Paper 89 - Square Circles Publishing

SOURCE OR PARALLEL URANTIA PAPER 89An Englishman in India is figured ashaving had a son by a native woman, andas, at the instance of an old gate-keeper,performing the ceremony sacrifice bybeheading two goats. While so doing hematters the prayer: “Almighty! In place ofthis my son I offer life for life, blood forblood, head for head, bone for bone, hairfor hair, skin for skin” (S&K 1265).It used to be said upon sacrificing, “lifefor life.”Now you say at death, “dust to dust.”In the story of Abraham, his willingnessto comply with the divine command forthe sacrifice of his son is construed as amerit to be richly rewarded (S&K 1268).In distress it is asked what God demands:“Shall I give my first-born for my sin; thefruit of my body for my transgression?”The first-born is to be given, like the firstfruits(S&K 1268).The following Hindu legend recalls thestory of Abraham. [Etc.] (S&K IV 680)89:6.8 The spectacle of Abrahamconstrained to sacrifice his son Isaac,while shocking to civilized susceptibilities,was not a new or strange idea tothe men of those days.It was long a prevalent practice forfathers, at times of great emotional stress,to sacrifice their first-born sons.Many peoples have a tradition analogousto this story,for there once existed a world-wide andprofound belief that it was necessary tooffer a human sacrifice when anythingextraordinary or unusual happened.7. M O D IF IC A T IO N S O FHUMAN SACRIFICE“Even the first-born child, in thesame fashion as the animals, had at firstbeen sacrificed to a bloody Jehovah.Later on it was still in theory dedicated tothe Lord but its ransom was compulsory.Five shekels of silver paid to the Levitesredeemed it.” Each grown man was to paya half-shekel as “a ransom for his soul tothe Lord” (S&K 1268).89:7.1 Moses attempted to end humansacrifices by inaugurating the ransom asa substitute.40