Someone has argued with me that God's intent, desire, was for humans to offer human sacrifices as atonement for sins.
Animal sacrifices were only a substitute for what God really desired, according to the poster.
As evidence for this, they point to Abraham and the ram substitute for Isaac. But is this really true?
We find throughout Tanakh that human sacrifices were deemed idolatrous and associated with false gods, ie Molech, Leviticus 18:21, 2 Chronicles 28:3, etc.
But ironically, we find the following fascinating verses in Micah 6:6-8 regarding offering our own children, human sacrifices for atonement:
6With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8He has shown you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Any thoughts of human a sacrifices is repudiated with these verses. It's just plain silly.