DLL
<< Why is it so hard to accept that some religions are simply wrong, or did you pray to Zeus during the last thunderstorms in your area?>>
You better watch it, or I'm gonna start asking for some thunderbolts in your general direction:-)
NO, I do not agree with innocent children being killed(I think you already know that, at least I hope you do!)
There is a huge difference between ritual and religion. Oftentimes ritual is a man made contivance derived to help celebrate and/or enhance the religious experience. A good example of that is Jewish dietary laws. they originally sprung up as a health related practice that has become ingrained in the religion as a ritual. In all reality it has little to do wtih the undererlying religion. (at least thats my understanding of the dietary laws)
Perhaps thats how the child sacrifice thing sprang up? or maybe a powerful tribe leader just started including it in the religious practice. Either way, you are right in that I dont usualy make a point of praying to alligator gods.
However, I believe the Native American Indians believed that the spirits of animals could be accessed and learned from. It comes from a belief that all of nature is interconnected, and to know one aspect of your spirituality you must know all aspects. Again, that is my understanding of their beliefs, and I may be wrong. I am hardly an expert.
Mark |
