of Practices Related to Animal Slaughter
â3âCompanion Animals in Contemporary Japan
â4âRobotic AnimalsâContinuity in the HumanâAnimal Relationship?
â5âAnimals Caught in the Trap of Anthropomorphism
7 Horse and Human: a Partnership through the Ages
â1âA Pragmatic Alliance: a Historical Perspective on Humanâ Horse Interaction
â2âThe Evolution of Breeding Practices
8 The Snake in the Tradition of Cultures and Religions: an Outline of Selected Issues
â1âThe Snake in Mythologies, Beliefs, and Symbolism
â2âThe Snake as Life Symbol
9 Animal Insults: Why Do We Refer to Animals When Insulting Someone?
â1âLinguistic Examples
â2âGeneral Conclusions
â3âStrategic-Manipulative Interpretation
â4âFlat Ontology and Dark Ecology
â5âNon-dualistic Language
Introduction to Part 3
10 The Era of Defaunation: Civilization at War with Animals
â1âAnimals and Our Ancestors
â2âCurrent Efforts to Safeguard Biodiversity
â3âThe âGreat Accelerationâ in the Loss of Biological Diversity
â4âScientistsâ Wake-up Call to Humanity and the Extent of Animal Decline
â5âThe Causes of Species Extinction
â6âPlanetary Boundaries and Species Extinction
â7âA World on the Edge
â8âThe Great Killing
11 Paws and Hooves in the Polar Snow: Careless Compassion in Extreme Environments?
â1âThe Great Antarctic Quest: the English Expedition Takes Shape
â2âPain, Suffering, and Death
â3âDiscussion and Conclusions
12 Animals in Sport and Entertainment: a Cultural Lens on Controversial Encounters
â1âHorses in Sport and Recreation
â2âCanine Sports and Activities
â3âThe Global History and Culture of Horse Racing
â4âGreyhound Racing and Unusual Animal Races
â5âEthical Concerns and Training Practices
â6âFrom Ritual to Brutality: Historical Animal Combat
â7âRodeo: Tradition, Sport, and Contention
â8âHunting, Falconry, and HumanâAnimal Partnerships
â9âFrom Pigeon Shooting to Modern Clay Target Sports
â10âExotic Pets and Extreme Breeds
â11âZoos, Aquariums, and Animal Captivity
â12âCircus Animals and the Decline of Animal Acts
â13âFrom Groundhog Day to Cultural Folklore
â14âConclusion: toward Ethical Entertainment
13 The Plea for Life: Animal Mercy Rights Examined through the Corrida de Toros
â1âPardoning Animals in History
â2âClemency Law during Corrida de Toros
â3âThose That Survived
â4âIs Bullfighting a Cultural Phenomenon?
â5âConcerts, Cabarets, and Corridas
14 Animal Welfare in China: Exploring Philosophical Foundations and Legal Frameworks
â1âAnimals in Chinese Philosophy
â2âLegal Protection of Animals in China
â3âPeopleâs Republic of China Wildlife Protection Law
â4âAmendment to the Wildlife Protection Law of the Peopleâs Republic of China
â5âConcluding Thoughts
Conclusion
â1âIntegrative Perspectives on HumanâAnimal Relations
â2âRethinking Ethical Frameworks and Cultural Narratives
â3âImplications for Environmental and Social Policy
â4âFuture Research Directions
â5âConcluding Reflections
Bibliography
Index
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Tables and Figures
Introduction
Part 1: Sacred
Introduction to Part 1
1 Sacred Souls, Cursed Beings: Unveiling the Treatment of Animals across World Religions
â1âReligious Roots of Utilitarian Treatment of Animals?
â2âAncient Egyptian Beliefs and Their Reverence for Animals
â3âSeparatism or Harmony with Nature? Re-evaluating Prehistoric Ideologies and HumanâEnvironmental Relationships
â4âConfronting Taboos
â5âCeremonial Purity
â6âSlaughter
2 Traditional Folk Beliefs and the Role of Animals in Polish Rural Rites
3 From Tradition to Modernity: the Evolution of Ritual Slaughter in Islamic Culture
â1âCommands Regarding Ritual Slaughter of Animals
â2âControversies Regarding Dhabihah Ritual Slaughter
â3âThe Debate Regarding Ritual Animal Slaughter in France and Worldwide
4 Of Gods and Gills: a Historical Exploration of Fish in Culture
â1âFrom the Sacred to the Profane
â2âAncient Gods
â3âTwilight of the Ancient Gods
Part 2: Symbolic
Introduction to Part 2
5 Between Rationalism and Sentimentalism: Philosophical Considerations Regarding Ethical Norms Concerning Animals
â1âBiological Chauvinism and the Concept of Speciesism
â2âAnthropocentrism and Hominism in Philosophy
â3âNew Bio-ethics: a Paradigm Shift
â4âFinal Thoughts
6 From Companions to Companionship: Navigating HumanâAnimal Interactions and the Rise of Animaltronics in Japan
â1âPhilosophical Systems and Religious Influences on HumanâAnimal Relations in Japan
â2âThe Evolution of Practices Related to Animal Slaughter
â3âCompanion Animals in Contemporary Japan
â4âRobotic AnimalsâContinuity in the HumanâAnimal Relationship?
â5âAnimals Caught in the Trap of Anthropomorphism
7 Horse and Human: a Partnership through the Ages
â1âA Pragmatic Alliance: a Historical Perspective on Humanâ Horse Interaction
â2âThe Evolution of Breeding Practices
8 The Snake in the Tradition of Cultures and Religions: an Outline of Selected Issues
â1âThe Snake in Mythologies, Beliefs, and Symbolism
â2âThe Snake as Life Symbol
9 Animal Insults: Why Do We Refer to Animals When Insulting Someone?
â1âLinguistic Examples
â2âGeneral Conclusions
â3âStrategic-Manipulative Interpretation
â4âFlat Ontology and Dark Ecology
â5âNon-dualistic Language
Part 3: Contested
Introduction to Part 3
10 The Era of Defaunation: Civilization at War with Animals
â1âAnimals and Our Ancestors
â2âCurrent Efforts to Safeguard Biodiversity
â3âThe âGreat Accelerationâ in the Loss of Biological Diversity
â4âScientistsâ Wake-up Call to Humanity and the Extent of Animal Decline
â5âThe Causes of Species Extinction
â6âPlanetary Boundaries and Species Extinction
â7âA World on the Edge
â8âThe Great Killing
11 Paws and Hooves in the Polar Snow: Careless Compassion in Extreme Environments?
â1âThe Great Antarctic Quest: the English Expedition Takes Shape
â2âPain, Suffering, and Death
â3âDiscussion and Conclusions
12 Animals in Sport and Entertainment: a Cultural Lens on Controversial Encounters
â1âHorses in Sport and Recreation
â2âCanine Sports and Activities
â3âThe Global History and Culture of Horse Racing
â4âGreyhound Racing and Unusual Animal Races
â5âEthical Concerns and Training Practices
â6âFrom Ritual to Brutality: Historical Animal Combat
â7âRodeo: Tradition, Sport, and Contention
â8âHunting, Falconry, and HumanâAnimal Partnerships
â9âFrom Pigeon Shooting to Modern Clay Target Sports
â10âExotic Pets and Extreme Breeds
â11âZoos, Aquariums, and Animal Captivity
â12âCircus Animals and the Decline of Animal Acts
â13âFrom Groundhog Day to Cultural Folklore
â14âConclusion: toward Ethical Entertainment
13 The Plea for Life: Animal Mercy Rights Examined through the Corrida de Toros
â1âPardoning Animals in History
â2âClemency Law during Corrida de Toros
â3âThose That Survived
â4âIs Bullfighting a Cultural Phenomenon?
â5âConcerts, Cabarets, and Corridas
14 Animal Welfare in China: Exploring Philosophical Foundations and Legal Frameworks
â1âAnimals in Chinese Philosophy
â2âLegal Protection of Animals in China
â3âPeopleâs Republic of China Wildlife Protection Law
â4âAmendment to the Wildlife Protection Law of the Peopleâs Republic of China
â5âConcluding Thoughts
Conclusion
â1âIntegrative Perspectives on HumanâAnimal Relations
â2âRethinking Ethical Frameworks and Cultural Narratives
â3âImplications for Environmental and Social Policy
â4âFuture Research Directions
â5âConcluding Reflections
Bibliography
Index
This book appeals to academic libraries, scholars, postgraduate students, and practitioners in sociology, anthropology, religious studies, animal ethics, environmental humanities, and policy, particularly those engaged in human-animal relations and cultural analysis.