Book Title: Harmony of All Religions
Author(s): Parmahans Maharaj, Veena Rani Howard
Publisher: USA Santmat Society of North America

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Page 207
________________ typical for his day and age, he instead chose a life of social and spiritual service. Many contradictions and ambiguities within the religious traditions of the time, which earlier prophets had noticed, were also noted by Jesus. For example, the Hebrew Scriptures contain multiple references to detailed requirements about the slaughter of animals for sacrifice. But there are also numerous declarations by the prophets that God desires compassion, and in fact prefers this to animal sacrifice. God prefers love and compassion: I desire compassion not sacrifice. I prefer the path of contemplation of God rather than the sacrifice of innocent animals. However, the people transgressed these true teachings of God just as Adam transgressed the command of God. They have distorted the teachings. In the book of the Prophet Isaiah it is written: God says: "You sacrifice many animals in My name. What is the use of killing these goats and lambs? Upon their slaughter I do not become pleased. I hate the smell of the sacrificial fire. Stop doing evil and learn to do good.” However, the Hebrew Bible, just as the texts of the Vedanta and other traditions, contains contradictory ideas. For example, there is a frequently quoted verse from the Torah which says “an eye 198

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