Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Gar · 05-04-2002, 07:09 PM

After reading about the fundies breaking up that prayer thing in California I couldn't help but wonder about the chocolate rabbit. If the religion does call for animal sacrifice, why is a chocolate rabbit being used? Would it violate animal cruelty laws to use a real animal? Are there other reasons. I mean no disrespect I'm only curious.

Bree · 05-05-2002, 09:24 AM

I don't know, to be honest.

I've never heard of a "pagan" group (i.e. Celtic paganism, or Avalonism, and the new-age Wicca thign) that uses animal sacrifice - or any other kind of sacrifice. Paganism as I've known it is always about living in harmony with the earth, and killing things senselessly is definately not living in harmony with the earth.

I wonder if this wasn't also an extremist pagan group?

Toto · 05-05-2002, 11:05 AM

Religious sacrifice of animals falls under freedom of religion, so it should be okay.

But the fact that this group used a white chocolate bunny destined for a fondue pot shows that they are using paganism for a bit of fun, or to dramatize their own ecological-spiritual-humanist values. They would fit into the modern Unitarian church, if they're not there already.

I think this is new age, free imagination paganism, not the religion that the Druids practiced 2000 years ago (which probably called for human sacrifice in any case.)

Oxidizing Material · 05-05-2002, 11:24 AM

Hmm. While it's true that many pagan religions practised in the West today don't involve animal sacrifice (I know Wicca doesn't), my guess is that they (teh pagans) probably think the surrounding residents hate them enough, and if they sacrificed a live animal, more than likely the fundies might do something dangerous to them. They're probably just trying to protect themselves while continuing on with their beliefs.

[ May 05, 2002: Message edited by: Oxidizing Material ]</p>

Gar · 05-05-2002, 12:32 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys. I was just wondering, because I didn't think many pagan religions practicing in the west practiced animal sacrifice. They generally seem very nonviolent and passive, so it kinda threw me off.

philechat · 05-05-2002, 01:40 PM

It seemed that the Greeks did animal sacrifice though. Don't know about other pagans.

Seeker196 · 05-05-2002, 01:56 PM

From Gladiator:

"I will sacrifice 100 bulls in your honour"

Oxidizing Material · 05-05-2002, 03:44 PM

Well there you have it. An -irrefutable- source (the movie) says that Romans sacrificed things. Case closed, world of religion. Case. Closed.

Hedwig · 05-05-2002, 06:40 PM

The majority of pagans I've known in my life, whether they were Wiccan, hellenistic, Celtic, etc. don't agree with sacrificing animals (unless you count eating a nice steak) because they agree in varying degrees with the basic Wiccan rede of "An' it harm none, do as ye will."

Pagans in the western world prefer artificial representation because it's kinder and would be considered more civilized. At least that's how the pagans I know feel.

emotional · 05-05-2002, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toto:
<strong>Religious sacrifice of animals falls under freedom of religion, so it should be okay.

</strong>

Whose freedom of religion? I don't think anyone has the freedom to sacrifice animals, especially not cats. Is self-sacrifice, a la 11th of September 2001, also included under "freedom of religion"? Those pious men were only doing Allah's will!

No, there is no freedom of religion allowed if it is at the expense of what is sacred to others. So although an Orthodox Jew is obliged by his religion to bless God upon drinking something ("Blessed art thou, Adonai Elohenu, King of the World, at Whose word everything has come to be"), I'd never let an Orthodox Jew bless God while he's at my house. His problem, not mine, because all worship of God is offensive to me.

05-04-2002, 07:09 PM	#1
Gar Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Boston, Mass Posts: 347	A question for pagans After reading about the fundies breaking up that prayer thing in California I couldn't help but wonder about the chocolate rabbit. If the religion does call for animal sacrifice, why is a chocolate rabbit being used? Would it violate animal cruelty laws to use a real animal? Are there other reasons. I mean no disrespect I'm only curious.

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05-05-2002, 09:24 AM	#2
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	I don't know, to be honest. I've never heard of a "pagan" group (i.e. Celtic paganism, or Avalonism, and the new-age Wicca thign) that uses animal sacrifice - or any other kind of sacrifice. Paganism as I've known it is always about living in harmony with the earth, and killing things senselessly is definately not living in harmony with the earth. I wonder if this wasn't also an extremist pagan group?

05-05-2002, 11:05 AM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Religious sacrifice of animals falls under freedom of religion, so it should be okay. But the fact that this group used a white chocolate bunny destined for a fondue pot shows that they are using paganism for a bit of fun, or to dramatize their own ecological-spiritual-humanist values. They would fit into the modern Unitarian church, if they're not there already. I think this is new age, free imagination paganism, not the religion that the Druids practiced 2000 years ago (which probably called for human sacrifice in any case.)

05-05-2002, 11:24 AM	#4
Oxidizing Material Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Somewhere where I don't know where I am Posts: 2,069	Hmm. While it's true that many pagan religions practised in the West today don't involve animal sacrifice (I know Wicca doesn't), my guess is that they (teh pagans) probably think the surrounding residents hate them enough, and if they sacrificed a live animal, more than likely the fundies might do something dangerous to them. They're probably just trying to protect themselves while continuing on with their beliefs. [ May 05, 2002: Message edited by: Oxidizing Material ]</p>

05-05-2002, 12:32 PM	#5
Gar Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Boston, Mass Posts: 347	Thanks for the feedback guys. I was just wondering, because I didn't think many pagan religions practicing in the west practiced animal sacrifice. They generally seem very nonviolent and passive, so it kinda threw me off.

05-05-2002, 01:40 PM	#6
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	It seemed that the Greeks did animal sacrifice though. Don't know about other pagans.

05-05-2002, 01:56 PM	#7
Seeker196 Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 278	From Gladiator: "I will sacrifice 100 bulls in your honour"

05-05-2002, 03:44 PM	#8
Oxidizing Material Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Somewhere where I don't know where I am Posts: 2,069	Well there you have it. An -irrefutable- source (the movie) says that Romans sacrificed things. Case closed, world of religion. Case. Closed.

05-05-2002, 06:40 PM	#9
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	The majority of pagans I've known in my life, whether they were Wiccan, hellenistic, Celtic, etc. don't agree with sacrificing animals (unless you count eating a nice steak) because they agree in varying degrees with the basic Wiccan rede of "An' it harm none, do as ye will." Pagans in the western world prefer artificial representation because it's kinder and would be considered more civilized. At least that's how the pagans I know feel.

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