Not to mention that the spirit, or essence of the animal cannot be destroyed.
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Are you for bringing back sacrifice in your religion?
- Thread starter Gnostic Seeker
- Start date
Not to mention that the spirit, or essence of the animal cannot be destroyed.
I also have to add at this point, that the premise of this thread is not vegetarianism, or eating meat, and its "evils". It is whether animal sacrifices in religions that formerly practiced animal sacrifices should be revived. There are many reasons why animals were sacrificed, not the least of which was to bring the community together to celebrate their survival by the gifts and grace of the Gods, in harsh environments, and to give back to the Gods. Hindus offer food first to the deities then partake; Asatruars pour a libation and offer a toast to the Gods, giving to the Gods first, then partaking. Not every family had an animal they could spare as a sacrifice and to share with the community. Whoever was blessed and wealthy enough to do that was performing a service that kept the community bound. Do we need to perform that type of community ritual anymore, given the overabundance of food and relative independence of our lives? Maybe we don't for the practical reasons, but it is a link to the past.
nazz
Doubting Thomas
As I said killing other living things out of necessity is fine
Exactly.
But adding a ritual element to the killing, plant or animal, is far more humane and connecting than factory farming.
nazz
Doubting Thomas
Yes, it could be
In the contexts that we're talking about here, they would be.
illykitty
RF's pet cat
Out of curiosity, why are animals okay to sacrifice and not humans?
It depends on the religion. The old Aztec and Mayan religions required human sacrifice. But the Greek gods detested human sacrifice. Those who made a human sacrifice were severely punished by the gods. My guess is that human sacrifice is condemned today not because humans are more worthy of life than animals, and not to mention the laws, but because humans are seen as equal to each other. In times past, it was slaves, peasants, serfs, the down-trodden who were the sacrificial victims.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
In the Torah and Tanakh, human sacrifices were not allowed as we see being played out in Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac whereas the angel stops him. OTOH, animal and grain sacrifices were prescribed, but the animals sacrifice was not only eaten in most cases, but the animals sacrificed were also used to feed the poor.
illykitty
RF's pet cat
Okay, it just seemed to me as if human life is more precious than animals, which are just "disposable" and to do as we please with them.
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On topic, I don't like it and see no point in it. Then again, I don't believe in those types of gods.
Perhaps animals being ritually killed is done better than factory farms and more appreciated but it doesn't sit well with me, personally. I could never kill an animal nor witness it. It makes my stomach churn and I feel too sad for them.
I don't view it that way. In fact I was once soundly hanged, drawn and quartered on another site because I said I would give my life rescuing an animal caught on a train track before I rescued a known criminal.
I would not go out of my way to obtain a goat or a chicken to sacrifice, especially because I live in an area that is not a predominately farming area. Not to mention that I don't need to perform that ritual, nor could I personally dispatch the animal. Even if I were present at such a ritual, I would probably close my eyes and think of the animal's spirit, pray for a happy rebirth and thank it. Even watching such things on historical tv shows I have to look away, but I understand the reason for them.
Only certain animals are okay to begin with. Sacrificing dogs and cats, for example, I'd NEVER support, in the same way I'd never support human sacrifice.
The only context of animal sacrifice I support is ritualized feasting, so adding a human into the mix is pretty much out right from the start.
That's the world we live in now, and it sickens me as much as it sickens you.
Giving thanks for an abundance is not the same as animal sacrifice...Or is it in your mind?
I was under the impression we are talking about an animal being sacrificed as an act of obesience to a god, or gods. Whereas the sacrifice is prescribed by a god or gods in order to worship or gain favor from them. And in some cases, to atone for an act of transgression.
Etritonakin
Well-Known Member
As Christ instructed me to be as a child.... No!
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Though I would obey God in any thing -knowing he will make all things right.... Why would I want these to die?
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Though I would obey God in any thing -knowing he will make all things right.... Why would I want these to die?
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Change "prescribed by a god or gods" with "prescribed by a representational claim of god or gods." I may of worded that wrong.
Sees
Dragonslayer
You don't really fit into the topic...those are nice photos though 
As Christ instructed me to be as a child.... No!
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receiver's the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Though I would obey God in any thing -knowing he will make all things right.... Why would I want these to die?
You don't really fit into the topic...those are nice photos though
I don't eat baby animals either, they really are too cute.
But sentiment and mushiness aside, I personally don't see any reason for sacrificing or eating baby animals except to satisfy people's taste. Actually I dislike the taste of lamb. A baby animal does not provide what an adult animal does, namely milk among other things: it does not provide fur or hair in any appreciable amount.
Where did I give such an impression?
I think you're stuck in the depiction of animal sacrifice in the Tanakh, rather than leaving that context entirely for ours.
Think of it like this. You know the modern Christian ritual of saying grace before a meal? Well, consider the kind of animal sacrifice we're talking about as similar to that, except taking place during the animal's slaughter. The animal slaughtered is eaten that very same day in a grand feast.
I'd wager to guess that it was only after such sacrifices that Northern Folk got to eat meat, anyway. Abundance is not the name of the Northern Game.
The thread poses the question of bringing back sacrifice. I am just following the reason being how sacrifice is defined.
What you are suggesting though, in that hypothetical, isn't sacrifice.