child sacrifice in ancient religions

The practice of sacrificing children was common in most ancient cultures and continued until relatively recent times. The gods, it was believed, demanded the very best of human sacrifices -- so the youngest, the most beautiful or the most favoured of each family's children was destined to lose his or her life on a sacrificial altar in order to ensure the prosperity of the family or community.

These days, of course, such children often lose their innocence on similar religious altars for the base gratification of men of God.

In the bible, when Abraham received a vision from God to take his favourite son to Mt Moriah for sacrifice the Moslems say that Abraham took Ishmael, but the Jews insist it was Isaac.

Whichever boy it was, the sacrifice was not made. The Bible claims that God was testing Abraham's faith, but common sense dictates that the poor old man couldn't bear to part with the sons he had waited so long for.

Actually, it is more likely that Abraham chose his firstborn, Ishmael, for the aborted sacrifice because shortly afterwards a jealous Sarah had Hagar and Ishmael banished. Naturally, after spending four years doting on Ishmael, Abraham had developed a close relationship with Hagar and even when Isaac was born to Sarah he was unlikely to have lost interest in the former slave-girl and her child.

Sarah had expected Ishmael to be sacrificed, and when he came back alive she was furious because her son's inheritance was now at risk.



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