⌛ Sacrificial rituals in the Philippines.

I thought I would start this thread to blend in with the other two threads on Healers and Ghosts.
The first sacrificial ritual I was aware of,was when we were having a well dug by 5 workers.My wife informed me the work had stopped and the men refused to work because there was a bad spirit down the hole.She told me I would have to buy a chicken,which she gave to the men,who performed the ritual,then got on with their job.I noticed they also scoffed the chicken!

I was thinking,maybe you shouldn't read anymore if you have a weak stomach.

The second time,was when I bought a truck and my wife a motorcycle.My wife said we would have to get them blessed by a Priest but after first a ritual performed.She got this poor duck,while her brother held it,her auntie slit its throat.Blood was sprayed over the front of the truck and over the motorcycle.The duck still appeared to be alive.There was blood everywhere.We then drove to the Church and the Priest asked us to start the vehicles and then he said a few words in Latin,I think as far as I can remember.He was paid for doing this.
The third time,was when we had built a coconut drying house.And carried out another ritual,with a chicken this time,spraying blood all over the house.

Fortunately she hasn't carried on any of these practices,since she has been living in the UK.

 

If she had, the RSPCA will be after her :D

 

I'm afraid that people who have no respect for the rights to life of animals disgust me, especially when they kill animals for nothing better than superstitious hocus-pocus b*llshit.

I'm an atheist but even I know that God (I assume she is Christian) forbids sacrifices in the Bible. So how come this Priest ends up blessing it!!?? ... Yeah cos he gets paid, right! That says everything I need to know.

It's disgusting. If someone did that to her children, how would she like it?!

You're right the RSPCA would be after her. That's because it is needlessly cruel and uncaring, even in this heartless world.

 

Actually, according to the scriptures (at least the copies we have access to), the Hebrews were commanded to offer animal sacrifices on certain occasions.

 

Personally I dislike very much all those animal sacrifices, but I also had to watch when they did it several times here at my place when building the house: fondament, when roof was made, when an imagined ghost was swivveling around on our lot, when....etc etc..
Timn8ster is fully wright....it's a 'custom' you find in the bible as well.
So, being a christian myself I should blame my own religion for that particular fact (and some others :D ).
But I'm not trying to stop them from doeing so. I more believe that things will slowly change by time.
I detest now many things I did as a kid with animals. Yes, I even can not believe I did blow up a frog. Don't attack me please for this confession , but I know I did once because my friends did as well.
So all I do now is saying "I don't like these customs but are not going to stop you". I try to convince them of the non-proven effect of these sacrifices.
I will however stop someone if there is no ritual "reason" for his intended animal killing.

 

For me this is a perfect example of "catholicism" as practiced by colonized primitive cultures (primitive 600 years ago not now) The new religion is combined with the ancient traditions.

Old testament had sacrifices (hebrew scriptures), I don't think you'll find Joe Ratzinger advocating that these days.

Even worse than animal sacrifices, human sacrifices are part of the Philippine folklore. Seldom talked about, my wife related a legend, belief, or whatever you might call it about sugar cane growers. As a child, they were warned by the parents to stay away from motor vehicles, trucks and cars because these car drivers were likely plantation employees looking for children to scarifice in front of broken cane plantation equipment as part of the repair process.
Whether the elders were merly trying to scare the children into a healthy fear of strangers or they actually believed this I don't know.
My guess would be if anything, they wanted to kidnap children for forced labor. It's all a guess on my part, but the stories are out there.

 

The Bible is inconsistent in everything that is says; I’m sure we could and do find evidence in the Bible to support all our evil actions.

I hope you find these anti-sacrificial extracts below interesting:

The Bible tells us that animals have a soul (Gen. 1:20) and that they possess also a spirit, (Eccles. 3:19). The original Hebrew word used in this second passage is Ruach and according to 'Strong's Complete Dictionary of Bible Words', Ruach/Ruwach is used to represent spirit, "but only of a rational being." If we add this to the fact that God said; "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck;" then we must conclude that, according to GOD, the killing of animals is wrong.

God has no Delight in Sacrifices

There can be no doubt that God wanted humanity to elevate itself above such barbaric practices, for the Prophet Hosea says: "They love sacrifice, they sacrifice flesh and eat it, but the Lord has no delight in them." (Hosea 8:13) Referring to animal sacrifices, God Himself says through His Prophet Isaiah: "...I will hide my eyes from you: yea, when you make your prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood...put away the evil of your doings from my eyes; cease to do evil." (Isaiah 1:11-16)

Noah and the Flood

It was only after the flood that animals were temporarily allowed to be eaten (because crops would not grow on the flooded land). As soon as Noah had left the ark, he sacrificed many animals to God (Gen. 8:20). Keep in mind that God did not tell Noah to do this. Evidently, Noah's sacrifice was based on his own beliefs and were not founded on the word of God, as were neither the sacrifices of Cain and Able. Once God noticed Noah's sacrifice, "...the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil..." (Gen. 8:21).

Jesus said the following: "I came to destroy the sacrifices, and if ye cease not from sacrificing, the wrath of God will not cease from you." (Gospel of the Ebionites)

"He [God] then who at the first was displeased with the slaughtering of animals, not wishing them to be slain, did not ordain sacrifices as desiring them; nor from the beginning did He require them." (St. Peter the Apostle, 1st Bishop of Rome: Clementine Homilies)

 

So where do you draw the line personally Jellyfish? Are you saying that any abuse of animals is allowed, but not encouraged. What about bestiality? What about the rape or sacrifice of young maiden virgins? Surely, there is a line in your heart somewhere?

We have all done things as uneducated children that we regret. But that doesn’t mean that we should use that as a reason not to stop further misery and wrongdoing. If you agree that it is wrong, then your inactions and tolerance merely help perpetuate this barbaric practice. If more people spoke out against them , then we would bring a stop to it and help stop this needless animal suffering. :(

 

tolerance is a virtue, so if we can tolerate local beliefs, perhaps it will bring us closer to understanding. We don't have to endorse such behaivior, but there is little sense to try to change the flow of the river.

 

Hi RHB, I like most things that you say on this forum, but I'm afraid this is not one of your better efforts. :(

Without movements for social change and equal rights, we would still have:

- human slavery
- cannibalism
- child labour
- female subjugation
- racial segregation
- experiments on orphans and the poor

To name but a few. There is EVERY REASON not to tolerate this behaviour. We CAN make a difference and bring about change.

Animals are sentient beings the same as you and I; they feel pain, loss and grief, the same as humans do. Imagine yourself or your family in the position of the animal, then you'll see the need for change. After all, we are all merely animals.