Episode:Evolutionary Religion—Sin and Atonement (Part 5)

From Symmetry of Soul


No race has been entirely free from the practice of human sacrifice in some form and at some time. Among many peoples it was long a prevalent practice for fathers, at times of great emotional stress, to sacrifice their first-born sons. There once existed a world-wide and profound belief that it was necessary to offer a human sacrifice when anything extraordinary or unusual happened.

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Keywords: Urantia, Religion, Human Sacrifice, Sacred Vows, Sacred Sex

Summary by Kermit

Commentary on the Review

In our post review discussion, we reflected on the fascination aroused by the taboo topic of cannibalism as evinced by the ready remembrance by high school students of the events associated with the Donner Party studied in high school American history. The genre of dystopian dramas which enjoy an enduring popularity in our culture suggest an underlying anxiety stemming from a recognition that our norms of modern civilization are tenuous achievements subject to a precipitate pivot back to more primitive forms. It is virtually certain that, cannibalism is universal as an early passing phase of mortal man’s evolutionary path from animal to civilized human being. Lest any are anxious about the standing before God in the higher universe realms of one-time cannibals we must remember that the absolute love of the infinite Father for each of his creatures is not secondary to anything in the Divine nature.

A caller objected to the idea of God loving his universe children unconditionally, without imposing requirements concerning creature conduct. SoS responded by pointing to the nature of a loving parent’s understanding of the limitations of his children to attain perfection and the grace granted to the children of God as they sincerely strive to supply favorable conditions to be grown to adulthood in the cosmos. We noted that the consequences of un-Godly conduct are negative and inevitable yet remain entirely apart from God’s love. The caller’s question underscores man’s heretofore lack of understanding that God’s Love and God’s Law are independent. Neither compromises the other. Unfortunately, the current conventional understanding on this point is the result of man’s conflating the love and law of God, who is erroneously viewed as an exalted moral judge, thus making His love relative and tied to the creature’s so-called moral conduct. The 5th ER clarifies this point and also reveals the Mansion world regime and beyond as an extension of our mortal status past the grave to Adjuster fusion.

89:6. Evolution of Human Sacrifice

As mentioned at the end of the previous section, human sacrifice supplanted cannibalism, which came to be a taboo. Virtually universal, human sacrifice existed in the religious customs of all peoples persisting even down to recent times among backward tribes. Animals, and clay images were later substituted for human sacrifices. However, belief in the efficacy of human sacrifice among the ancients was so strong that the victims themselves actually assented to the process.

The Old Testament contains numerous stories of human sacrifice e.g., the stories of Jephthah, and Abraham, which pose major difficulties for current day orthodox religionists demanding theological contortions to reconcile with changing mores and more enlightened ideas of God. But we are also presented with less well-known instances of human sacrifice practiced among other peoples, illustrating that the phenomenon was not confined to the western world. We are reminded that as horrific as is the story of God ordering Abraham to sacrifice his first-born son, this was not a new or shocking idea to the men of those days. As with other Old Testament tales e.g., the Passover story, this event portrays a practice that was not limited to the Hebrews but a tradition for many peoples.

89:7.1 Modifications of Human Sacrifice

Moses attempted to end human sacrifice by instituting less extreme alternatives and those who ended the sacrifice of first born sons gained great advantages over those groups who persisted in the practice of these atrocious acts. The revelators’ use of the word atrocious illustrates how attempting to carry a primitive evolutionary practice forward in time beyond its utility becomes counterproductive to civilization.

Who knew that the Roman scheme of colonization derived from modification of the ritual killing of children to merely exiling the first-born sons? Similarly, many peculiar associations of sex laxity with primitive worship originated in human sacrifice. Here we see an example of primitive spiritual idealism meeting material pragmatism in the highly elevating experience of having intimate relations with women in the sacred sex service of the temple while enjoying commonplace sexual gratification. We can easily imagine both parties to such goings on feeling fortunate to thus satisfy the demands of religious obligation AND enjoy sanctioned sexual satisfactions. Such practices spread throughout Europe and Asia contributing to laudable practices akin to philanthropy and redistribution of wealth.

Notes by Brad

  • Schoolchildren learn and always remember the Donner Party in California history.
  • Quality of thinking won't dominate our society until the next developmental epoch.
  • Granfanda, the first ascender in the universes of time and space, quite possibly was a cannibal. It's OK. God loves us absolutely.


  • Don't resolve the tension between God's absolute law and God's absolute love... by melting them together and inventing relative love. Reflect more deeply.


  • "Sacrifices and cannibalism" as a section title reminds us that cannibalism is the foundational element.
  • Like a disruptive innovation, the moment human sacrifice became a religious issue, the door was shut on cannibalism. Like, overnight.
  • The cornerstone of a building was a sacred, spooky concept when explained to this author at a young age. Without knowing any of the baggage of it in history, I sensed something apparently important going on.
  • It's so challenging to remain objective reading these sections! To not look down upon our ancestors. They were where they were in the evolutionary process.
  • "Civilized susceptibilities", not sensibilities.


  • "You're a potato soaking in stew." "Palmolive--you're soaking in it!" concerning culture.


  • Sincerity in all of this is key.