Today's Portland Oregonian has a religiously-themed story that I actually read: "Four-Footed Ministers program employs a canine to connect to the divine."
As far as Portland resident Jerilyn Felton is concerned, it’s no coincidence that the word “dog” is “God” spelled backwards.
Felton coordinates a dog-ministry program called the Four-Footed Ministers Pastoral-Care Program at Maryville Nursing Home in Beaverton.
She designed the program while pursuing her doctor of ministry degree at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
Felton believes that the presence of dogs can help foster a connection to the divine. The physical connections the residents make by interacting with the animal can lead to spiritual comfort and care, she says, while dogs also bring residents closer to each other.
Makes sense.
I'm pretty sure that cats, if not evil, are much more aligned with a devilish than divine nature. For proof, have a heart-warming (and heart-chilling) look at "The difference between dogs and cats :-)"
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