Why sacrifice animals for God?

Animal sacrifice as religious ritual is common in recorded history. This is especially so from the time humans domesticated animals. Modern humans domesticated animals a mere 12,000 years ago. But, for the majority of our existence there was no hierarchy between humans and other beings. Fast forward to 3000 years before Christ, and a different picture emerges.

Throughout the Near East (now roughly the modern Middle East), Europe and Africa, animal sacrifice exists as religious ritual in practically every culture. In this video series, we talk about animal sacrifice in ancient Egypt and Greece.