A Bloodthirsty Religion

It was in these places of worship that human sacrifices were carried out, and these sacrifices brand the Aztec religion as a bloodthirsty one. Yet, in comparing that religion with present-day religion, the comment of Dominique Verut is worthy of note: “The Aztec civilization carries along the horror of institutionalized human sacrifices, a cultural phenomenon that has had many defenders, yet still causes repulsion in its enemies, who are forgetful of the Holy Inquisition [and] Nazism.”

However, one cannot help but feel chills when looking at the sacrificial stone in front of Huitzilopochtli’s oratory. It was on the flat surface of this stone that the victim was laid, face up, ready to have his heart torn out and offered to the gods.

Comparisons​—Ancient and Modern

Bible readers are aware that human sacrifices have often been a part of false worship. The Canaanites, and sometimes even apostate Israelites, sacrificed their children to demon gods. (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 32:35) The Aztecs, too, practiced child sacrifice. We read about this in the book El Templo Mayor: “The remains of sacrificed children were found in one of these [pits] along with representations of the rain god. Would this be a special offering because of famine?”

On page 219 the same books adds: “Fray Juan de Torquemada tells us something about this in the book Monarquía Indiana (Indian Monarchy): ‘The children would be taken to the sacrificial place richly dressed, atop portable platforms or litters, abundantly decorated with flowers and feathers, and these would be carried along on the shoulders of priests and ministers. Others would go before them playing instruments and singing and dancing. This is the way they would be conducted to the place where they would be sacrificed and offered to the demon.’”