tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post6097191603678328951..comments2024-03-27T09:04:12.454-07:00Comments on Baring the Aegis: The modern sacrifice of animals in HellenismosElani Temperancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05611003885755154591noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-65646519698614980712015-10-22T08:00:16.548-07:002015-10-22T08:00:16.548-07:00Okay so firstly, let me introduce myself and expla...Okay so firstly, let me introduce myself and explain why I'm commenting on a post from two years ago. I just spent the entire day reading through almost every post. I am not a Hellenist. I consider myself a Germanic Pagan with strong Greco-Roman influences (in accordance to the ancient Frankish religion and beliefs). I do value authenticity though, and I am very passionate about this topic particularly, as MANY from more developed Western countries LOVE painting this as "abuse" or "cruelty", while in the same breath eating steak or using gelatin or whatever. Frankly I expect my way of life to be respected, I offer this same respect to all others, vegetarian, vegan, meat-eater, whatever, respect is important and it is despicable when one person attacks another person and seeks to degrade them because of something as infantile as diet. In my culture and ethnic group (the Afrikaner, who are descended from the Dutch) we place a high value on hunting and eating that meat. I don't know any Afrikaans person that has not hunted, or has not been on a hunt. The meat is NEVER wasted. It can feed a small family for months. I perform animal sacrifice, and it is not easy. Not only is there a lot of physical labour that goes into cleaning before and after, preparation, butchering, etc, it is also hard on the devotee performing the sacrifice. Unless you are a sociopath or a butcher who is desensitized to this, you will feel emotional. Your hand will tremble. You will cry. You will hesitate and struggle to do it. I have done it many times and it has not become easier. This is why I think that the act of sacrificing the animal yourself is an important thing. You will feel the pain the animal feels. It will be hard for you. I think that when we do this, we are closer to the Gods, we understand our mortality, we understand that we live by ending the lives of other creatures, whether plant or animal. No person alive is not responsible for taking the life of another creature simply by living. Thousands of lives. This is unavoidable. This is the nature of life. It is a very different thing to offer a slice of meat and to kill that animal yourself and offer it. You are showing the Gods: "I perform this act that brings me discomfort, pain and sadness, it is a loss to me, but I do it to show my love for You, the Gods." Many have forgotten the importance of offerings. I think it's one of the most important things in life. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03661127280172340913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-10034555409627204212014-06-11T14:20:57.975-07:002014-06-11T14:20:57.975-07:00Maybe it was an issue of translation, but I though...Maybe it was an issue of translation, but I thought I read somewhere that offerings of cakes and fruit was considered "purer." I may be mistaken, or it maybe was purer in comparison to, say, killing an ox since it is sacred to Zeus.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16829572170199725072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-89555204569827493612014-05-26T07:51:37.091-07:002014-05-26T07:51:37.091-07:00I do not understand why the pig should be organic....I do not understand why the pig should be organic.Maya Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877457709995369246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-87486607307678442082013-01-22T23:15:35.083-08:002013-01-22T23:15:35.083-08:00A very interesting (and passionate) reaction, than...A very interesting (and passionate) reaction, thank you. I would love to hear more about your ideas concerning animal sacrifice as a result of human greed and politics. I've been pondering that statement, but I can't really get my head around it. <br />I'm not a big meat eater myself, but when I do, I sacrifice some of it to the Theoi, as I feel meat should not be eaten unless shared with them--much like the ancient sources I have come upon attest to the ancient Hellens did. <br />At any rate, thank you for giving me something to think about. I'm still in favor of the practice, but if I ever host a public ritual, I'll make extra sure to communicate this element of it, should it be involved.Elani Temperancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05611003885755154591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2382184804747180588.post-50486585596878990752013-01-22T19:02:39.657-08:002013-01-22T19:02:39.657-08:00No one could argue that the sacrifice of animals w...No one could argue that the sacrifice of animals was part of Hellenic practice. Personally (and not entirely because I find the idea horrifying and repugnant) I feel that the practice was far more driven by human greed and politics, at least in the sense of what one could garner in the sacrificial process via the larger public festivals. I honestly don't think the Theoi cared, one way or the other. I believe that offerings of non-animal bounty (grain, fruit, other foods, handcrafted items) carried just as much weight as any sort of animal sacrifice. I could not possibly condone animal sacrifice, and do not consume animals except on rare occasions. Were I to attend a large ritual to learn that this was happening, I would do everything in my power to stop it, and certainly never return to this group. Again, I don't believe that the gods cared specifically for animal sacrifice and the practice was driven by human sub-texts.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303921118797999599noreply@blogger.com