Human sacrifice | the act of killing a human being as an offering to a deity

Q: What is human sacrifice?

A: Human sacrifice is the act of killing a human being as an offering to a deity or other supernatural power.

Q: How did different cultures practice human sacrifice?

A: Different cultures practiced human sacrifice in different ways. Some, such as the Mayans and Aztecs, are notorious for their ritual killings, while others have looked down on the practice as primitive. Victims were ritually killed in a manner that was supposed to please or appease gods or spirits.

Q: Who were victims of human sacrifice?

A: Victims of human sacrifice ranged from prisoners to infants to Vestal Virgins whose stomachs were cut open with a dull stone knife and their hearts were burned.

Q: Is human sacrifice still common today?

A: Human sacrifice has become less common around the world and sacrifices are now very rare. Most religions condemn the practice and present-day laws generally treat it as a criminal matter. Nonetheless it is still occasionally seen today, especially in the least developed areas of the world where traditional beliefs persist.

Q: Are there any religious groups that condone human sacrifice?

A: Most religions condemn the practice of human sacrifice and do not condone it in any way.

Q: What type of punishment does modern law impose on those who commit acts of human sacrifice?

A: Modern laws generally treat acts of human sacrifices as criminal matters and impose punishments accordingly.

Q: Are there any special rituals associated with ancient forms of human sacrifices?

A: Yes, victims were ritually killed in a manner that was supposed to please or appease gods or spirits in ancient forms of sacrificial practices.