... As they did in the Old Testament? Why do you think a deity would want its human worshipers to do this?
And do you think this is a good thing? Humane?
2007-09-17 15:13:30 · 7 answers · asked by avacado pie 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why was it okay back then? If I just went out and shot a dog, that would cause an outrage. But if I'd lived back then and shot my dog for *God* I'd be considered holy. Did the morals change?
2007-09-17 15:21:53 · update #1
I would think it's barbaric
2007-09-17 15:19:41 · answer #1 · answered by Night Nurse 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A sacrifice involves at least one of two things: 1) a gift willingly given over to God, often by completely destroying it, and/or 2) a substitutional death, with the animal's death acting as a "stand in" for the worshipper. Both kinds of sacrifices are found in the Old Testament.
#1 seems strange to westerners, especially Americans, because we place so much focus on possessions. To give something to God by destroying it seems "wasteful", because we consider all "things" here to be for "our" benefit. People who only own animals as pets have a REAL hard time with the idea of killing an animal, because of their tendency to look at their pets as "people". The animal's death "feels" like murder, even though it isn't!
#2 is hard to accept, because the politicial correctedness of our society states (rather loudly) that "i'm ok, you're ok, it's all ok", and nothing in life is really "wrong", therefore needing a reakoning of bloodshed. Good heavens, politicians flinch at ANY form of corporal punishment, no matter how dastardly the deed or hardened the criminal! Why sacrifice an animal, indeed?
For #2, it helps to realize what God's view of sin really is. If you can get some understanding of that, then perhaps the stopgap measure of a sacrificial lamb won't be such a shock. Better an animal die, to provide some temporary relief from eternal justice, than a human being becomes instant toast in the presence of God.
2007-09-17 22:32:55 · answer #2 · answered by MamaBear 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bar-B-Que!
Are you trying to tell me that Baptists don't still do this?
God demands that sin be paid for in blood, because it shows how seriously he takes sin.
===edit===
You are saying that if you shot "ole yeller" that Christians would complain? I doubt it; it would be the PETA nuts who would complain, and most of them aren't Christian last time that I checked.
On the other hand Moses forbids cruelty to animals for its own sake, so morals haven't changed. Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed himself, so that blood sacrifices aren't required anymore, because Jesus is the ultimate blood sacrifice.
Even I knew that.
Christians still sacrifice their money, however.
===edit===
Something just occurred to me; aren't you aware of where "meat" comes from? Unless you are a vegetarian, you sacrifice several animals every day just to eat.
Why would this seem odd to you? Haven't you ever had a burger at a church cook-out? Why is killing animals seem strange to you? I don't get the question.
2007-09-17 22:20:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those animal sacrifices were a tutor leading to christ.
We are no longer under law and it showed the need for a savior.
2007-09-17 22:20:43 · answer #4 · answered by cloud 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The animal blood covered the sins of the people in the O.T.
now that we are under Grace I would leave if i saw it in church.
2007-09-17 22:20:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sacrifice of animals is not necessary anymore, Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
2007-09-17 22:19:19 · answer #6 · answered by Sweet Suzy 777! 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd think they were not quite sane.
2007-09-17 22:28:44 · answer #7 · answered by Skeff 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋