Why does god need all that blood?

Question

Sho-nuff raised a good point: Why does god need all that blood?
Burnt offerings....animal sacrifice....finally, a human sacrifice.
What's up with that?
If he were a human, he'd be Jeffrey Dahmer.

Answer 1

"Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins)" (Heb 9:22)

That is why Christ died. He died so your lying, cheating, adultering, and countless other sins could be forgiven.

It was never that He needed it it was that you needed someone to die in your place so you could live eternally. So please do not treat the sacrifice Christ made for you as nothing.

Answer 2

So the fundies are saying that God needs blood.
Does this not strike people as a tad bit --- primitive?
These same Xtians would recoil in horror at a cult that does actual animal sacrifice today. But, really, what's the difference?

I think the blood-centeredness has a lot to do with the history of Judaism. Many religions back in 'the day' used animal sacrifice to appease the gods. Judaism was just one of many.

One thing I have found fascinating to study is how the 1rst Century followers of Jesus had to do a lot of back-pedaling to understand why their messiah was killed. He was supposed to lead them into a new era of peace and power. But he was killed! What now? The 'what now' is the justifying of Jesus' execution. It is what fills most of the New Testament following the Gospels.

I highly recommend 'A History of God' by Karen Armstrong, and 'The Battle For God' by the same author. Very interesting, very well researched, very enlightening. I learned many things I didn't know reading these books.

What I find very interesting is how fundamental Xtians will point to pretty much every religion on the planet and cry 'CULT!' While the fundamentalists themselves are the classic definition of what makes a cult a cult. Throw in all this bloody sacrifice business and it just gets creepy.

I quote:

"There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains,
lose all their guilty stains;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains."

A fountain of blood. Now THAT'S quite a visual. Sounds more like a horror film than a spiritual practice.

Answer 3

I think you misunderstand, at least from a Christian perspective.

God does not desire sacrifices, but justice, righteousness, and holiness. When Mankind broke away from God, we sinned. Since God is perfectly righteous, the penalty for sin had to be paid, which is death. The sacrifical system of the Old Testement pointed to the coming of the Messiah that would pay the penalty on behalf of all Mankind, since we humans are not capable of paying the penalty ourselves. Jesus then paid the penalty for sin once and for all. Now, there is no more need for sacrifices.

As for your characterization of God being like Dahmer, I would disagree most strongly. Dahmer was a man who enjoyed the act of killing. God does not. Dahmer thought of eating his lovers as a means of sexual completeness. God does not. Dalmer was concerned with only one person; Dahmer. God is concerned with everyone at the expense of Himself.

Answer 4

First, I would advise you to actually read your Bible beyond that point. The purpose of the matter isn't the collection of blood. It's the sacrifice of life. Blood is your life source. Secondly, the animal was sacrificed as a representation for the sins that were caused by man. I'm assuming you have heard of the saying, "The wages of sin is death."
The animal (usually a healthy, strong lamb) was sacrificed. It paved the way to further help people understand Jesus. He was sacrificed for our sins. I'm also assuming you heard him called," the perfect lamb." Once he died, that served as the final life sacrificed. Just as the lamb's blood (life) shed to cleanse those in the BC era, Jesus' blood (life) shed for everyone (past, present, and future).

Answer 5

God doesn't need anything at all. The act of making a sacrifice is more for the person giving something up to develop and display their humility, obedience, and faith to God. God no longer requires blood sacrifices, but He still asks us to make sacrifices for the same reason today.

Answer 6

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 - And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Answer 7

from the very start he said that sin would bring death! we sinned so God's word had to be fulfilled. animal sacrificing was only temporary blood to cover our sins Jesus died on the cross and with His blood he washed our sins away!! no more blood needed. God bless

Answer 8

If you saw "the Passion of the Christ" who's Blood was it anyway, and who is the butcher!! Its Obvious!!!
We are! Its a Crusades thing for the blood guts and Glory!!
Thats where that came from.

Answer 9

Jesus (human sacrifice) paid the cost of all our sins by dying on the cross so that we wouldn't have to.

Answer 10

god is all that blood

God was Jeffrey Dahmer as well as Mother Teresa and you and me