I don’t usually talk about my beliefs, who I honor or what I practice cause to me it’s personal as everyone else beliefs is personal to them and we all react differently. For example when I found out that there are still some religions that sacrifice animals I was horrified. I’m a huge animal lover and I’m an activist for animals rights so if you were in my place wouldn’t you guys react the same way (okay I’m lying not everyone will) but then I started thinking it in a different light. They’re not killing the animals for fun or cause they feel like it. No they’re doing it cause it’s a sacred rite to them. It’s their belief. Not everyone will agree on it but hey we all do stuff differently. That’s my opinion anyways. What do you guys think about it? Would you agree or disagree about it?
*The reason I wrote this is cause we had a discussion today at class about it and I thought this is a good discussion to talk about.
Yes,there are still a few religious beliefs that sacrifice animals (usually chickens, for some reason I have never understood.)
But even modern day religions once believed in animal sacrifice. Read The Holy Bible, it is full of this stuff.
Even a sacrifice for food really began as a religious offering. A modern Jewish butcher will still have respect for the animal he kills. So will Muslims give a blessing to the animal. I have watched such a ceremony when I worked on building a Mosque in Yorkshire. The killing was very respectful, and gave thanks for the "sacrifice" of the sheep,giving its life so that humans could live. It was most definitely a solemn and religious ceremony. I thought it far better than the so-called "Christian" slaughter house!
I think that killing animals for a sacrifice isn't nessecary. I think you could sacrifice other things, because an animal is a living creature. But I agree with Brysing too, because if they want to sacrifice one, do it with respect.
I totally disagree about killing animals purely as a sacrifice. I was writing about killing animals for food, as the custom of Halal.
And, the original sacrifices, that were not burnt (ancient Jewish) would be eaten. In parts of Asia, offerings to the Gods are made of fruit,vegetables,rice,corn,etc. Afterwards the offerings are eaten;maiknly by the monks; but some to the poor.
So, as is said above, there is no need to sacrifice animals.
i once came across a satanic ritual where you sacrifised a cat, appart from feeling bad for the cat, i didn't pay it much attantion since most satanists i know don't sacrifice animals, or if an offering is needed, they grab some meat from the butcher. throughout history there have been sacred animals that are either reveared or sacrifised to a particular diety. i9n Egypt crocodiles were killed and mummifed to be given to Sobek, where if someone killed a cat, they were put to death, or if there cat died they had to shave all the hair off their body in mourning. personally speaking, as an animal lover, i couldn't do it, if you can that's fine.
Animal sacrifices were more important than giving something else of a person in the old days for a very important reason, animals were a way of showing a person's livelihood. Animals were more than mere property, they were also what kept a family alive, they were also that family's riches. By giving the gods or a god a ritual sacrifice of one's very livelihood, you were showing your dedication to the god(s), more so than merely giving something else of yourself, such as bread you baked yourself or a shiny rock you found.
Human blood was also considered an important sacrifice in cultures such as the Aztec's, who's leaders would donate blood from a particularly sensitive area on the body, which is the reason why more often than not the next leader was your nephew, rather than your son. There is also evidence they sacrificed enemies and those too pure for earth.
Today in the modern world, animals are no longer our livelihood, or at least for a majority of the world's populace they are not. Now we give other things that are important to us up, such as money, time, effort, and so forth. Some of us still give our blood, something that is still personal to us, but it is nothing like the Aztec's did.
Personally, I think as long as a sacrifice is a sacrifice and not a waste, it is alright. Killing something for fun or for the sake of killing is just plain idiotic to me. If it is something you have to do to continue your own existence, or that you do in a religious aspect, I see no problem with it as long as it is humane.
