Don't think we can fairly blame a tribal deity named Yahweh. He allegedly told 'em straight:torus9 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:23 amThe "real" problem is the OT (Old Testament) steeped in blood sacrifices as requested by that moody and tempestuous; Jehovah, Yahweh, IHVH, "God"... Laid the groundwork for the alleged efficacy of blood sacrifices being pleasing unto the Lord, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
E.g. One of my favourite biblical passages was this, where Amos records Yahweh saying:
Here is another:"I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
-- Amos 5:21-27
The Ebionite Gospel — upon which the gospel of Matthew is probably based — has Jesus questioning his disciples about the eating of flesh of a sacrificial lamb at his last Passover. (3:4)"Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against the shepherds ...and I will deliver My sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for them."
Ezekiel 34:10
Jesus actually demonstrated against temple sacrifice when he released all the caged animals destined for ritual slaughter and drove them, their owners (who were there to make money off of their killing), and the money changers out of the temple. It was for this reason that the Temple authorities had him arrested as this was the biggest and most lucrative ritual slaughter of the year for them and the whole city. Jesus and the Ebionite, Nazarite, Essene community abhorred the temple sacrifice and considered it an abomination.
Books are written by humans. And the Judaic scriptures (as most are) are self-contradictory.The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away..."
John 2:15-16