Then, to put it briefly, it's the oldest practiced religion known to man: moreover, it's the oldest with the premise of a Heaven and Hell, a duality of good and evil, and one God. You could say it's a prototype to the Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Ahura Mazda, the lord of wisdom, and all that is good. Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit, and all that is evil.
. . . Back in the time before technology and science could explain the world, humans needed answers for phenomena that were out of their control. Why the crops didn't flourish that year, or why the winter was harsher than usual - things like that. All that could be considered negative, all that could be considered evil, was blamed upon the evil spirits - for those devoted to the Avesta, it would be Angra Mainyu.
In many places, it wasn't uncommon for there to be some sort of sacrifice to the gods in order to bring prosperity. ... In some places, it wasn't uncommon for there to be some sort of sacrifice that was blamed for the lack of that prosperity.
Regardless, a sacrifice isn't something for the gods. It's for humans, for them to be able to gain some feeling of control over an uncontrollable situation.
"If we sacrifice enough, the rain will come back." Eventually the rain will come back, of course, but this sort of mentality brings about relief and self-satisfaction. Comfort is afforded with that control.
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Ahura Mazda, the lord of wisdom, and all that is good. Angra Mainyu, the destructive spirit, and all that is evil.
. . . Back in the time before technology and science could explain the world, humans needed answers for phenomena that were out of their control. Why the crops didn't flourish that year, or why the winter was harsher than usual - things like that. All that could be considered negative, all that could be considered evil, was blamed upon the evil spirits - for those devoted to the Avesta, it would be Angra Mainyu.
In many places, it wasn't uncommon for there to be some sort of sacrifice to the gods in order to bring prosperity. ... In some places, it wasn't uncommon for there to be some sort of sacrifice that was blamed for the lack of that prosperity.
Regardless, a sacrifice isn't something for the gods. It's for humans, for them to be able to gain some feeling of control over an uncontrollable situation.
"If we sacrifice enough, the rain will come back." Eventually the rain will come back, of course, but this sort of mentality brings about relief and self-satisfaction. Comfort is afforded with that control.