Of Sanctification and Sacrifices

[Dondi]

I'm inspired by Did Jesus (pbuh) die for our sins? thread. I'd like to focus on the idea of sacrifice and what it means to different people. The root meaning for sacrifice is "to make sacred". In most cases it involves giving up something of value to another in order to produce a positive change or standing between the sacrificer and recipient of the sacrifice.

Take a sacrifice fly in baseball. With less that two outs, the batter's intention is to fly out so that the runner at third can tag up and race home for a run. So the batter is giving up a certain batting statistic in order to benefit the team overall.

Obviously, the idea of sacrifice takes on enormous meaning in regards to spirituality. While I'm not aware of sacrifice in regards to Islam, for Judaism and Christianity, sacrifice is a method to bring us closer to God. The Jewish Day of Atonement recalls the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies and making an offering for the sins of the people of Israel. For Christians, Jesus becomes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

But why? What is it about sacrifice that breaks barriers? What is it suppose to right? What is it teaching us?

 

[iBrian]

If you go to the pre-Christian religions of Europe, the sacrifice served two core functions - on the one hand, it was an attempt to appease the gods, ie, to try and draw favour. It was a cold, hard, and very dangerous world - anyone could be struck down at any time by disease, war, or other suffering, so making a point of giving your best to the gods was seen as a form of appeasement.

The second is more subtle - religion and society were essentially the same things - ie, society as defined by religion, religion as defined by society - so it would have been hard to make a distinction between anything religious and anything secular in such societies. Therefore sacrificial events were often major community events - public holidays, major feasting, and other ways in way the people could be brought together under a common bond.

So sacrifice traditionally brought a people together, in order to show their servitude to god - not least in the hope they would not be punished.

2c.

 

[Dondi]

If you go to the pre-Christian religions of Europe, the sacrifice served two core functions - on the one hand, it was an attempt to appease the gods, ie, to try and draw favour. It was a cold, hard, and very dangerous world - anyone could be struck down at any time by disease, war, or other suffering, so making a point of giving your best to the gods was seen as a form of appeasement.

Yes, but why would one believe the sacrifice (whatever it was) would appease the gods? I conjuer up images of fruitbaskets laid at the feet of tall idols. But obviously you're just going to end up with rotting fruit. I reckon eventually, someone will take the spoiled fruit away and open it up for another sacrifice. So what goes through peoples mind when they offer it? They can't possibly think that the idol will suddenly come alive and bend down and eat the fruit. Why do they continue?

 

[wil]

To me it was an economic thing.

The priests demanded a sacrifice of your best lamb, your best cow, a percentage of your crops...your best woven fabric..something for the gods...

This is what provided food and clothing for the priests and their families.

The Buddhist monks today swear off material posessions and put on their robes and around with their alms bowl, and you offer them food and a place to sleep and in turn they bless your house.

In the Hindu temples today as you go in you can buy plates of fruit that the temple has purchased and ready and it after everyone goes home becomes a feast for the priests.

In our Christian Churches we ask for tithes and those in turn pay the mortgage, the minister, the admin costs, the heat and light bill.

In the Synagogue you pay annually to be a member, same thing occurs.

We the people sacrifice/tithe our treasure our time our talent in order that buildings can be built where we can commune, and pay for other folks to tend to the operation of the church and for others to pray, meditate, cogitate and provide us sustenance through thier prayer, discussions, talks, sermons...

I think it has changed very little over time.

 

[iBrian]

Yes, but why would one believe the sacrifice (whatever it was) would appease the gods? I conjuer up images of fruitbaskets laid at the feet of tall idols. But obviously you're just going to end up with rotting fruit. I reckon eventually, someone will take the spoiled fruit away and open it up for another sacrifice. So what goes through peoples mind when they offer it? They can't possibly think that the idol will suddenly come alive and bend down and eat the fruit. Why do they continue?

In Roman times at least, it would be offered, then given to the community (with the priests having the best share), hence the feasts at the same time.

There was a really big thing about the type of sacrifice offered - the greater the sacrifice, the greater the need for appeasement - with the ultimate sacrifice for the ultimate appeasement being human sacrifice.

When you read the ancient Roman writers, human sacrifice is completely frowned upon in normal times - but at the worst times of Rome's history, even human sacrifice, if it happened, was considered a necessary evil.

That's where it becomes interesting from a comparative view on the Jesus Resurrection - on the one hand, you have the figurative resurrection of a an agricultural deity common to almost all Mediterranean cultures of the time - dies in the Winter, reborn in the Sprint, bread and wine as major symbols. Yet on the other hand, you also have the literal human sacrifice element - the ultimate act of appeasement and atonement - both rolled into a single story.

So going back to your original question of what sacrifice is supposed to right and teach us - it teaches to hold us in awe of Divinity, abd to both love and fear it.

Just my 2c.

 

[bob x]

Yes, but why would one believe the sacrifice (whatever it was) would appease the gods?

The gods were perceived as capriciously angry beings, personifying the random destruction which natural forces often produce. It was thought that when the gods were angry, they would not stop being angry until someone or something had been destroyed, but that they were not too particular about whether the person or thing destroyed was actually responsible for whatever had angered them. If you kill the goat, then the gods won't kill you.

I have to say that a common picture of the Christian God strikes me as having the same psychology: part of God gets angered by sin, and has to punish something or someone, but doesn't care about punishing the right person; so another part of God tricks the punishing part of God by diverting this indiscriminate punishing urge onto himself.

 

[nativeastral]

Yes, but why would one believe the sacrifice (whatever it was) would appease the gods? I conjuer up images of fruitbaskets laid at the feet of tall idols. But obviously you're just going to end up with rotting fruit. I reckon eventually, someone will take the spoiled fruit away and open it up for another sacrifice. So what goes through peoples mind when they offer it? They can't possibly think that the idol will suddenly come alive and bend down and eat the fruit. Why do they continue?

in 'hinduism' the offer is always given to the murti first [acknowledgement of being a part of the whole] therefore honouring the source; it is a continual act, connection, to the divine; brahmins consider their dharmic daily rituals as maintaining divine sacred order, much like the jewish sanctifications of daily mitzvot.
Religion and magic was not separated so belief in changing the order of things using ritual symbology and intentional action, particularly using magic or sacred WORDS [which separate us from all other sentient beings known alive].
Alchemists were the early scientists changing and transforming and now l hear physicists laboratories are almost mystical in their atmospheric space!
Are we as humans the only animals that has the capability of denial, of sacrificing, of doing without for the 'sake' of 'it'?

 

[Dondi]

So it seems that there is somewhat a progression in time in how the sacrifice is offered. From reading about prehistoric religions, there were primal beliefs in spirits in nature, both good and bad, existing in the form of various animals, trees, and even rocks and forces of nature, like wind and fire. Of course, the evidence is scant in exactly what went on. But the inference is that the worshipper realized a need to acknowledge unseen forces or spirits. And as a matter of uniting a community together, the aspects of ritual were devised, which included the themes of birth, maturity (rites of passage), sex union, materialism (celebration of agricultural cycles, etc), spirituality (an attempt to connect with the spirits), and finally death and burial, with perhaps a belief in an afterlife.

From there, an elevation of the spirits to gods or God. And more complicated methods of ritual and sacrifice (which seems to have progressed from agricultural, then animals, followed by human sacrifices, each having more value).

 

[dailogue is the best]

Obviously, the idea of sacrifice takes on enormous meaning in regards to spirituality. While I'm not aware of sacrifice in regards to Islam, for Judaism and Christianity, sacrifice is a method to bring us closer to God. The Jewish Day of Atonement recalls the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies and making an offering for the sins of the people of Israel. For Christians, Jesus becomes the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

But why? What is it about sacrifice that breaks barriers? What is it suppose to right? What is it teaching us?

Peace Dondi,

Actually, in Islam there is nothing that could be presented as an offering/taking away of others' sins. The Quran makes it clear that everyone is responsible for his own salvation, and nothing else may interfere for taking away the sins of any person. God says:

[70:8] The day will come when the sky will be like molten rocks.
[70:9] The mountains will be like fluffy wool.
[70:10] No friend will care about his close friend.
[70:11] When they see them, the guilty will wish he could give his own children as ransom, to spare him the retribution of that day.
[70:12] Also his spouse, and his brother.
[70:13] Even his whole tribe that raised him.
[70:14] Even all the people on earth, if it would save him.


In Islam, salvation is very personal. God says: [2:286] GOD never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits.


Now, we come to the story of Abraham pbuh with his son Ismail. The Quran says:

"O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!" So we gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou wilt find me, if God so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy!" So when they had both submitted their wills (to God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him, "O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial - and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: and We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For he was one of Our believing Servants. And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet, - one of the Righteous. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls. Surah 37.100-113 . ​

The lesson from the story is that anything is given to us should be devouted to the service of God, and should be invested for connecting Him. It has nothing to do with forgiving others' sins.​

We are from Him, and to Him is our return…​

Anything bestowed on us by God should be devouted to Him, and that what a true believer does…​

A true believer should be a life time sacrificer for the sake of the beloved God.​

Sacrifice in Islam has other meaning and other form. It doesn’t mean decreasing the anger or the revenge of a god through spots of blood. That is something which doesn’t suit a loving, compassionate, forgiving God..​

Sacrifice in Islam is devotion and sincerity of the whole life to the only and one God. As sister Path of One says, to submit one's whole to God..​

Islam is build on five pillars. Those pillars embody the sacrifice a true Muslim should give to God to be a good Muslim (submitter)…to stay in lasting connection with that Higher Being…​

1) To witness that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammed is His messanger. This witness embodies the sacrifice of one's trambling thoughts to the only God…the sacrifice of one's confused logic, short sighted reason to God.. When a true beleiever does, then he receives in return the true, accurate light of guidance…one begins to see what others cant, to feel what others cant, to know what others cant…By sacrifing your limited mind to the absolute, your mind and heart begin to receive truth that really guides…This pillar leads to the source of the best guidance. It is not our mind. Our mind is really short sighted..​

2) To pray 5 times a day. These five prayer which are divided into five parts of the day: morning, midday, afternoon, sunset, and evening is a sacrifice too. If the above pillar is a sacrifice of reason to the best source of guidance, this pillar embody the sacrifice of Time….Our time shouldn’t be devoted to our personal selfish desires and projects. What about our relation of God? How much time do you devote to this relation? That is the wisdom behind this pillar: It is the sacrifice of time for connecting God.​

It also teaches us how to stay connected to God all day along as the prayers are divided through the different parts of the day. In addition, Islam teaches us that those five pillars are just pillars. That is to saty, they are what Islam is build on, but they arenot the building itself. Hence, Islam encourages us to build and build. If salat (prayer) teaches us to sacrifice our time, then we should preserve this habit and stay sacrificing our time for connecting God. Therefore, a true believer is in lasting sacrificing of his time for the sake of God, and building his Islam (submission). Then, a true believer devote his time for listening to a relative/friend in trouble, visiting a sick friend, free extra hours to the poor, illetrate, and all the activities that may make God's creatures happy. This is a sacrifice of time, and this is what this pillar teaches us…another sacrifice…another submission..​

3) To pay Zakat (2,5% of your gathered money annually).This third pillar embody the sacrifice of money. Any human being is created with that innate love of loving money and loving gathering it. This third pillar comes to educate in us that love. Islam teaches us that money is God's, and not ours. That's why we should devote it for God's cause. 2,5% of our gatherer money should be spend annually to the poor. And this another form of sacrifice. Besides, this sacrifice as it cleans us from being so attached to money, and also make us love giving, it becomes a habit in a Muslim to sacrifice his money whenever possible for God. It is called "sadaka", charity in English. Hence, a true believer stays connecting God through his money as well: helping the poor and those in need…Then, this is another sacrifice…another submission…another way of connecting God..​

4) To fast the lunar month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. This fourth pillar embody the sacrifice of eating/ sex. Muslims are prohibited to eat or to have sex with their wives/husbands from sunrise to sunset. This pillar teaches us Muslims how to conrol/sacrifice their eating and sexual desires for connecting God. They submit/sacrifice those things in order to get higher those animalistic desires which close the door towards the Divine. Hence, presenting the sacrifice of eating/drinking, and sexual intercourse lead to connecting God.​

5) To make pilgrimage if it is possible financially, and physically. This last pillar embody the sacrifice of your whole being/propriety. To make pilgrimage one has to leave his family, propriety and take the journey to a new land wherein pilgramge rituals aren’t easy at all. They involve rotation around the Holy House in Mecca, and wherein people from all over the world and with different ranks, colours, status wear the same: piece of white cloth. All people look alike and the same. No difference at all. This journey teaches the sacrifice of one's whole being for the devotion of God…one should forget who he is, what he works, what his salary, what his education level is, what family he belongs to..one has to forget all…He is a mere human being as him as the millions around who come all over the world..he is a servant of God…he is equal to all..he is no less no more than others…This is what this pillar teaches. It teaches the sacrifice of whole being. This sacrifice as this pillar teaches should be alive in a true believer's inner all the time, and stay humble and modest and not get arrogant of his money and status..he is a mere servant of God..That's why, he/she should devout his whole being to serve His creatures…​

To sum up, Islam is build on sacrifice. Not sacrificing a lamb/ a person to reduce a god's anger. No, at all. Muslims in pilgrimage are orderd to slaughter sheeps as one of pilgrimage's rituals. The wisdom behind this is our rightousness and connection/submission to Him. God says about this:
22: 36. The animal offerings are among the rites decreed by GOD for your own good.* You shall mention GOD's name on them while they are stand- ing in line. Once they are offered for sacrifice, you shall eat therefrom and feed the poor and the needy. This is why we subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation. ​

37. Neither their meat, nor their blood reaches GOD. What reaches Him is your righteousness. He has subdued them for you, that you may show your appreciation by glorifying GOD for guiding you. Give good news to the charitable.​

Sacrifice in Islam, Dondi, is build on sacrificing our mind, time, money, lusts, status and whole being for getting near and close to God…for staying in lasting attachment to Him..for subliming to Him and live with Him as His presence within us is the true life….The knowledgable of God once said: there is a heaven in earth that if one doesn’t enter, he will not enter it in the last Day. This heaven is to know God and live with Him and for Him..​

 

[Dondi]

Sacrifice in Islam, Dondi, is build on sacrificing our mind, time, money, lusts, status and whole being for getting near and close to God…for staying in lasting attachment to Him..for subliming to Him and live with Him as His presence within us is the true life….​

Sounds a lot like what our response to God's love in Christianity ought to be:

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." - Hebrews 13:15

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." - I Peter 2:5​

The knowledgable of God once said: there is a heaven in earth that if one doesn’t enter, he will not enter it in the last Day. This heaven is to know God and live with Him and for Him.

And again:

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:10

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." - Luke 17:21

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Luke 6:33​

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. - Romans 14:17

​

​

​

 

[dailogue is the best]

Sounds a lot like what our response to God's love in Christianity ought to be:

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." - Hebrews 13:15

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1​

Well, Dondi, shall I understand from this that salvation is a very personal matter that everyone has to work for?!

 

[Dondi]

Well, Dondi, shall I understand from this that salvation is a very personal matter that everyone has to work for?!

Salvation in what sense?

 

[dailogue is the best]

Salvation in what sense?

I meant salvation through Jesus's crucifiction..that the Christ die for the sins of his followers...

 

[Dondi]

I meant salvation through Jesus's crucifiction..that the Christ die for the sins of his followers...

But the verses you are referring to have nothing to do with salvation in this manner.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." - Hebrews 13:15

Sacrifice of praise is something we do. Why is it a sacrifice? Because we are giving ourselves to praise God. It is something that we learn to do. It is similar to saying, "I love you" to one's spouse. My spouse knows I love her, but she enjoys hearing me say it. God inhabits the praise of His people.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 ​

This has to do with giving our time and talents to God. We don't have to go to church, we don't have to give our tithes, we don't have to serve God. But anything we do for God is a sacrifice to us because we are giving up our time for Him. And just because it is a sacrifice doesn't mean it isn't pleasurable. I mean, I could stay home from church and watch my favorite football team play on Sunday, but when I give up that time to go to the house of the Lord and worship Him, my soul is much more satisfied and fulfilled, because God meets us there. I see value in trading up.​