Shepherds did not break their sheep's legs & Christians should stop repeating it

[Michie]

I've been meaning to post this for awhile but it kept slipping my mind. I often hear Christians talking about shepherds breaking their sheep's leg to keep them from wandering. Not true. This is a myth & a dangerous one at that. It gives a very twisted view of God.

Breaking a lamb’s leg is a dangerous and potentially fatal thing to do. If the sheep lives but ends up lame, it becomes a liability to the shepherd, slowing down the rest of the flock. He might as well just kill it and be done with it! The sheep are the shepherd’s livelihood, he will treat them with care.

From Sheep 101:

It is known that animals can instantly recognize the voice of a familiar trusted person. Sheep have excellent memories for faces. They remember their handler. They also remember people who inflict abuse upon them.
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Read more here: Myth Busting 8: Breaking a lamb’s leg | Dare to Disciple
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[AMDG]

Besides the shepherds all do clicker training (giving the animal a "click" with a "clicker" at the same time a tasty treat is given). Keeps the animal close because the lamb wants more treats.

Okay, okay, not really. But I'm sure that it's true for sheep as it is for us--"get more co-operation and such from sugar than from vinegar"

 

[Michie]

Besides the shepherds all do clicker training (giving the animal a "click" with a "clicker" at the same time a tasty treat is given). Keeps the animal close because the lamb wants more treats.

Okay, okay, not really. But I'm sure that it's true for sheep as it is for us--"get more co-operation and such from sugar than from vinegar"

It basically says as much in Scripture. Unlike this vile myth.

 

[Tigg]

Unbelievable! Never heard of such a thang! Really stupid from a shepherd's or anyone's view whose IQ is larger than their hat size!

 

[Armoured]

Never heard this one before.

 

[Michie]

It's prevalent in the evangelical community. I absolutely despise hearing it.

 

[Armoured]

It's prevalent in the evangelical community. I absolutely despise hearing it.

Well there you go. Like I say, I've never heard it. Maybe Australia's history where merino wool was for so long a massive part of our economy means that Australians are generally too familiar with sheep to fall for it. Or maybe it's just that I've spent most of my life away from big cities and with people who were vaguely aware of how sheep work. Maybe Australian evangelicals in urban areas tell each other this and they believe it. I don't know. My point was just to say it's not one I'd encountered before, but I shall keep an ear out.

 

[Michie]

Well there you go. Like I say, I've never heard it. Maybe Australia's history where merino wool was for so long a massive part of our economy means that Australians are generally too familiar with sheep to fall for it. Or maybe it's just that I've spent most of my life away from big cities and with people who were vaguely aware of how sheep work. Maybe Australian evangelicals in urban areas tell each other this and they believe it. I don't know. My point was just to say it's not one I'd encountered before, but I shall keep an ear out.

They claim it was common in Jesus' time.

Maybe your evangelicals are smarter than our evangelicals due to the reasons you stated. *I hope so*

 

[Armoured]

Maybe your evangelicals are smarter than our evangelicals due to the reasons you stated. *I hope so*

I doubt it. I may just have managed to avoid moving in the right circles.

 

[AMDG]

It's prevalent in the evangelical community. I absolutely despise hearing it.

I heard it in the Catholic community. Said to have explained why Jesus carries a lamb across his shoulders--after being so dependent on the shepherd for everything, the lamb wouldn't even THINK of running away again. (I prefer my "clicker training" story. )

 

[FuzzyBunnySlippers]

I've never heard this myth before. It makes no sense. Break a lambs legs and it then becomes very easy prey for wolves and other predators. Given the number of lambs in a flock, no Shepherd could move the lambs with broken legs to safety. It's ridiculous to think this is something a reasonable intelligent Shepherd would do.

And I've known Evangelicals. Never once did I hear of this myth.

"And the lion shall lay down with the lamb...because the lambs legs are snapped?" Not hardly.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I've been meaning to post this for awhile but it kept slipping my mind. I often hear Christians talking about shepherds breaking their sheep's leg to keep them from wandering. Not true. This is a myth & a dangerous one at that. It gives a very twisted view of God.

Read more here: Myth Busting 8: Breaking a lamb’s leg | Dare to Disciple
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Yeah I would thinking breaking a lamb's leg would be no different than breaking a horse's leg, could be fatal for the animal.

Interesting analogy too, thanks for sharing Michie.

 

[Michie]

Yeah I would thinking breaking a lamb's leg would be no different than breaking a horse's leg, could be fatal for the animal.

Interesting analogy too, thanks for sharing Michie.

You're welcome. I kept meaning to bring this up & forgot. I got reminded to post it.