Cow, Pig, War, And Sorcerer Book Review - Answering Cultural Puzzles

The Book of Cows, Pigs, War and Sorcerers (Detha Arya Tifada / VOI)

JAKARTA - Admittedly or not, many things related to human social behavior have not been properly answered until today. Take, for example, the case why Hindus in India don't eat cows, Muslims and Jews don't eat pork, whether or not a magician existed in ancient times, and a few other questions that have not been answered in detail.

Perhaps the answer is there. Unfortunately, every question answered the result cannot satisfy curiosity. People only understand in broad terms, but regarding the essence of origins such as why Hindus don't eat cows cannot be answered.

Luckily, an anthropologist from the United States, Marvin Harris then examined it. To him, there was nothing in this world that would have no answers when examined. In a sense, no matter how strange the pattern of human life is, it certainly has an explanation that comes from concrete economic and ecological conditions.

On this basis, the question of Hindus not eating cows, Muslims or Jews not eating pork, and other roles he tries to answer through the book Cows, Pigs, War, and Witchcraft (2019). In this book Marvin tries to examine one by one the questions that have been in the human brain for a long time. Moreover, he always believed that every question that came out of the human mouth was a taki puzzle that needed to be resolved immediately with a weapon called research.

Answering cultural riddles

First, the reason Hindus don't eat cows. In his research, Marvin discovered the fact that cows in Hinduism are a symbol of life. This is because in India spiritual values are more valuable than life itself.

"Just as Mary, for Christians, is the mother of life. So, there is no greater blasphemy for a Hindu than to kill a cow. Even taking a human life would not be blasphemy unspeakable, (because) it does not carry the symbolic meaning instigated by the slaughter of a cow, ”written on page 8.

However, regarding the principle of benefit from cows, it also adds to its sacred value. Cows for small-scale farming in India, for example. These animals appear to have been a pillar of local agricultural efficiency. Not surprisingly, poor farmers are willing to go hungry during the drought and choose not to eat cows, because losing a cow to them is tantamount to losing fields and food.

In addition, cows that play a role in plowing the fields then leave a pile of dung which is considered a natural blessing for soil fertility. When compared to agriculture in America it is clearly nothing. American agriculture uses tractors to plow fields, which produce poison instead of fertilizer.

Former American agricultural-style chemical fertilizers often damage soil fertility. That is why agriculture in America is different from India which can produce abundant fertilizers. Because, cow dung can function perfectly in stimulating soil fertility. In fact, cow dung can be a source of free energy to keep the stove in the kitchen burning.

Second, Muslims and Jews forbid eating pork. Regarding pigs, Marvin divided humans into two groups. Their first group who likes pork, and their second group who forbids eating pork. In the group that forbids eating for (Muslims and Jews), they believe in the fact that pigs are dirty animals. So dirty, pigs look dirtier than others from wallowing in their own urine and eating feces.

This condition is reinforced by the presence of tapeworm disease that arises from eating undercooked pork. Therefore, Marvin considers using the health proposition as a basis for not eating pork to be quite easy to understand. However, he thinks it looks inconsistent because the group that prohibits eating pork, continues to eat beef, goat and lamb. Farm animals are very susceptible to disease too.

Meanwhile, the pig group. Including in Europe-America and China always presents pork for every big party. This was done in order to satisfy the ancestral appetite for pork, ensure communal health, and ensure victory in future wars.

Third, the role of women. Although in this book there is a description of one of the tribes in the world that do not glorify the role of women. Marvin in the chapter emphasizes that the real power of women in life is so great. He can do anything. Women, physically and spiritually, are able to carry out all basic tasks of production and survival independently, even without the help of men.

“Women can do every job that men can do, although it is less efficient if manual labor is required. Women are able to hunt with arrows and bows, look for fish, set traps, and cut trees if taught or allowed to learn, ”presented on page 70.

Fourth, talk about capitalism. The outline of the contents of the book does indeed discuss the explanation of questions that have not been answered by humans. However, Marvin also peppered his book with various criticisms, for example when talking about capitalism, which is often known as a means for the rich to fight for each other's wealth.

For him, capitalism is a bad portrait in life. “They build the most magnificent houses, wear luxurious clothes, dress in glittering jewels, and talk about the poor with scorn. Meanwhile, the lower and middle class continue to give the highest priority to those who work the hardest, spend the least money, and are conscious of resisting the temptation of all forms of waste and consumption, ”said Marvin on page 120.

As a result, after reading the entire book by Marvin Harris, readers will eventually realize that all forms of questions that exist in life, will undoubtedly get answers. As long as these individuals are brave and willing to take a moment to research or do research.

Detail

Book Titles: Cow, Pig, War, and Sorcerer

Author: Marvin Harris

First Published: 1974 (Indonesian Version: 2019)

Issuer: Left Margin

Number of Pages: 262