Quote Originally Posted by ksst View Post
Here are my best guesses, since he's not home. Back in the old days, sacrifice solved a lot of problems, at least the people thought so. They were always sacrificing animals to try to make their harvest better/other animals thrive/children live. It is an effort to feel they had some control in a dangerous and unpredictable world. So having God make a sacrifice of his own son to make up for all people's sins should make people feel guilty enough to stop their sinning. No, we're not supposed to go on sinning. We're supposed to feel bad that we made God do such a terrible thing and shape up.
I think you are right that people in circumstances beyond their control (actually, we all are, people just do not realize it) would try to get on the right side of powers or bribe them, or thank them.

But it is the idea of a sacrifice that does not compute..I mean, if god or the gods are everything or have everything or are omipotent - what does it matter if you give a little of it back - to what they already have - are?
Sorry, I am just trying to think aloud - I have never quite understood it.