Human Sacrifice Rationalization in 7th Grade Curriculum

San Diego County Office of Education ^ | Schools of California Online Resources for Educators (SCORE) Project

[mvpel]

Do you know what your kids are learning in school?

As part of a debate with apologists for the neck-sawing Islamic lunatics on the Grex.cyberspace.org bulletin board, I did some searching for Aztec human sacrifice information.

I was utterly stunned to find the article linked above, setting out a curriculum for a seventh grade social studies class covering the ancient Aztec culture prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.

One of the units of the curriculum is:

Students will read two versions about the Aztec Sun, complete a Venn diagram and visit web sites that provide background on Aztec religious beliefs and the practice of human sacrifice. They will write a persuasive letter taking the point of view of an [cannibalistic] Aztec noble or a Spanish missionary and create a cinquain poem.

Legend of the Fifth Sun
URL: fifthsun.html
Comments: Story file containing an explanation of the Aztec need for human sacrifice. [emphasis mine]

The Aztec Sun
URL: http://www.storymall.com/aztecsun/aztec.htm
Comments: Different version of the story about the Aztec sun.

The Aztec Rite of Human Sacrifice
URL: http://www.eecs.uic.edu/~agonzale/assignment3/page1.html
Comments: The text is designed for college students.

In ancient times, it was the Caananite culture that was so depraved and corrupt that it merited utter destruction by the command of G-d. In the 1500's and 1600's, when the Spaniards arrived to find 20,000 human beings being slaughtered atop pyramids every year by having their heart ripped out, that distinction fell to the Aztec culture which was subsequently destroyed, its adherents either converted away from their murderous, cannabalistic practices, or killed.

But in our present-day public schools, our 7th graders are being steeped in the worst possible kind of cultural relativism - that which suggests that slaughtering another human being in cold blood and eating the flesh of the corpse is a mere "cultural taboo" that can be rationalized and justified, instead of a fundamental and immutable violation of the law of G-d and nature.

I'm adding this page to my file of reminders of why I will never send any child I might ever have to a public school.

Here's one product of this kind of cultural relativism in school curriculi, a report written by a student at East Whittier Middle School which draws parallels between Christianity and the Aztec religion with an analogy to the death of your Christ and the Communion ritual:
Similarities with the Spanish and Aztec religions

I'm Jewish, and I find it rather offensive and repugnant, I can't imagine how a Catholic might react to it.

Here's a sample of a cultural relativist academic rationalizing Aztec human sacrifice:
Aztec Human Sacrifice

Do you know who's running your schools? Is it one of these academics? Don't you think you should find out?

[Pistias]

Mindgames? It's called a test of faith--the highest test for the highest man. Sheesh.

[Pistias]

correction: the highest man barring the Incarnate.

[tkmorris]

Yikes.

Yor really believe all of that nonsense you just spouted without ANY logic at all to back it? Get thee to a psychiatrist. You sound an awful lot like those Aztecs who understood nothing of the world they lived in and made everything they didn't understand the will of some God or another. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Satan has this agenda

What is Satan's agenda? Trying to stop people from understanding the Gospel so they can't be saved?

Got it in one! ;)

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Hi A.S. I have some trouble understanding your recent post. You seem to attribute to "Statism" all of our current world's evils. I understand "statism" to be the idea that human government is the solution to human problem. I don't believe that is a solution, even if it were a "good" government. Nor do I believe the forces that tend toward statism are monolithic--there are democrats, republicans, communists, socialists, atheists, Christians, and other religions. They don't work together, but generally they ignore God as the solution to world problems, and hence they tend toward the same failures.

The general cause of world evil is Satan's influence and the proximate cause is humanity itself. The general solution is Jesus Christ. The proximate solution is Him working in His Church.

Just how forgiven a sinner are you? Do you only need to call out His name? Aren't you obligated to follow His lead too? You too must struggle to reach your siblings so they may help you save the world in His name, and He them. You've gotta look around at what is surrounding you and take notice more thoroughly to that properly.

Forgiveness is binary. Either I'm forgiven of God or not. The Bible teaches, Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." I have repented of my sins and I have been baptized. Have you?

[Avoiding_Sulla]

I have some trouble understanding your recent post. You seem to attribute to "Statism" all of our current world's evils.

In as many words as I put out, and touching on as many issues, if that is all you misunderstood you're doing better than me on most days. :)

Of course I don't find Statism as the cause of evil, and even said so, Sorry if it wasnt' clear, (there may have been a tangent or two in between. :)). I was merely surprised by your Communism reference and only wished you refocus away from it onto the current tactical threat.

I understand "statism" to be the idea that human government is the solution to human problem. I don't believe that is a solution, even if it were a "good" government. Nor do I believe the forces that tend toward statism are monolithic--there are democrats, republicans, communists, socialists, atheists, Christians, and other religions. They don't work together, but generally they ignore God as the solution to world problems, and hence they tend toward the same failures.

Yes. That's good. Now keep in mind my paraphrasing of Walter Williams, "when they make the same failures you should be alerted that what may appear to be a failure to you is an unquestionable success to them." (Myth of Failed Policy, June 1996)

Just how forgiven a sinner are you? Do you only need to call out His name? Aren't you obligated to follow His lead too? You too must struggle to reach your siblings so they may help you save the world in His name, and He them. You've gotta look around at what is surrounding you and take notice more thoroughly to that properly.

Forgiveness is binary. Either I'm forgiven of God or not. The Bible teaches, Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." I have repented of my sins and I have been baptized. Have you?

Yes. But how come you felt the need to ask another question rather than answer my questions?

Look F.S, I don't mean to put you on the spot. See, there are many ways to serve the Lord. You and I may have very different beliefs and specifically on what repentence requires. Unlike certain fools who look for logical explanations of faith, believers shouldn't argue, only explain. So please, if you know yourself, answer my questions directly.

[xm177e2]

Got it in one! ;)

But in Mark 4:11-12, Jesus says he speaks openly to his followers, but in parables to everyone else, because he DOESN'T WANT them to be saved. So it appears Jesus is following Satan's agenda.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

But in Mark 4:11-12, Jesus says he speaks openly to his followers, but in parables to everyone else, because he DOESN'T WANT them to be saved. So it appears Jesus is following Satan's agenda.

Cute. One of the principles of understanding the Bible is learning the context of the scriptures you quote. Another principle is to get all the scriptures on the subject. You wouldn't have made such a silly comment if you had read what Jesus later told His disciples:

Luke 12:2-4 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

The context of the verse you quoted was Jesus talking to a mixture of people. Some were to be called then, some were not. Jesus said people were responsible for what they understood. It wasn't time for a general call at that time. That came later, after Jesus' resurrection. See Peter's sermons in Acts 2 and 5.

[Optimist]

but what about the teaching of child sacrifice going on in today's 7th grade classes? (and actually starting much earlier-1st grade)

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Forgiveness is binary. Either I'm forgiven of God or not. The Bible teaches, Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." I have repented of my sins and I have been baptized. Have you?

Yes. But how come you felt the need to ask another question rather than answer my questions?

Actually I answered your question; you didn't perceive it. I gave you the Biblical teaching on repentance and forgiveness. By showing you the Biblical conditions I have fulfilled, you could deduce I had been forgiven. Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Look F.S, I don't mean to put you on the spot. See, there are many ways to serve the Lord. You and I may have very different beliefs and specifically on what repentence requires. Unlike certain fools who look for logical explanations of faith, believers shouldn't argue, only explain. So please, if you know yourself, answer my questions directly.

Always glad to answer questions. I'm glad you believe believers shouldn't argue; I agree.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Actually I answered your question; you didn't perceive it.

Yes you did, cleverly. And patially too, as I noted. My followup was meant to grant you another chance to expand. Thankyou for the extra effort. I now understand you that much better.

Many years ago I witnessed a middle-aged man performing a menial chore for his church. A child happened by and cheerfully asked if she could help. The man said, "No, this is my penance." The child stepped back, muttered okay, and moved on. I was shocked at what an excellent opportunity to serve God in a larger manner that man was gifted, and he squandered it. But I, in my youthful diffidence, said nothing to that man or anyone else. I've often regretted that silence, for not recognizing that I had squandered a gifted opportunity as well. Since then I have repented of the failure to share the peculiar blessings God has granted me. My apologies if I gave you cause, in any way, to clam up.

I'm glad you believe believers shouldn't argue; I agree.

You bet F.S. Let us leave this with A Higher Authority:

May we each serve the Lord, each in our own way as He sees fit. May we come to see clearly what He expects of us. May Our Lord bless each of us and our own ten fold in the manner we wish Him to bestow His blessings upon our brothers and sisters. In His name.
Amen.

I pray that is agreeable to you.

[Skywalk]

The Azteca didn't (human) sacrifice 20,000 each year. This was their peak year due to important religious festivities. IIR correctly 20,000 were sacrificed because a new temple to the sun was being dedicated. Their prisoners cut out hearts were a sacrifice to their sun god and ensured the sun would rise each day

Not true. Based on new population estimates, as well as the protein deficit that may have driven the cannibalism, I've seen numbers from 20,000 per year to 200,000 in peak years. The 20, 000 was for the dedication of ONE temple, but sacrifices and eating of flesh was faily commonplace. In any event, newest estimates have the Aztec death tolls in the MILLIONS(over the course of their reign) rather than a few hundred thousand. And I know this is an old post, I was just looking for FR threads that I remember mentioning the Aztecs.

[dennisw]

The Aztecs are very intriguing. The mass murdering Nazis of their time but even more vile and evil. If they had the 1940's technology of the Nazis they would have outdone them ten fold.

[dennisw]

Thanks for the new info on the Aztecs .... I'll have to check it out. One common strategy for such primative ruling classes was to secure meat and protein for themselves but deny them to the masses ....making them more docile and compliant.

[Skywalk]

No problem.

From what I read(I think they have some info on about.com's military history site(but linked to another site) the Aztec rulers did keep the meat to themselves but anyone in war who captured a prisoner on his own became a member of the elite, and his meat privileges(this is disgusting) benefitted his family and his descendants.

So you COULD move up, and in fact the possibility motivated commoners to fight in war and capture prisoners for the elites. Oh, they still had slavery. And apparently had a kingdom surrounded but never absorbed them, so they could maintain a steady supply of...meat.


It's as if the idea of expanding to where protein sources were in abundance escaped these savages.