For pagans: When did you stop practicing human sacrifice?

Question

Do you belive in slavery?

Answer 1

After seeing the Christians startin practicing.
It is no matter if I believe in slavery or not.

I see the "sheeps", slaves to the priests under the whip of sin and the injection of fear that they'll go to hell..:)

Answer 2

Pagans and Christians stopped practicing human sacrifice around the same time. If you look at your old testament metaphores, and the metaphores of the ancient Greek legends, you will see similar stories alluding to the end of human sacrifice. Most of the Greek legends are older than the Christian legends. The Aztecs and Celts stopped more recently, it's true, but Slavery as Americans understand it is a Western idea that would have been foreign to all of them. The idea that a slave would be born into slavery and saleable and have no way to buy themselves free, or that slavery would be based on skin color is not a Pagan concept. Many Pagan civilizations did have slavery, it's true, but it was more of indentured servitude and/or reserved for criminals and prisoners of war and conquered people. Even then, slaves could earn a name for themselves and rise above their station (See the story of David in the Bible). This is something that could never happen with the American idea of slavery.

The Western idea of slavery probably stemmed out of vassalage, which became popular in Europe during the Middle Ages when it was rather illegal to be Pagan.

Answer 3

For the Norse it was about when the Viking Age ended and all of Scandinavia converted to Christianity around 1100 A.E. Some Asatru do animal sacrifice but not many. Most of us sacrifice food, wine, or other items that are precious to us.

And even though the Vikings had slaves, for the most part no we don't do the slavery thing now. Times have changed and the Norse religion has changed with the times.

Answer 4

I never sacrificed a human being, and no I do not believe in slavery of any kind. The Aztecs and the Maya (and their counter parts of pre-Colonial Mezzo-America) are the only cultures that I am aware of that practiced human sacrifices.

24 y.o. Pagan College Student

Answer 5

I don't believe I ever personally practiced human sacrifice, but if I have, and I just don't remember because it was several thousand years ago, I can assure you that it was legal at the time. As for slavery, I believe it is an unjust thing to enslave anyone- unless of course, you both get off on that sort of thing.

Answer 6

i don't think you have to worry about animal or human sacrifice anymore then the only thing we would summon is a giant monster in blue (a cop) i would never do that I'm part of Wicca a religion that gets people closer to nature and the animals not in a sacrificial way but a peaceful loving way

Answer 7

Quite a long time ago. When the Christians invaded our temples and stole all our holidays to further their own religion. And Christianity's done a great job with the world.

Answer 8

The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:
"Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month and better it be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place, and adore the spirit of Me, who am Queen of all witches.
"There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach all things that are as yet unknown.
"And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be truly free, you shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise. For Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is joy on earth; for My law is love unto all beings.
"Keep pure your highest ideals; strive ever towards them, let nothing stop you or turn you aside. For Mine is the secret door, which opens upon the Land of Youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Vessel of Immortality. I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.
"Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before.
"Nor do I demand sacrifice; for behold, I am the Mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the Earth.
"I am the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man.
"Call unto thy soul, arise, and come unto me. For I am the soul of Nature, who gives life to the Universe. From Me all things proceed, and unto Me all things must return; and before My face, beloved of gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded, in the rapture of the infinite.
"Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
"And thou who thinketh to seek for Me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless thou knoweth the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee.
"For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

Doreen Valiente

Answer 9

You're really hung up on this type of thing, aren't you.

Answer 10

As soon as we invented Christmas.