Post by icebound77 on Feb 7, 2008 11:15:41 GMT
I thought that considering the misconceptions of pagan religion that I might attempt (at least in my religion as this is my area of expertise) to explain the significance of the sacrifice, something that is very much misunderstood, and try to dispell the myths surronding it. And give any non pagans that may visit a greater insight.
Elden den "köllas" av nio slags ved,
The fire is lit by nine kinds of wood,
det är gammal sed.
that is the old custom.
Offer till andarna skänkes,
A sacrifice is offered [to the spirits],
med blodet sig alla bestänkes.
everyone is sprinkled with the blood.
Det bästa till andar föräras,
The best part is gifted to spirits,
det som blir över skall av männen förtäras.
what remains is to be consumed by the men
In past times it is true (at least in Nordic Paganism that sacrifices of animals were made to the gods, they tended to be in the form of a ritual feast (The above is a poetic description of the last pre modern blót beleived to have taken place as late as the 19th century) whilst the animal was sluaghtered in the name of the gods and parts were offered to them, the animal was used as a food source and generally the whole of the animal would have been used to provide food, unlike today where we need not kill animals ourseleves in those times the killing of animals was an everyday activity, and neccessary for life in those times, making it ritualised and turning it into a celebration of the bounty we are given is not barbaric, every pagan knew that these things needed to be done and if they could please the gods along the way it was even better. Of course in modern times alcohol most often mead is sacrificed, meat may be used as well in the blót, as it still retains its forms as a celebration and feast as well as a religious service. The blót is an important ceremony and communion with the gods and is a vital part of my religion.
In past time it has been said that pagans used human sacrifice and in some cases this was indeed true, yet we must remember that this happened about 1000 years ago and before, when times were very different and it was not unusual for this sort of activity to happen, It must be remembered that poeple were routinely put to death by all religions and indeed those of many faiths still put poeple to death even now. In nordic paganism as accounted by Ahmad ibn Fadlan human sacrifices could be volunteered, otherwise it is belived that the human sacrifices were prisoners and being put to death for a reason.
We must also remember that times were hard and desperation could get the better of poeple, and also the fact that some poeple can be evil regardless of what religion they follow.
Elden den "köllas" av nio slags ved,
The fire is lit by nine kinds of wood,
det är gammal sed.
that is the old custom.
Offer till andarna skänkes,
A sacrifice is offered [to the spirits],
med blodet sig alla bestänkes.
everyone is sprinkled with the blood.
Det bästa till andar föräras,
The best part is gifted to spirits,
det som blir över skall av männen förtäras.
what remains is to be consumed by the men
In past times it is true (at least in Nordic Paganism that sacrifices of animals were made to the gods, they tended to be in the form of a ritual feast (The above is a poetic description of the last pre modern blót beleived to have taken place as late as the 19th century) whilst the animal was sluaghtered in the name of the gods and parts were offered to them, the animal was used as a food source and generally the whole of the animal would have been used to provide food, unlike today where we need not kill animals ourseleves in those times the killing of animals was an everyday activity, and neccessary for life in those times, making it ritualised and turning it into a celebration of the bounty we are given is not barbaric, every pagan knew that these things needed to be done and if they could please the gods along the way it was even better. Of course in modern times alcohol most often mead is sacrificed, meat may be used as well in the blót, as it still retains its forms as a celebration and feast as well as a religious service. The blót is an important ceremony and communion with the gods and is a vital part of my religion.
In past time it has been said that pagans used human sacrifice and in some cases this was indeed true, yet we must remember that this happened about 1000 years ago and before, when times were very different and it was not unusual for this sort of activity to happen, It must be remembered that poeple were routinely put to death by all religions and indeed those of many faiths still put poeple to death even now. In nordic paganism as accounted by Ahmad ibn Fadlan human sacrifices could be volunteered, otherwise it is belived that the human sacrifices were prisoners and being put to death for a reason.
We must also remember that times were hard and desperation could get the better of poeple, and also the fact that some poeple can be evil regardless of what religion they follow.