Once upon a time in the land of the Mexica, the people devoutly worshiped a god whose name was Huitzilopochtli. The most exalted temple for worship of Huitzilopochtli was in the holy city of Tenochtitlan wherein Huitzilopochtli, high atop a pyramid, was represented by a statue of stone.
Huitzilopochtli was served by an order priests of whom the high priest's "title was Topiltzin [Our Lord]." On feast days "the great man Topiltzin" dressed in garments which honored his office: "a red mantle similar to a dalmatic [robe], fringed in green; a headdress of splendid green and yellow feathers; in his ears, golden earplugs inlaid with green jade; in his lower lip, a labret of blue stone."
The above and below quotations are extracted from the writings of the sixteenth century Dominican friar Diego Duran in his Book of the Gods. Duran describes a feast day ceremony conducted by the high priest with assistance from five others:
Smeared with black, the six sacrificers appeared. . . . Seeing them come out . . . filled all the people with dread and terrible fear! The high priest carried in one hand a large stone knife, sharp and wide. Another carried a wooden yoke carved in the form of a snake. They humbled themselves before the idol and then stood in order next to a pointed stone, which stood in front of the door of the idol's chamber. The stone was so high that it reached one's waist. And it was so sharp that when the sacrificial victim had been stretched across it on his back he was bent in such a way that if the knife was dropped upon his chest it split open with the ease of a pomegranate.
. . . . .
All the prisoners of war who were to be sacrificed upon this feast were then brought forth. . . . Surrounded by guards . . . , the victims were forced to ascend to the long platform . . . all of them totally nude. . . . They [the priests] seized the victims one by one, one by one foot, another by the other, one priest by one hand, and another by the other hand. The victim was thrown on his back, upon the pointed stone, where the wretch was grabbed by the fifth priest, who placed the yoke upon his throat. The high priest then opened the chest and with amazing swiftness tore out the heart, ripping it out with his own hands. Thus steaming, the heart was lifted toward the sun, and the fumes were offered up to the sun. The priest then turned toward the idol and cast the heart in its face. After the heart had been extracted, the body was allowed to roll down the steps of the pyramid. . . .
All the prisoners and captives of war brought from the towns we have mentioned were sacrificed in this manner, until none were left. After they had been slain and cast down, their owners--those who had captured them--retrieved the bodies. They were carried away, distributed, and eaten, in order to celebrate. . . .
I wish now to finish my description of the ceremonies performed on the feast of Huitzilopochtli. The sacrifice ended when all the victims had been slain. Their blood was sprinkled generously upon . . . the pieces of dough which represented the flesh and the bones of the god. All were now consecrated with human blood. . . .
. . . Then this and the parts which represented its bones and flesh were broken up into small fragments. Beginning with the elders, everyone received communion with this [tzoalli dough]--old and young, men and women, old men and children. All received it with such reverence, awe, and joy that truly it was a thing of wonder! The people claimed that they had eaten the flesh and the bones of the gods, though they were unworthy. . . .
Once the solemn rites had terminated, an elder with high authority, one of the dignitaries of the temple, arose. In a resonant voice he then preached words regarding the law:
I. Thou shalt fear, honor, and love the gods.
II. Thou shalt not use the names of the gods on thy tongue or in thy talk, at any time.
III. Thou shalt honor the feast days.
IV. Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother, thy kinsmen, priests, and elders.
V. Thou shalt not kill.
VI. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VII. Thou shalt not steal.
VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
The source for the above quotation is as follows: Diego Duran, Book of the Gods and Rites and the Ancient Calendar, translated and edited by Fernando Horcasitas and Doris Heyden, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, 1971, pages 90-97.
The sixteenth century Mexica people, commonly known as Aztec, were conquered in 1521 by the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes. The government of Moctezuma imposed its religion commandments by force of law upon the Mexica. The Spanish then forced its religion by law upon New Spain.
Religion imposed by law was normal in sixteenth century Europe, even in England. As exploration to the New World expanded in the 1600s, seventeenth century religion dissenters, such as the Pilgrims and Puritans, journeyed to North America where they could freely worship in their own manner. Unfortunately, some of these seekers of religion freedom for themselves brought with them the same mentality to which they objected in England and established governments in some (not all) of the colonies which imposed religion laws upon everyone. Soon Christians were hanging witches.
In the 1700s, enlightened eighteenth century Americans began to make progress in promoting an understanding among some Americans in all colonies and states that religion was not the business of government. In the forefront of this battle for freedom was James Madison. In 1785 Madison wrote his famous “Memorial and Remonstrance” protesting a bill in the Virginia legislature which would levy taxes for financial support of “teachers of the Christian religion.” In his protest, Madison listed fifteen objections, the third of which was:
It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens, and one of the noblest characteristics of the late revolution. The freemen of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents. They saw all the consequences in the principle, and they avoided the consequences by denying the principle. We revere this lesson too much, soon to forget it. Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish, with the same ease, any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects? That three pence only of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever? [Papers of James Madison, 8:299]
In the twenty first century, in America, there are zealous citizens who continue to promote the idea of using government as a tool by which particular religion propositions would be imposed upon all Americans by force of law. However, to the credit (1) of America's Founding Fathers who prohibited a "religious test," (2) of the First Congress which added "no law respecting an establishment of religion," and (3) of the majority of Americans who wisely approved both provisions, the New World long ago rejected the Old World principle in regard to religion and government.
Today, whether it is "Hang Ten" or "Hang Eight," it is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. Religion is not the business of government officials, functions, properties, or forms. Religion, within the laws of the land, is the business of individuals, families, and church organizations--about which no one objects.
Copyright 2000 Gene Garman