Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
View Content By Specific Category
¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Animal Sacrifice in Judaism and Paganism: What Is the Difference?
There probably is not a culture or people in which there is not a history of some form of animal sacrifice, including the people of ancient Israel. Some Christians affirm that though animal sacrifices was performed during Old Testament times, Judaism and Paganism share neither the same reasons nor practices for animal sacrifice. Are there any real differences? If so, what are those differences?
Reasons for Animal Sacrifice in Judaism and Paganism
Animal sacrifices were preformed by Pagans, also known as "heathens" in biblical scripture, to please one or many gods and goddesses. Sometimes it was carried out to win favor from a deity so that crops would grow, the weather would be calm, sickness would go away, and for a variety of other reasons. Animal sacrifice in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, however, was never performed to please God so that he would make crops grow, send rain, ward off dangerous weather, heal the sick, or defeat Israel's enemies. Animals were sacrificed to purify the flesh, not the heart, of the people who had committed sin in Israel (Hebrews 9:13-14). It is not strange that they took place on a continual basis, because sin occurred on a continual basis. Here is part of the separating difference between sacrifice in Paganism and Godly animal sacrifice by and for Israel in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Are there any other differences? If so, are those differences major? Yes, there are; and they are major.
Abominable Sacrifice
Animal sacrifice in Paganism, unlike that of the Old Testament, involved the sacrifice not only of animals, but also of people, including babies, children, men, and women. The Mayans, for example, often painted the people who were to be sacrificed, blue, believing that the color was connected to the god of rain, who would be pleased and send plenty of rain for their crops. Pagan sacrifice of people was also carried out to evade natural disasters, gain victory in battle, and even as part of celebrating the defeat of enemies in war. A sacrificial victim might be killed by tearing his heart out, stabbed to death with spears, pierced with arrows, or thrown into a well to drown. This is nothing short of pure murder to please deities, who obviously inspired such bloody violence against man at the hand of his fellow man. It is quite clear that the God of Israel was very displeased with such behavior for which he never called. Israel never sacrificed people. God's people only performed animal sacrifice, and they were not to gain favor with God for the sending of rain, the avoidance of dangerous weather, or any such reason.
The Lord told Israel, "There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his SON or his DAUGHTER to pass through the fire...for all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord..." (KJV, Deuteronomy 18:10, 12). "Pass through the fire" means to be sacrificed. This scripture speaks f the sacrifice of people.
It is interesting to note that many serial killers accepted many of the beliefs and practices of Paganism, including animal sacrifice. When they murdered people, were their victims of homicide perhaps a modern version of Pagan sacrifice of a person? Serial killers had no worry of growing crops or defeating enemies in battle; however, they still desired something. They did not use obsidian knives like the Mayans did, or arrows and spears. But weapons that kill also come in the form of guns, knives, clubs, chains, etc. The fact that the desire changes does not mean that the means to fulfill that desire changes or is really anything new to this day and age.
"Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us" (Ecclesiastes 1:10).
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
Copyright notice: This website and its content is copyright of © Heavenly Manna (HeavenlyManna.net) 2002-2016.
Comments/Comentarios:
Send Comments or a Private Message about One of Our Services / Envíe Comentarios o un Mensaje Privado acerca de nuestros servicios
Once comments reach 10, they close. IF YOU USE PROFANITY, WE WILL REJECT YOUR COMMENT AUTOMATICALLY.
We're a small team, please be patient as we review comments.
©2003 - 2013 Heavenly Manna Ministries
Images: courtesy of Free Digital Photos, openstockphotography.org, FreeFoto.com, Wikimedia Commons. Multiple crosses image - Wikimedia Commons - C.G.P Grey - Animation by Heavenly Manna