Nothing ignites a fire inside you as a child more than novelty. That fire becomes smoking fucking hot when you see adults doing it. That is how I felt when I saw my family having communion once a month on a Saturday morning. I wanted to try the crackers and wine (actually juice, because we were Seventh Day Adventist) so bad because quite frankly, it looked tantalizingly good. The gold rimmed case filled with individual baby shot cups made my curiosity go crazy. My parents and my church in general didn’t permit children to partake in it because we weren’t baptized. I was disappointed at first, but I looked forward to a baptized future where it would hit my mouth.
Fasforward 15-20 years later, I could care less about eating the crackers and wine juice. Why, you ask? Surpriseee, I’m spiritually agnostic. Quite honestly, I don’t see myself looking back either. Most people are in their birth religion because it’s what they grew up in and that’s all they know. No need to question it. Also, don’t forget the perks because it’s the top dog Abrahamic religion. This is an intuitive thought but your credit in the global society skyrockets as a Christian compared to a “fetish” priest doing “juju”. We’re all the same though when it boils down to it. Most types of religious organization are spirituality sancitioned by its respective society. It’s a way to make sense of such a complex, nuanced, crazy world. However, being the dominant worldview allows for a hypocritical perspective to fester in most of us in the Western(Judeo-Christian influenced) world. One prime example is when it comes to cannibalism/human sacrifice and its use.
The Aztec empire practiced human sacrifice using their neighboring nations before they were subjugated by the Christian conquistadors, aided by those same people. State religions of non-Muslim West Africa practiced human sacrifice. The Mongols and Japanese practiced human sacrifice as well as the Celts, Romans and just about everyone on the face of the Earth. Christians did(and still do) today. At least from an outsider perspective.
The only difference is that it is “God’s son”. Societies living in turbulent moments and times came to rely on sacrifice so one can reap benefits and keep the cycle of prosperity going. As Dr. Jordan Peterson once said, “ultimate sacrifice produces the ultimate reward”. Instead of one man, multiple persons in society(or outsiders) must sacrifice for the greater good. Or to assist with an “important” person who is going to the next world.
People also ate the hearts and brains of those considered brave and courageous in various parts of the world, too. In Europe (mostly Christian Europe), certain human parts were used to make medical concoctions, all the way up to 1800. Imbangala (Kasanje) soldiers of West-Central Africa ate the hearts of brave people as well. There is still an ethnic group in Papua New Guinea that cannibalizes one when they die to honor their soul. Christians have decided to consume Jesus Christ. A man who lived 2000 years ago and is god’s son. Tearing apart his flesh and blood for strength, salvation and will to persevere. Of course, this is figurative, but the principle is still there.
At times, we bash human sacrifice because of its barbaric origins. It is inhumane and restricts people to a fault. I agree, it is not fun to be annihilated for the “good” of the nation. It’s a violation of an individual’s rights. However, it gave society a sense of responsibility, no matter how warped it was. To confront your evil and face life’s challenges a bit more literally; instead of placing it all on the god’s son. Or one god.
Christianity alleviates one’s personal responsibility where one prays for their sins to be washed away by the “blood” and “flesh” of Jesus Christ, which in turn incentivizes corruption. My great-grandfather used to tell my father that before “school” (Christianity) came, you could leave money on the ground, and no one would take it. He said “Now, people don’t care because they know Nyankopon (God) will forgive them.” Multiple second chances; human nature says I’ll take that for two please. From my humble opinion, these spiritual systems take different routes but get to the same destination. Albeit one is easier. Pick your poison.