I am trying to understand the objection by religious leaders to the slaughtering of cows by the ANC at its 100 Year Celebrations in memory/honour of their ancestors/fallen leaders.
Surely there is a huge difference between honouring ancestors and worshopping ancestors.
The Bible relates quite a number of instances of animal sacrifice.
Example: "Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it".
Genesis 8:19-21
Example: "Sacrifice as the Passover to the LORD your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his Name".
Deuteronomy 16:1-3
Just read the article about the ceremony on News24.
ANC bash: Zuma performs symbolic sacrifice
I quote from the article:
"Zuma said the ritual was also a way of speaking to the ancestors, as well as God in a "traditional" way. He said it was also symbolic for the ritual to take place at the church were the ANC was founded in 1912.
Traditional and religious leaders opened the cleansing ceremony outside the church on Friday evening.
The inter-faith service, which contained messages and blessings from representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Rastafarian and traditional African faiths was held at a marquee outside the church".
Surely God must have been mentioned in this ceremony.
God has always had a special relationship with ancestors, the faithful ones:
"When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant".
Deuteronomy 31:19-21
I can assure you that in the African tradition the slaughtering of animals for a ceremony of sacrifice is taken very serious. It is sacred.
And it is done by highly experienced people who understand the true meaning of the ceremony. The animals are treated as a sacred part of the sacrifice.
And this is not as barbaric as some amongst us would have us believe. When I was growing up as a youngster slaughtering of animals was a natural occurrence. It was a way of life for many people.
And it still happens in many communities today.
So why object when the ANC honours their ancestors by sacrificing an animal???
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