The root "sacer" brings up a couple interesting points. In animal sacrifices, the "sacrum"
(posterior part of the pelvis) was apparently an important portion dedicated to the gods.
I have been unable to find anything on Internet discussing this. I suppose it had something
to do with its proximity to sexual organs. Any comments?

couldn't find anything useful but it does seem to be a theme running through several religions. I found references in norse, pagan, egyptian, roman and christian sites, and a load of new age stuff going on about gaia and connectivity ( a horrid word).

the "sacrum" ..was apparently an important portion dedicated to the gods...I suppose it had something
to do with its proximity to sexual organs.

I reckon you're right here, Bill. It would be taboo for people to eat animals' reproductive organs (and certainly genitalia). You may as well make a positive out of it, and dedicate those parts to God or to the gods, the "taboo" thereby becoming the "sacred".

< It would be taboo for people to eat animals' reproductive organs >

Don't forget about the popular 'Rocky Mountain Oyster' dish. I remember it as a midwestern favorite.

Dear Chemeng1992: De gustibus and all that. It's bad enough to eat hotdogs that have
all the yucky things ground up, I draw the line at eating them in original form.
Remember the joke about the guy who wouldn't eat lamb's tongue, because it came
out of an animal's mouth, and requested a couple eggs instead.

Don't forget about the popular 'Rocky Mountain Oyster' dish

A load of balls, I assume, Chemeng?

I still reckon that even today we'd struggle with knowingly eating other animal parts - and back in ancient times matters would be taken a lot more seriously. Y'know, like you eat something reproductive and the animal may grow inside you and burst out of your stomach, etc.

Dear fishonabike. Signals over. There were several news stories recently claiming there
were substances in sperm that made recipients feel good. Maybe mountain oysters would
have same effect. I might be able to get them down, but I doubt I could keep them down.
And then I would feel anything but good.

Mind over matter, wwh. Too bad you couldn't find them to your taste.

But my dad introduced me to mountain oysters when I was too young to understand. Needless to say, they were tender. Sliced like tenderloin, lightly battered, salted and peppered, and fried...very nice. Mild flavor similar to sweetbreads. Would they be considered to be an organ meat? I suppose they would. Good ol' Poldy was fond of organ meats. Being a meat-eater (again, vegetarians, please don't read this), I never think of the original animal while dining. I just focus on the dish that has been assiduously prepared. And I greatly appreciate people who are skilled at working little miracles in the skillet. Mountain oysters, rightly prepared, are as delicious as any meat.

I'm so tempted to sign off:

Ball regards,
WeirdWolfer

claiming there were substances in sperm that made recipients feel good

I'm not saying anything. Except that maybe the report was slightly convoluted. OK. So I'm not saying anything else.

Before this thread dies, I'll allow you a small chuckle at my expense. For a long time
I was mentally misspelling the word as "sacreligious" and thinking it tautological.