Sacrifice Case

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 didn't 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.

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