Intergalactic Summit

Recently my daughter asked me, “Mommy, why does God demand blood?” Blessed be the simple mind of a child. Many of us take for granted the tenets of our faith, without critical thought to the underlying theology. Why does The Red God require a Blood Sacrifice? Why not water or, say, a rock?

Theology is a constantly evolving understanding of God. As time goes on, human knowledge increases and we are better able to understand. Science is a good example of this. We know about sub atomic particles, bosons, quarks. Each discovery leads to a greater understanding of the universe and God. So it is with theology, especially in the field archeo-scripturology.

History and theology walk hand in hand. God is not an idle God. He is active, on a very subtle level in everyday life. His hand can be seen in every miracle that occurs. It is that intervention, the order, the unexpected out of chaos that we can see the true evidence of God. So, a study of history is the study of God. In history we can see His acts and discern His mysteries better.

There is a consensus among scholars that the idea of a blood sacrifice came with us from Terra, through the EVE Gate. There are a few occultic and arcane pieces of Scripture, quite old, that speak of “By the Blood, we are saved.” Unfortunately we know they are not original.

The first solid account that we have is the Long Winter. Brother Molikie, a monk in the Ordo Saangral Sani, the precursor to the Order of the Chalice wrote of the religious practices during that time, well before the Amarr coalesced into the Empire that exists today. His work detailed the transitions from blood offerings to the blood sacrifices during that time.

In a time mostly forgotten to us, the Amarr were scattered on their continent. Minor villages was the norm. The religious practice of the day was to offer a token offering of an animal to God at significant religious festivals, the most important being the Last Blood, or a festival sometime in the fall where the final animals would be slaughtered in preparation for the winter. The blood would be collected and burned in offering to God.

However, the winter began to get colder and colder and the summers shorter. What historians believed was a solar minimum, where the star’s activity decreased significantly. The offerings became more grand, more animals, more blood, pleading to God to save them. Nothing worked, the temperature continued to drop and the people began to starve.

It was then the priests came together and discussed what would be done. A Blood Sacrifice was decided upon, an appeasement to God for their sins. One person from the village would be selected and bled to death at Final Blood. There was naturally some dissension to this and in the early days it was usually the old or infirm that were placed upon the altar. Still the weather stayed harsh and cold.

The priests came together again and told the people that it was sacrifice that God demanded. Killing the old and infirm was not a sacrifice. And the people went out and began to offer up their better persons. Sometimes still only one, sometimes more. The methodology varied greatly. This is also the first time the quality versus quantity argument reared it’s head. This debate continues today.

So, the idea that blood is somehow special is not a new idea, but one steeped in history and our primal consciousness. We all know that blood represents life. When we are injured physically we bleed. This is, I think, why God chose it. To get blood requires pain, injury. It is not something that one just runs out of a faucet.

Sin is so offensive to God’s holiness that it demands a penance, a sacrifice to atone for, so that we may be allowed into his presence. Since God is sovereign, the only sovereign, the method of atonement is left to Him to decide. He chose a physical atonement, one that requires pain to offer, mirroring the pain we cause Him when we sin.

I too agree with Sir Khazarn, it is definitely a magnificent read and something I wish to take along on my travels so I may spread your literature to others to those understand this subject more clearly, if you would allow me of course.

*snerk*

Oh, you're one of those?

All the rage in Luminaire I hear.

How trite.

A great read Canoness!

While I've never been a student of history its quite interesting to hear about the Origins of some of our sacred rituals.

Can we expect to hear more of these historical facts from you in the future? I know I'd certainly be interested in hearing them.

Fascinating, and thank you for sharing this conclusion. You mention earlier that history and theology walk hand in hand, that a study of history is also a study of God's work and therefore of God itself. While I see this is indeed possible, I more attribute it to the study of history being all inclusive. Studying history allows the study of all other fields, mundane and divine. It is also worth noting that history itself is an ever growing and changing field itself. New information is rediscovered routinely, old "historical fact" is reevaluated and refined as is necessary. Knowing that it is, in my opinion, difficult to say with any certainty if the past is any clearer of a lens through which to view God.



I found the above statement to be particularly interesting as well. Most presentations, be they written or spoken, tend to put a great deal of weight on the "final words" of the piece. Generally to make a memorable statement or provoke thought and response. Now I can't be sure that is your intent, but if it is then it's quite successful seeing as I'm commenting on it. But to get to the point, your final statement leads me to a particular situation and question. Namely, how literal are you being when you say our sin causes God pain?

Obviously that sort of question leads to many more...

If sin causes God pain, then that means God has a threshold for pain, which means there is a point where the pain becomes to great and causes a reaction. Where is that point? How much sin is tolerable?

And then there is the trillion Isk question. If sin causes God pain, and too much pain for us can lead to unconsciousness and even death, then is it possible for humanity to incapacitate, even kill, God through our sins? Who knows...perhaps we already have?

I got a shiver down my spine when I read this, it's just so fascinating! I cant wait to hear your response Canoness.

Heretical trash

Do tell us how this fine bit of writing is firstly, "heritical" and secondly, "trash".