What did the Old Testament god have against animals?

Question

Why was he appeased by their slaughter?

Answer 1

Interesting question, my friend. I think so much of it is based in pagan rituals and mythology. If you think of some of the great stories in many of the Greek mythological works you notice the importance of sacrifice and the use of animals in many ways. I think if I think of them as more symbolic than anything but I'm interested to go back and read which animals were slaughtered most and how that correlates with other things. In Buddhism, the slaughter of animals or any creature is strictly forbidden, however, I wonder if it was always so? You know I'm a Buddhist so I'll have to take a look at this. Thanks for the thought provoking question......it's nice to see you on here again.

Answer 2

God is God whether in the Old or New Testament. All wrongs must be paid for, this is true in all societies. sin is wrong and so there is a price to be paid for it. Part of one answer here was correct in that the animals were thier livlihood and so it was a monetary hurt but the main reason was so they would be reminded that a living thing had to give it's life in payment. This was to remind them of the high price of sin. God is perfect, holy and just so nothing impure can stand before Him. I as a human would not have it any other way, when I am judged I certainly don't want it to be by anyone who is not perfect. Since man just "didn't get it" even after centuries of sacrifice God finally settled the question once and for all. Only perfect blood could atone for the sins of the world and so that we would not have to give our lives He gave His. Greater love there has never been, I am so grateful to be covered in the blood of Christ.

Answer 3

I do not thing that God had anything against animals. The first animal sacrifice came after Adam and Eve had taken the forbidden fruit and animal was killed for their clothing.

The wages of sin was death, innocent blood had been sacrificed..until Jesus came and was the perfect sacrifice so there was no need for animal sacrifices.

Also a form of pagan worship practiced in the ancient world, especially Egyptians, who held certain animals sacred. Some scholars believe that Israel's fashioning of the golden calf during the time of Moses was an imitation of Egyptian animal worship. Both Old and New Testament forbid such worship.

Answer 4

The sacrifice was a required part of the Jewish law. If represented the cleansing of their sins by the blood of the required animal being burnt at the altar.

In my opinion, the reason God chose the animals to be slaughtered was that it required them to give something up. In that time of history, their animals were their livlihood. If they did not have any goats or sheep, they could not survive, so it was a sacrifice of their belongings to God.

Answer 5

The first residents of Earth were farmers and Shepherds.

If you read Genesis, after Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were hiding in the Garden naked.
Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Creation was corrupted by man's decision against God; God Himself showed how ugly that was by providing them a reminder of sin, the skins of the very animals they had been caring for, that HE provided.
God was in the very beginning providing a covering for the sin of man. The cost of sin is death, and the reminder was the sacrifice.

Answer 6

Same God as in the New Testament.

Answer 7

Why are humans often appeased by the slaughtering of animals?

Answer 8

Symbol of what was to come for the sacrifice for sin, The Lamb of God...Hebrews.

Answer 9

Because people of the tribe want to eat, and if God doesn't help with that then he is not our god.

Answer 10

God hates all of us that's why.
Just read the bible to see the proofs.