The Nature and Elements of Sacrificial Ritual

Bibliographic Data

ID12202575
AuthorsKathryn Mcclymond (corresponding author)
Year2004
Volume16
Issue4
Pages337-366
Publication date2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMethod & Theory in the Study of Religion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0943-3058 • E-ISSN: 1570-0682
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/1570068043079037
OpenAlexW2001894761
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited6

After delineating several basic sacrificial activities in the context of the Vedic and Israelite traditions, the following essay makes three observations about the nature of sacrifice. First, despite the emphasis on death and violence in many dominant treatments, close study indicates that sacrifice is largely a non-violent activity. Therefore, it is inappropriate to focus on killing as a definitive or central element of sacrificial ritual. Second, sacrificial systems include animal, vegetal, and liquid oblations, yet vegetal and liquid substances are generally overlooked in sacrificial theorizing. Consequently, sacrificial theories that are driven by animal sacrifice need to be adjusted to address the full spectrum of sacrificial oblations and activity. Finally, sacrificial ritual is best understood as the dynamic interplay of various sacrificial elements rather than a monolithic event marked by a single, definitive activity. This paper offers an alternative polythetic approach that focuses on clusters of sacrificial activity

Aesthetics · Archaeology · Context (archaeology · Element (criminal law · Epistemology · Focus (optics · Physics · Political science · Sacrifice · Sociology · Ancient Near East History · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · History · Law · Philosophy

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