Vladeta Jerotic
SANU, Beograd

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOVE WITHOUT SACRIFICE?

Summary:

The author in this text talks about sacrifice in religious practice and indicates that in the past thousand years the permanent practice of 'sacrificing' has been as an offering to, first heavenly, then earthly gods. Today the notion of self sacrifice, or offering as a act of abandonment for others and for the benefit of others is more the norm. The most Divine, glorious and highest kind of self-sacrifice is found in Christianity, because Jesus Christ become God's sacrifice for man's salvation. Faith in Christ who was crucified and arose again from the dead, gave to Christians the possibility to behave intrinsically differently towards God, other people and themselves despite thousand of years of old unconscious, pagan and old testimony kind of behavior. New and only allowed sacrifice is abstinence becouse of love.

Key words: sacrifice, offering, love, Jesus Christ