To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (11920 ) 1/2/2011 5:12:46 PM From: Solon Respond to It is one of the few heartening parts of the bible. As myth and parable it shows a people coming to terms with an idea that a Creator does not need the death of children to appease his anger, jealousy, or whatever. No one knows for sure when the Jewish sacrifice of children stopped. It seems that all pre-scientific primitive societies had the instinct that suffering and offering up ultimate value (treasured life) would mediate with the power of the storm and nature gods to be kindly disposed.latinamericanstudies.org "...The dismal drum of Huichilobos sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns, and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue [temple-pyramid] from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in Cortés defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed. When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and then they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos. Then after they had danced the papas [Aztec priests] laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts which they offered to the idols before them..."
