The Idea Of Sacrifice In Religion.

[G_A_U]

Haven't posted in a while, so I won't go too deep. sweatdrop

I recently just read this article, and found myself thinking "Can a country with a massive poverty population really afford to sacrifice 30,000 goats?"

But it's not just India, Catholics ask for sacrifice during Lent.

Where does this come from? Why do so many religions often ask us to abstain from something we enjoy or give up something we need? I could understand if it were something bad for us, but the act is symbolic. To show resolve to endure hardships for the religion they've chosen, but why? How does making people who live a hard life sacrifice even more keep people in a religion?  

[[-Erik-]]

I think it's pretty stupid.

I'm not saying it because I'm an atheist, but because it seriously is stupid.

They are starving to death in some parts yet they decide to burn their goats and worship their cows instead of eating them.

I suppose it's just the way they were raised. You know what blind faith can do :l  

[Daffodil the Destroyer]

I think it's a way of martyring themselves. Religious folk often have a serious persecution complex, so anything that makes them feel like they're suffering for the good of their faith really gets their spiritual rocks off.

 

[B1g_crunch]

I think martyring was a tool used by preists to get people to give stuff to the church (and to the preists themselves), while being passed off as something "the lord" would smile upon.  

[[-Erik-]]

Labyrinthknight7

I think martyring was a tool used by preists to get people to give stuff to the church (and to the preists themselves), while being passed off as something "the lord" would smile upon.

I don't think this is the reason but I am sure it's happening.