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Sacrifice is a practice as old as
humanity. It's at the heart of all the religions of the world. Modern
culture has become uncomfortable with this subject, and so it's
become a taboo. The principle purpose of blood rites was: to establish, maintain, or redeem a rightful relationship with a god(dess) or supernatural being.
The Offering
The blood is the symbol and force of life. Though plant and fruit
offerings to the gods are just as ancient (and more reasonable to our
thinking), when making an offering, the value of the sacrifice
has universally been of the utmost importance. Many kinds of animals
have been offered up, purity of appearance has been important. The kind
of animal has also been important to the goal and type of sacrifice.
Human sacrifice was by some estimations the most valuable offering. In such
rites virgins were offered for their purity, while first-born were
offered for their great emotional significance.
In some belief systems inanimate objects
were offered, like jewels, money, gold, etc. Even less commonly known are
divine sacrifices. When a god was reckoned as being "within" the
offering, or the offering itself. This concept has appeared in a
number of old religions. Namely in the worship of the ancient Mexican
sun god, and the Hindu soma ritual.
The Recipients
Sacrifices have been made to a surprisingly broad cast. To god(s) and
goddesses of course, but also to: spirits of the dead, guardian spirits,
evil spirits (to keep them at bay more often than in worship), and on occasion to
people.
The Intention
The neutralizing of sin and restoration of a balanced relationship is the
most prevalent intent of all blood rites, of all belief systems. However,
there are many other intentions set forward in each religion. Including:
relief from sickness or crisis, gift (either to give or obtain a gift),
imparting strength to the dead, fertility, thanks, blessing for a
structure or building, etc.
What does it mean?
To our “civilized mind” it seems very barbaric. Yet as we have
pointed out. Not one of is alive today
except because: we have put to death countless plants & animals in
our stead. Remember an often overlooked point:
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All rites and
ceremonies are symbolic. |
Each and every one of them, of
every belief. They are merely gestures which affirm the truth. They pave
the way for acceptance of the meaning beyond the ritual. They point us
to the truth, either mysteriously, or openly.
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"For the law
having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image
of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they
offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto
perfect." |
Read more on this topic
in the book:
Key
of God: The Last Secrets
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