Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Cecilia Bembibre, in Oct. 2010
The concept of sacrifice is used in our language in an extended way and various references are attributed to it, several of them linked to the religion and divinity.
Offering that is given to a divinity or god
The term sacrifice is a term that comes from the Latin language in which sacrificium it means "to do something sacred." By case it is that one of its most common uses is to refer to that offering that is made to it, it is given to a divinity who is worshiped and worshiped.
Thus, the sacrifice or the sacred act always represents an act of effort and will in pursuit of achieving a greater objective for which one is fighting.
Human sacrifices in ancient times
Sacrifice, in ancient times, was generally carried out through different types of rituals in which animals and different offerings were offered in honor of the gods. These rituals, when performed through the incineration of these offerings, were known as holocausts.
In many ancient or primitive cultures, sacrificial rituals could include the offering of humans as well; babies, young women or men.
Celebration of the Eucharist in Christianity
Meanwhile, and at the behest of Christianity, this is the name given to the celebration carried out by a priest in the middle of the mass at offer the body of Christ under the formats of wine and bread, in clear commemoration of what Jesus appropriately bequeathed in this regard.
The concept that concerns us is born in direct relation to the religious. Most of the religions that the history of humanity, monotheistic or polytheistic, demanded from their faithful followers the realization sacrifices and offerings of all kinds.
Human and other living sacrifices were certainly common in times past, for example, aboriginal tribes They gave their gods the lives of animals and people, many times, with the intention of calming their anger, or also with the motivation to celebrate some military triumph.
We must say that in many cases the sacrifices were certainly bloody because they involved beheadings and other very violent practices, fortunately, and with the to run of the time these practices disappeared almost in their entirety, in many circumstances because they were prohibited by law.
Act of resignation in favor of another or a cause to which he is committed
And finally another of the extended uses of the term allows to name that act of self-denial that leads someone to renounce a certain question in favor of another, either for the one who needs it or because in this way, with this resignation, he reassures a situation.
The word sacrifice is commonly used in the language everyday in this sense, when seeking to refer to an act that requires a lot of effort on the part of the person who performs it, commitment and consistency.
The sacrifice can consist of dieting when one is constantly tempted by delicious and tasty dishes around and knows that he should not eat them because he is overweight.
Also a sacrifice can be studying and taking a subject that is difficult for one, leaving aside other issues such as going out with friends or doing nothing specific.
Stop fighting with a brother so that the mother do not be saddened by that constant dispute between the two will be a sacrifice.
Sacrifice is something that requires great commitment and consistency since it is something that is done voluntarily but that does not mean that it is less difficult or intricate just because it was sought to be carried out.
The term sacrifice is the one normally used to designate any act that involves an effort towards a specific objective. Traditionally, the notion of sacrifice was related exclusively to certain rituals and religious acts that served to demonstrate to God the dedication and love constant that individuals had in him. At present the term can be used in many situations of various kinds, as we have already explained.
Themes in Sacrifice