Animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing of an animal that is not for human consumption. It is practiced by many religions as a way to appease a god and gain forgiveness for a sin and/or as a bribe to a god so that various favors will be granted.
In the Old Testament of the Bible, the first six chapters of Leviticus (et al), give detailed instructions on how animal sacrifices are to be performed.
Counter arguments[edit]
Cruel and wasteful behaviour of God[edit]
God ordering the sacrifice of animals is cruel and a needless waste. Such a God is unworthy of worship.
Unreliable motivation[edit]
The rituals that call for animal sacrifice are based on religious motivations that are generally fictional. There is no good reason to sacrifice animals to an imaginary entity. Animal sacrifice is a waste of resources and inflicts unnecessary suffering on animals.