Child sacrifice was a custom among several of the Semitic tribes. The Phoenicians were a coalition of city states that formed a sort of ancient Hansa trading organization and were the major power on the Mediterranean coast of the Levant. They were ethnically, religiously, and linguistically close to the Israelites and just one of tribal formations that had their own Highest God who demanded child sacrifice.
The Israelites did it, too. In the Bible, Yahweh condemns it most of the time, but it was at times effective in getting your God to intervene on your side. (2 Kings 3:27) Ezekiel 20:25–26 shows that it was in the past commanded by Yahweh also:
“So I gave them statutes that were not good and laws by which they could not live. I defiled them through their gifts, the sacrifice of every firstborn, that I might horrify them so they would know that I am the LORD.”
So it was a custom that was well known and at times adhered to by the Israelites. Abraham did not do anything that seemed incompatible with the nature of his god. (At that time known as El Elyon, not Yahweh.)
I was 6 years old in my first year at school and this story was dramatically told with all the bells and whistles (all the blodd and glory) to us in our bible class at school. As a child I felt very sorry for the ram. I never understood the whole sacrifice idea. But as a boy I was much to scared 😱 to ask or question anything.
Thought for the day. When the US bombed and killed the children at school in Iran recently,was this a sacrifice to a nationalistic Christian God? When mass school killings are committed is it in response to sacrifice the innocent ? What runs through the minds behind these atrocitys ? Have any atheists ever committed these kinds of acts ? Just asking out of curiosity.
Child sacrifice was a custom among several of the Semitic tribes. The Phoenicians were a coalition of city states that formed a sort of ancient Hansa trading organization and were the major power on the Mediterranean coast of the Levant. They were ethnically, religiously, and linguistically close to the Israelites and just one of tribal formations that had their own Highest God who demanded child sacrifice.
The Israelites did it, too. In the Bible, Yahweh condemns it most of the time, but it was at times effective in getting your God to intervene on your side. (2 Kings 3:27) Ezekiel 20:25–26 shows that it was in the past commanded by Yahweh also:
“So I gave them statutes that were not good and laws by which they could not live. I defiled them through their gifts, the sacrifice of every firstborn, that I might horrify them so they would know that I am the LORD.”
So it was a custom that was well known and at times adhered to by the Israelites. Abraham did not do anything that seemed incompatible with the nature of his god. (At that time known as El Elyon, not Yahweh.)
I was 6 years old in my first year at school and this story was dramatically told with all the bells and whistles (all the blodd and glory) to us in our bible class at school. As a child I felt very sorry for the ram. I never understood the whole sacrifice idea. But as a boy I was much to scared 😱 to ask or question anything.
Probably good you didn't. Kids that ask questions about things like that usually got in trouble. Ask me how I know. 🙄
definitely should be discussed more in churches than just accepted. It's the 21st century and religion still isnt questioned in many circles.
Thought for the day. When the US bombed and killed the children at school in Iran recently,was this a sacrifice to a nationalistic Christian God? When mass school killings are committed is it in response to sacrifice the innocent ? What runs through the minds behind these atrocitys ? Have any atheists ever committed these kinds of acts ? Just asking out of curiosity.