| *1 : a usually raised [[structure]] or place on which [[sacrifices]] are offered or incense is burned in [[worship]] —often used figuratively to describe a [[thing]] given great or undue precedence or [[value]] especially at the cost of something else <sacrificed his [[family]] life on the '''altar''' of [[career]] advancement> | | *1 : a usually raised [[structure]] or place on which [[sacrifices]] are offered or incense is burned in [[worship]] —often used figuratively to describe a [[thing]] given great or undue precedence or [[value]] especially at the cost of something else <sacrificed his [[family]] life on the '''altar''' of [[career]] advancement> |
| An '''altar''' is any [[structure]] upon which offerings such as [[sacrifices]] and votive offerings are made for [[religious]] [[purposes]], or some other [[sacred place]] where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at [[shrine]]s, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of [[worship]]. Today they are used particularly in the [[religions]] of Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism, as well as Christianity, LaVeyan Satanism, Thelema, Neopaganism, and in Ceremonial [[magic]]. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including [[Greek]] and Norse religion.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar] | | An '''altar''' is any [[structure]] upon which offerings such as [[sacrifices]] and votive offerings are made for [[religious]] [[purposes]], or some other [[sacred place]] where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at [[shrine]]s, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of [[worship]]. Today they are used particularly in the [[religions]] of Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism, as well as Christianity, LaVeyan Satanism, Thelema, Neopaganism, and in Ceremonial [[magic]]. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including [[Greek]] and Norse religion.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar] |