Sacrifice

I

Introduction

Sacrifice (Latin, sacrificium, originally “something made holy”), a ritual act in which a consecrated offering is made to a god or other spiritual being in order to establish, perpetuate, or restore a sacred bond between humanity and the divine. Offerings may consist of humans or animals (blood offerings) or fruits, crops, flowers, and wine (bloodless offerings).

II

Ancient Religions

Sacrifice played a central role in many ancient religions. The ancient Greeks sacrificed animals (such as goats, sheep, horses, dogs, and cattle), sometimes consuming part of the offerings in a celebratory meal as a way of establishing communion with the gods. In Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century, the Aztecs offered human sacrifices to the sun god, a practice that took as many as 20,000 lives a year.

III

Eastern Religions

During the earliest period of Hinduism, the Vedic period, Hindu priests offered humans, animals, and plants in sacrifice at certain stipulated times. The ancient Chinese also practised human sacrifice and made offerings of domestic animals and of food to gods and to ancestors. Sacrifice has never been practised in Buddhism, although devotional offerings of incense, lighted candles, and flowers are made to the Buddha. Japanese Shintoism has made the offering of food and produce to the bami (gods) its central rite.

IV

Judaism

Sacrifice was an essential and elaborately prescribed part of Judaism until the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in ad 70. Among the many sacrificial rites of ancient Judaism were those for thanksgiving and for expiation of sins.