Sacrifice
Giving up something precious for a higher purpose — the spiritual act at the heart of devotion.
“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
“He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”
“Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.”
Eid al-Adha sacrifice remembers Abraham's faith
“The righteous who eat food left after sacrifice are freed from all sins; but sinners eat the sin of their greed.”
“Ahura Mazda, I offer this sacred fire as a living sacrifice of praise to your eternal wisdom.”
“The offering of fruits, rice, and symbolic items to kami represents gratitude and renewal of the sacred covenant.”
“The sacred pipe ceremony and cornmeal offerings acknowledge reciprocal relationship with all beings.”
“The king and priests present animals and first-fruits to the gods at the temple, feeding the divine with the finest offerings to maintain cosmic order.”
Mesopotamian ritual sacrifice as sustenance for the gods
“After the great flood, the survivors make offerings to appease the angry gods and reestablish the covenant between humans and divine powers.”