中美洲宗教(Mesoamerican religions)

墨西哥与中美洲在前哥伦布文化时期的宗教，以奥尔梅克文化、马雅、托尔特克人和阿兹特克人最为着称。所有中美洲的宗教都是多神崇拜，必须不断地以奉献和牺牲抚慰神祗。这些宗教所共享的多层次宇宙观的信念，在西班牙征服的时期还经历五度的创造与四度毁灭。中美洲宗教极度重视星体，特别是太阳、月亮和金星。他们的天文学家兼祭司所观察到的星体运动，异常详尽与准确。阿兹特克人透过复杂的仪式日程，来趋近超自然。这些仪式包括歌曲、舞蹈、自我折磨的行为以及专业祭司所执行的人类殉祭。而从事上述行为的信念是，宇宙的福祉要靠奉献鲜血和心脏以滋养太阳。马雅宗教同样需要人类殉祭，虽然规模略逊。关於马雅祭司在天文学上的计算、占卜和仪式的资讯，收录在马雅古抄本。亦请参阅Mesoamerican civilization。

English version：

Mesoamerican religions

Religions of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Central America, notably the Olmec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec. All religions of Mesoamerica were polytheistic. The gods had to be constantly propitiated with offerings and sacrifices. The religions also shared a belief in a multilevel universe that had gone through five creations and four destructions by the time of the Spanish conquest. Mesoamerican religions heavily emphasized the astral bodies, particularly the sun, the moon, and Venus, and the observations of their movements by astronomer-priests were extraordinarily detailed and accurate. The Aztecs approached the supernatural through a complex calendar of ceremonies that included songs, dances, acts of self-mortification, and human sacrifices performed by a professional priesthood, in the belief that the welfare of the universe depended on offerings of blood and hearts as nourishment for the sun. The Mayan religion likewise called for human sacrifices, though on a smaller scale. Information on the astronomical calculations, divination, and ritual of the Mayan priests has been gathered from the Maya Codices. See also Mesoamerican civilization.