Human Sacrifice In Pre-Columbian MesoAmerica

Unwilling Virgins

When I would think of Human Sacrifice, I would think of screaming, young girls being forced onto bloody altars, a self-mutilated priest with a fanatic glint in his eye hovering over, knife raised...

It was a horrible image, and I could only think that human beings had to have become severely perverted in mind and heart to be capable of performing or, even approving of such reprehensible acts.

However, the brilliant invention of the Internet has tempered my views with knowledge, and now I understand the practice more clearly.

I take off my hat and bow deeply to the visionary men and women who have shaped the Internet into the wonderful tool of connectivity it has become.
I believe it is a tool which will help to save humanity...from our long history of feeling disconnected, isolated and misunderstood.

It certainly has in this case, helping me to understand Human Sacrifice as not being the act of senseless horror I had imagined it to be.

Gods Bled For Humanity.
Humanity Bleeds For Its Gods.

In MesoAmerican cultures, human sacrifice was a means by which homage, respect, and love (so rarely is this word found in academic contexts. mistrust of feelings and all that) was demonstrated to the Gods who had generously given of themselves to create the world humans enjoyed.

Flower Wars were wars conducted, not to kill or conquer, but to capture soldiers of other peoples to be used as sacrifices.
The soldiers looked forward to the honor of being captured and sacrificed. They would be contributing invaluably to their people.

That said, I personally think most of them would have been far happier Not to be sacrificed and enjoy a happy, peaceful life with their friends and family and people.

Fear : What One Does Not Understand, One Fears.

I appreciate that Human Sacrifice in MesoAmerican culture was not conducted out of cruelty and anger, but, I do think it sad that Human Beings believed that kind, benevolent Gods could desire the death of other Human Beings.

If I was a God, I would not want people I had lovingly created to kill themselves intentionally for me.
I would want them to be happy and peaceful and grow.

There is the old idea of Blood for Blood.
I would request a person look inside themselves and ask,
"How does the idea of another person shedding blood or dying for my God make me feel?"

It makes me feel horrible.

Honor and The Stiff Upper Lip

"Life's hard. Get used to it."

Throughout human history the idea that emotions weakened a person has been pervasive.

I can imagine friends and family of virgins and soldiers in MesoAmerican cultures who were to be sacrificed, had to put on masks of happiness and pride as they watched their loved ones walk towards their deaths.
They would try with all their might to remember how much honor was invested in their sacrifice and all the benefits in Godly satisfaction which would bless the community.
Yet, a part, I say, the truest part, would be crying out, "This is wrong. I don't want my loved one to die for a God I can't see, for honor I don't truly feel."

"What I do know is that my heart will be emptier with them gone. That seeing them die will cause me horrible pain. That, I truly, don't want them to die!"

How horrible it must have been for the families and friends.
I wonder how many of them wanted to speak their thoughts aloud, but, couldn't, not because of a sense of honor or reverence, but because of : fear.

Fear of being outcast.
Fear of being ostracized.
Fear of being sacrificed themselves to increase their...faith.

What I truly object to and am indignant of is the certainty I have in my mind and heart, that there were not a few, families and friends, in those old cultures, who would have wanted to stop the sacrifice of their loved ones if they could, but didn't, because they were afraid.

The Legacy of Human Sacrifice

That is what I find wrong and Perverted about Human Sacrifice.

I am certain that it is painful for everyone who loves the person being sacrificed (in fact, I would say everyone who is even aware of the sacrifice),
and,
that many of them would want to stop the sacrifice if they could,
but do not,
because of fear.

Human Beings living in fear.
I object to that.