alek0

Christians usually say that there was no need for animal sacrifices anymore since "jesus died to atone for our sins". Does anyone know were there any animal sacrifices involved in early christian rituals? Also, does anyone know when and why have Jews stopped doing animal sacrifices? They obviously don't do them today, and yet they don't accept JC as messiah.

Toto

That's a good question. The early Christians were not differentiated from Jews, and often worshipped or spoke at Jewish synagogues.

But sacrifices were associated with the Temple in Jerusalem. Jews stopped the practice after the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE by the Romans. (There has been a big controversy in Israel about finding a red heifer which would allow the resumption of animal sacrifices if the Jews were to retake the Temple Mount, but that would probably also start World War III.)

There has been some speculation that Christianity originated with some sects of Judaism that are sometimes described as vegetarian. That probably meant that they did not sacrifice animals.

You might want to get a moderator to transfer this to BC&A.

Mad Kally

I always heard a bible story about taking lambs blood and smearing it over the front door. I don't remember why. (as if I would want to)

Thieving Magpie

That's in reference to one of the plagues of Egypt where all the first born sons of the land would be killed unless there was lambs blood sleared over the front door..

I think the practice was used later as well, but I am not sure, and don't remember anything specifically.

***

As for why Christians did not sacrifice animals: Jesus was supposed to have been the supreme sacrifice, and with his coming a number of things that were no longer considered necessary.. this is also why Christians do not have strict dietary laws like Orthodox Jews do. I do not remember exactly, but this may have been one of the oft-talked about Pauline reforms. He so crazy!

Enlighten Me

My theory is that Paul saw how ridiculous and wasteful animal sacrifices were so he said: "Hey! I'll say that Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice. Yeah---that's the ticket!" And he went on to think of some other neat stuff that would make Christianity, and the new covenant, an "improvement" over Judaism and that mean and violent dude--Yahweh.

Thieving Magpie

Well, a lot of people do argue that Paul perverted early Christianity by Romanizing it, so that may have been the case.

sakrilege

I thought Yahweh expressed delight in the smell of burning animals. I'm surprised there are no flowers with that aroma, there are flowers that smell like carrion.

Thieving Magpie

Maybe metaphorically... otherwise they could just sacrifice flowers. And who gives a damn about flowers?