Essay About Different Religions And Form Of Sacrifice

Sacrifice Case
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Sacrifice: Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
For many years, different religions have incorporated some form of sacrifice into
their rituals or practices. Pretty much every culture has a history of human
sacrifice, from the Aztecs, to the Celts, to the Romans. There are a few different
reasons why some religions practiced this. The Aztecs performed human
sacrifice to appease and please their god. They didnt only sacrifice to
please their god, they also sacrificed because of something known as Tonalli
which means animating spirit. They believe it was to be found in the blood of
humans when one becomes frightened. They believe that without the sacrifice,
all motion stops, even the movement of the sun. So when the Aztecs made their
sacrifices, as far as they were concerned, they were keeping the sun from halting
in its orbit.
Another reason for the sacrifices was because the Aztecs did not have livestock,
so they resorted to cannibalism. This was an additional source of protein for
them. At the time, humans were thought to be delicacies. Those who were
sacrificed had their chest opened, their hearts taken out, their limbs removed
upon a flat surface or alter and cooked, then served to royalty. Sometime in the
first century BC, a law was passed that forbid human sacrifice which lead most
religions to being the practice of animal sacrifice.
In Roman times, the sacrifices did not always need to involve the killing of an
animal, although this was very often the case. For the sacrifice had to be a
symbol of life in some way or form. Milk, fruit, cheese, also wine were often used
as less bloody offerings to the gods. For each god, most of the time it would be a
different animal. The animal sacrifices were elaborate and bloody ceremonies.
Many religions today partake in rituals that are similar to those in ancient times.
Catholics partake in wine and what is called a “host,” which is a small wafer.