I am new here--and am not sure if I have posted this in the right area ?
I have often wondered why God need to have sacrifices ?
Sacrifices ?
by need2no 15 Replies latest jw friends
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shopaholic
need2no, Welcome to the board!
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Satanus
It's a carryover. Harsh conditions and disasters faced by primitave humans led to the assumption that there were greater forces that needed apeasement. In the bible, inherited sin was the form that it took. Priestcraft has used that concept for control and extortion for millenia.
S
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quietlyleaving
Hi need2no, welcome to JWNH
sacrifices are a way for man to make things better for himself.
ql
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cawshun
Welcome need2no, I always wondered the same thing, I always felt so sorry for the sacrificial lamb getting his throat cut and bled to death, I never really liked God much for doing that.
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cameo-d
"God" needs sacrifices because he drinks blood.
This is why he made a deal with certain ones he chose as profits. He gave them magic tricks of technology in order to awe and control the masses. In return, the priests/profits were to extract sacrifices from the crowds. Sacrifices were given out of fear that god would cause even more sorrow, damage , and heartache if they did not appease him.
If you remember, the blood was sprinkled on the altar (perhaps the scent aroused these demon gods to "dinnertime") but most of the blood was poured into a cup to serve to these gods. (Do a search on the Megiddo Ivories and you will find that the blood cups are in the shape of a pomegranate. One piece looks rather like a puu-puu platter where both blood and bread is served.) It is rather fitting that the old priests robes have pomegranates embroidered on the hem. Now, I believe the catholic church carries on that pomegranate tradition as well.
The priests fed themselves and their families with the meat of the offerings. So it was a pretty good bargain.
All the priests had to do was wrangle the sacrifices through instilling guilt in the whorshippers and they had a fine life style. And the demon gods were fed and continued to teach simple science to the profits so they could perform magic tricks and scare the folks into submission.
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villabolo
need2no this is my theory.
If we believe in a god that takes care of us and blessses us with good things then it follows that we will want to give something in return, it's part of our instinct of reciprocity(We exchange gifts with each other). Think of it as an exchange of gifts. It is somewhat later, in the social evolution of men that priesthoods arise and take control over the sacrificial rituals of men and transform it into an actual tax for their benefit.
Read the second version of the 10 commandments in Exodus 34 where emphasis is put on sacrifice compared to Exodus 20, first version of the 10 commandments.
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cameo-d
If we believe in a god that takes care of us and blessses us with good things then it follows that we will want to give something in return, it's part of our instinct of reciprocity(We exchange gifts with each other).
Sacrifices were a REQUIREMENT. A gift is something given freely and voluntarily.
And who would enjoy having to slit the throat of the family pet?
And when animals were not available, then children were required as the sacrificial lamb.
Why do you think a man's wealth and status was calculated according to his cattle...not his talent?
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no more kool aid
I have often wondered the same thing. When a guys hears voices now and threatens to kill his kids we give him some pills and lock him up. But with Abraham, he was a great guy.
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Gladring
If you've ever seen a documentary of animal sacrifice in africa or south america...not a pretty sight.
Restful odor my ass!