Santa Muerte

There is probably a good reason Catholicism has suppressed any syncretism of Catholic Christianity and Meso-american beliefs. Catholicism, in my experience, is able to wisely co-opt many beliefs, and there were many Mayan decendents in Guatemala some 30 years ago, practicing some sort of hybrid of Catholicism and Meso-american beliefs. But the first revulsion, knee jerk in my case, but I trust my distrust… is the level of the bloodiness of the Meso-american religions and the human sacrifice involved.

The common method for human sacrifice seems to have been for the “ah nacom” (a functionary) to extract the heart quickly, while 4 people associated with Chac, the rain/lightning god, held the struggling victim’s limbs. Human sacrifices seem to have been made, as well, with arrows, by flaying, decapitation, hurling from a precipice, and throwing the victim into a limestone sinkhole.

Warfare was one source of human sacrificial victims. It is thought that losers in the ballgames may also have sometimes been victims, and sacrifice appears to have been connected mainly with ballgames, festivals, and the assumption of power by a new king.

ancienthistory.about.com

I don’t recall whether Aztec or Mayan sacrifices were large numbers hundreds or thousands of people slaughtered to the gods.

Found this in wkipedia “For the re-consecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed about 80,400 prisoners over the course of four days, though there were probably far fewer sacrifices”

On a “theology lite” level, Christianity affirms the sanctity of human life, so a “Saint Death” would be an anathama.

Taking New Mexico History a few years ago, I encountered a Lady professor
who taught that most historical mentions of Spanish conquistadors abusing, and particularly, ENSLAVING “Indians” are an “unfair Black Legend”.
Uh, really?
When confronting this “Professor” with actual Mexican Government and academic
information confirming the actual history, she dismissed it as “political correctness” from a Mexican-Indian point of view.
It is wonderful.
She wanted to continue to put forth a Baby-ass Mama’s-boy Spanish classic
excuse for any responsibility for any behavior!!
Queen Isabella
(Jezebel-la, anyone?)
finally gave written permission for Spaniards to “Employ” the Indians.
This Professor is an example of what is DESTROYING our country.
The so-called Virgin of Guadalupe is the major example of a cultural co-opt
as Deloye alludes above.
THE CATHOLICS Burned, Hacked tortured Raped Stole and ENSLAVED people.
Jesus Christ is no respecter of your Scarlet and Purple.
Idolatry is rampant, and the demons will try to always mislead you.
Please don’t follow along with quaint, interesting, demonic rituals.
He said,
Feed My Sheep, Love thy neighbor as thyself. Take your Robes of Office and
burn them, or sell them and give to the Poor.
Sell the Vatican, and Feed the Poor.