[D-fendr]

There are of course similarities, and I found one of your article links unobjectionable. However the one by the student shows a great lack of knowledge about catholocism in critical areas. I would hope the teacher points out these corrections.

As others have noted, human sacrifice was also present in the West in some cultures, quite often in matriarchical and land-based cultures. It was also done in the Middle East and as others have pointed out, early Judaism can be seen as stressing a move away from human sacrifice to animal and then, in Christianity to the paschal mystery in Jesus's self-sacrifice.

It's an interesting subject and I applaud comparative religious study at this level. It has to be carefully taught, though, as you point out.

[weegee]

It's an interesting subject and I applaud comparative religious study at this level.

You state that it would need to be taught carefully but I'm unsure of if it could ever be implemented.

Do we teach that Jesus was crucified as Christians believe (not even getting into resurection or whether He was the Son of God in the classroom) or teach the Muslim belief that he was not killed?

Do we point-by-point counter "Christians believe this about Jesus but Muslims believe that, while some Jews believe...."?

Do we break it down further to "Catholics believe... while Baptists believe... while Presbyterians believe... while Methodists believe..."?

Do we learn about each of the cultural origins of each discipline of Christianity? Do we tie all of this to changes in the role in Judeo-Christian faith in the land of America?

[Aquinasfan]

The old Catholic Encyclopedia has a great entry under sacrifice. It covers the broad history of various forms of religious sacrifice which includes almost all of human history. Very long but very worthwhile read.