Lamb is probably the Numero Uno reason I’m not a vegetarian? 
← note carnivore incisors
Well, remember, “Lamb of God” isn’t a reference to the innocence of Christ. It’s a direct reference to the Hebrew tradition of sacrificing a lamb to God. Thus calling Christ the Lamb of God is referring to the Christian tradition that Christ is the single, perfect sacrifice, given by God, to redeem mankind.*
For example:
I believe that lambs are among those animals specifically suggested as sacrificial animals in Leviticus, and certainly lamb is central to the story of the sacrifices in Exodus, and the Passover rememberance today. Not full grown sheep. Ergo, God has a definate taste preference for lamb over mutton. (nodnodnodnodnodnodnodnod)
*This is not any attempt to proselytize, just explaining some terminology that seems to me to be confused by the poster. I’m including the quoted cite above to simply show what my understanding of the term Lamb of God to mean.
True enough – I do remember that much from my days in Catholic school. Lambs and calves both have notoriously short lifespans in the Bible, as they are often made sacrifices. I agree with your interpretation, but I was trying to be glib and clever and MPSIMS-y.
On the other hand, at least in Catholic iconography, Jesus is often portrayed as carrying a lamb, especially while being surrounded by children. These kinds of images seem to emphasize gentleness, peacefulness, and innocence. So, I think that the popular association of Jesus and the lamb has grown to encompass these things along with the original association with sacrifices.
look sheep ARE really stupid. I have to listen to them all day long baaaaaaaaaaaing a few doors down from my office. They startle very easily and everytime I so much as walk into the room they are so panicked that they just start pooping everywhere. A few weeks ago one kicked me in the shin AND licked the spoon I had intending to eat my yogurt with. They simply will not respond to reason.
Obligatory Sheep scrotum pic
There’s a link I don’t need to click on.
when I saw this tread, I guessed how many replies until the obligatory doper reference. I first said 5, then thought: no, we’re getting better than that, it will be 8. Damn, should go with the first impulse.
My mother and I, as fiber enthusiasts, attended Maryland Sheep and Wool festival this past spring. We were walking around admiring the animals on display, discussing the qualities of the wool by breed when my mom asked, “Why are those ones over there listed as ‘Feeder Lambs’?”
My aunt told her they could alternately be known as gyros.
:smack:
Yup feed 'um till you eat 'um.
And as to the sacrificing of lambs, calves and other young mammals, I know there is some cultural tradition that they are young, innocent and all that; but personally I always though it’s a hell of a lot easier to ritually kill a 60 pound lamb than a 250 pound ram. Same goes for the calves and bulls. It just requires fewer people, less fuss, and a hell of a lot less rope. I mean you can’t have the pissed off, bleeding bull running around staining the priests vestments and goring folks. It just makes for a bad worship service.
Well, unless the mess from an adult animal is integral to the service. AIUI Mithraism and Cybele worship both used bulls, not calves.
What the fuck? Where do you work?! 
:eek:
Still, things are getting better. Time was that there would’ve been dozens of mentions in here by now.
I’m just glad nothing cropped up in the “Photoshop a SDMB Meme” thread…
…yet…
Animal Research Facility building at a hospital. My office is just here in the same building the animals are. I’m not one of the animal husbandry tech people though that actually have to roll around with them. We hire prisoners to do that (literally)
I’m surprised I’m the first to comment but, you hire prisoners to roll around with sheep!!! :eek:
Pfft. Don’t let Hal hear about that.