Is the Phrase "Holy Cow" a referance to Baal?

Answer 1

I think this phrase comes from the reference in the Bible when the Israelites worshiped the golden calf while Moses was on the mountain getting the 10 commandments. That cow got them into trouble so therefore, people use "Holy Cow" to voice a startling event.

Answer 2

I believe it is the Hindus who consider "cows" reverant. In that
they might have the soul of someone reincarnated in it. Myself, I think this is a distortion of the teaching of reincarnation. Our spirits can live inside any physical thing. There is a lot of space
in between them protons and electrons mind you. And spirits
have memories of these experiences. But noone has to live inside an animal or insect as some kind of retribution.

Answer 3

Holy cow (expression)
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"Holy cow!" is an exclamation of surprise used in American English. Its source is uncertain:

From the Dictionary of American Slang (1960):

"Holy cow!" Equiv. to "Holy cats!" both being euphemisms for "Holy Christ!". This term is considered to be very popular among teenagers, yet most teens claim it is in fact not a very popular phrase. It is, however, the common oath and popular exclaimation put into the mouths of teenagers by many script writers, and, is universally heard on radio, television, and in the movies. It was first popularized by the "Corliss Archer" series of short stories, television programs, and movies, which attempted to show the humorous, homey side of teenage life.

Paul Beale (1985), however, in revising Eric Partridge's "Dictionary of Catch Phrases American and British" cites a different origin:

The original 'Captain Marvel' and 'Batman' oaths, 'holy (something harmless),' were in turn spoofed in later C20 by whatever seemed relevant to the situation. Nigel Rees, in Very Interesting... But Stupid: Catchphrases from the World of Entertainment, 1980, instances "holy flypaper!", "holy cow!", "holy felony!", "holy geography!," "holy schizophrenia!", "holy haberdashery!", etc., and adds, "The prefix 'holy' to any exclamation was particularly the province of Batman and [his boy assistant] Robin, characters created by Bob Kane and featured in best-selling comic books for over thirty years before they were portrayed by Adam West and Burt Ward in the TV film series."

"Holy cow" was the catchphrase of legendary baseball announcer Harry Caray.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_cow_%28expression%29"

Category: English phrases


Sacred cow
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This article is about Hinduism. For other uses of the term, see Holy cow.

In Hinduism, the cow is considered sacred and its protection is a recurrent theme in which she is symbolic of abundance, of the sanctity of all life and of the earth that gives much while asking nothing in return. Most Hindus respect the cow as a matriarchal figure for her gentle qualities and providing nurturing milk and its products for a largely vegetarian diet. Hindus do not worship the cow, yet it holds an honoured place in society and most will not eat beef in general.

The term 'sacred cow' has also taken on a meaning in today's society as a figure of speech, referring to someone or something that is sacrosanct.
Contents
There is no consensus on whether the cow was sacred and forbidden in the Hindu diet from ancient Vedic times. The Vedic sacrifices, after which the sanctified meat was eaten, include bovines, and even at a funeral ceremony, the Ashvalayana Grhya Sutras prescribe the sacrifice of a cow for consumption. Frequently it is specified that the sacrificed cow had to be a barren one, "destined for the gods and the brahmans", or a bull. In their Dharmasutras, Vasishta, Gautama and Apastambha prohibit eating the flesh of both cows and draught oxen, while Baudhya-yana exacts penances for killing a cow, and stricter ones for a milk animal or draught ox. Starting with prohibitions on cow slaughter for ritual brahminical sacrifice, revulsion spread to the eating of all types of beef derived in such sacrifices.[1]


It was possibly revered because the largely pastoral Vedic people and subsequent generations relied so heavily on the cow for dairy products, tilling of fields and fuel for fertiliser that its status as a 'caretaker' led to identifying it as an almost maternal figure (so the term gau mata). Those who believe that vedic people ate cows propose that the scriptural injuctions against eating it started with Krishna, who tended cows, or alternatively with the rise of Jainism.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

Possibly.

But there is another question, "What came first, holy cow or holy s-hit?"

Answer 6

I always thought it came from Hindu practices. That may just be a myth, though.

May God bless and keep you.

Answer 7

huh no instead of people saying holy ****. they say holy cow.

Answer 8

I think so..........