/christianity/ - Christian Theology & Philosophy

This is all related to the holiness of God, which is one of His attributes. It is your second option, the law of God's holiness forces the situation where a sacrifice was necessary.

>Why necessity of sacrifice?

Why did people in the pre-Christ era need to perform sacrifices? Because God instructed it, but why did He instruct it?

Because men sin, and God's holiness does not permit the presence of sin

<You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell (Psalm 5:4)

>Why animal sacrice?

In my opinion, it could have been just as well that God only asked for grain and wine offerings, but animal sacrifice makes the connection that sin brings death, and it was a most valuable resource to the ancients. It also typologically relates to Christ.

Remember that many of the sacrifices served a practial purpose too. Priests would eat the remains of certain sacrifices, and the feasts were similarly sacrificial.

>Why a certain group of middle easterners?

OT Israel was just the nation that God graciously condescended to. This was not a guarantee of eternal salvation for being an Israelite, nor was eternal salvation exclusive to members of that tribe.

>Why human sacrifice of Christ?

Man's sin could only be finally paid for by sacrifice of man.

<For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:21)

>Why virgin birth?

To be a man, Jesus had to be born. Mary had to be a virgin again because of God's holiness, and because a normal pregnancy would not produce the son of God, but the son of Joseph if he supplied the seed.

I hope you can see that all the pieces come together by logical (and theological) necessity

>>9570

>Why did the omnipotent creator of the universe need middle eastern people to sacrifice goats and animals by cutting their throats and burning their bodies to obtain their blood for so long?

1)God doesnt need anything. At all. He is self sufficient.

2)Blood sacrifices were reminder and allusion of sacrifice of Christ

3)Mosaic law was that: a Law. The sacrifices were sort of a fine and material penalty to discourage improper behaviour.

>When I talk to people who are not Cristian they also don't see why god needed to impregnate a teenage middle eastern girl so her child could be butchered as a sacrifice to himself.

1)Prime purpose of Human being is Theosis, it is meant such since the moment he was created. This also means that, according to our traditions at least, Christ would become incarnate and assume Human nature no matter if mankind would fall or not. It is meant to be so from the beginning.

2)Sin in Orthodoxy is seen less as a crime for which punishment is needed, but as a disease, a spiritual cancer to be cured.

3)Liturgical texts generally speak about Christ defeating "death by [his] death", for example, in Paschal chants. Though details are left for mystery.

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recapitulation_theory_of_atonement

>Perhaps god had no choice in this matter and there is some law of the universe that forces him to need blood?

No, nothing forces God, He is unchangeable, He is everloving, he is always benevolent. Theory that some sort of universal external force can influence God is pagan, and was widespread in ancient Greek mythos.

God needs animal sacrifice blood, what part of "needs blood" do you not get

it's perfectly logical, duh

>>9687

>blood

>>9570

He never *needed* them to. There are many verses in the Old Testament stating that God prefers a righteous heart over animal sacrifices. The sacrifices were an image of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and additionally were how the priests were fed.

>>9570

God loves a good barbecue.

>>9570

>Why did the omnipotent creator of the universe need middle eastern people to sacrifice goats and animals by cutting their throats and burning their bodies to obtain their blood for so long?

Galatians 3:22-25

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Hebrews 9:18-23

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

>Perhaps god had no choice in this matter and there is some law of the universe that forces him to need blood?

You have to put this in its bigger context. God created the very existence of blood in the first place. Everything has been given its purpose with his thoughts and purpose in mind. And his ways are much higher than our ways, his thoughts than our thoughts. Whether or not you realize this fact, this is simply the reality around us. That's simply how it is, and God is also willing for us to come to the knowledge of the truth of his Son if we should seek it.

>>10073

>were how the priests were fed.

Wait I thought the whole point of animal sacrifices was that you'd burn the remains as a symbol of your sacrifice for the sake of your belief? Did they really just eat the animal after "sacrificing" it?

>>10141

It depended on the type of sacrifice. A lot of the time the owner of the animal got to have a good feast along with the family.

>>9570

>>10073

This, and the fact that livestock was worth a lot back then. Sacrificing the best of your livestock was a big sacrifice in general, and by burning the body, you're rendering the meat inedible to salvage.