Why did ancient pagans practice blood sacrifices?
by 
faithfulvisions freebagger
ANSWERS: 10
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Blood was considered the life force of all beings, what links us with beasts, vermin or any other thing was the blood God or Gods to them that was placed in us
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Ancient pagans practiced blood sacrifice for the same reason that ancient Jews and Christians did. (And, oh yes, they did. Read the Old Testament...animal sacrifice is mentioned multiple times.) Blood is considered part of sympathetic magic in that it, more than any other thing, can ritualistically represent the life of a specific being. It is also considered precious, as it is necessary for life. Thus, it was the most precious sacrifice that could be made.
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To get a good harvest ect, and avoid the gods wrath. In the old days it were quit normal to offer animals before battle, most rellgions did it. To acheive the gods blessing:) It happens under worthy circumstances, so they doesn't suffer.
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The same reason ancient Christians practiced blood sacrifices. I mean. Everyone was doing it.
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Keep in mind that these types of things were practiced well before any money or normal/consistent currency was used. For many people, their wealth was counted in their livestock - and to give one up to a god/ess would be the same as someone giving a monetary donation today.
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Not only pagans...
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In addition to the above answers, it may also be noted that many pagan cultures are sustained in part through the custom of gift-giving. Someone comes into your home as a guest, you slaughter your best animal for them to feed them. If you do that for a friend or a guest, then why not for a god? Modern pagans that practice blood sacrifice do it for the same reasons... a gift demands a gift, and cements the symbiotic relationship between humans and the gods, just as it did in ancient times.
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I would like to add that in Christian mythology, Jesus's death was a blood sacrifice and communion is the consumption of his blood and flesh.
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Blood and life were the *purist* of sacrifices to many religions of the ancient world. To give of your body or the body of another was the most precious sacrifice.
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If they did I'd say for the same reason other religious people did -- they're idiots.
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