This week’s reading surrounds two central themes of sacrifice and love. According to the Christian bible, these two seem to share an interesting correlation. However reading this material leaves me with several questions unanswered. Where did the idea of sacrifice originate from, specifically animal sacrifices? If God loves everyone why are the heretics and sinners sent to hell? Finally, God tells us that love is everywhere when “Love bears all things, believes in all things, hopes in all things, endures all things” (160) Yet he also invests fear in us as Mary explains, “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (152). I feel like this parallel leaves a complicated relationship between man and god. We are left to draw our own interpretations and judgment, which is where I think the problem lies. In my opinion, if we are supposed to follow a strict doctrine, then we should whole-heartedly do so. But if we are autonomous beings subject to our thoughts and ethics, then we should be completely free. As inquisitive college students, it is difficult to completely understand a book written hundreds of years ago. Although religion is considered the ultimate philosophy of morals, several antiquated practices including animal sacrifice are condoned.
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| Animals have been the "target" of many religious practices |
Today, the sacrificial practices seem almost primitive. Reading about our ethics towards animals got me to delve into feminist theory surrounding religious sacrifice. After all, both women and animals are often a topic of controversy in religious texts. In William Beer’s Women and Sacrifice: Male Narcissism and the Psychology of Religion, anthropologists believe the roots and meaning of sacrifice are found “Social order, no matter how much its necessity appears to be self-generating and self-perpetuating, is to a significant and radical degree correlated to and motivated by psychological structure. Additionally, this psychological motivation in men is caused by the desire to control the male-perceived power of women. Latest analysis on the birth of religion seem to agree the “Even in more contemporary Christians, the more vividly the Eucharist is understood to be itself a real sacrifice, the greater the opposition to ordaining women” (Beers). Whether or not you may believe this analysis, it is still important to keep in mind that the same methodology behind ancient animal sacrifice may still exist, just in other forms. When we think about the thousands of animals slaughtered for the sake of “god”, “We must recognize our equal inherent value as individuals, reason-not sentiment, not emotion- reason compels us to recognize the equal inherent value of these animals and, with this their equal right to be treated with respect” (Anthology II 357).
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| Tigers in asia are being slaughtered for their skin and bones for ancient Chinese rituals www.tigersincrisis.com/ |
So when we look to religion for answers, we must keep in mind of its outdated rituals and practices. Though the grand message of love and compassion may still hold value, we must still question the practices.
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