To Appease the Gods, Human Sacrifices Must Be Offered

Department

Art

Document Type

Editorial

Publication Date

11-27-2012

Abstract

Ancient pagan cultures practiced the ritualistic killing of humans for a number reasons: appeasement; retribution; expiation for guilt, an entreat for military victory over an enemy; a seasonal invocation for spring planting or fall harvesting; a contractual quid pro quo between ruler-kings in exchange for the deities’ delivering an enemy or granting a bizarre wish; and, most perniciously, blood had to be drawn in abundance in ritualistic killings so as to teach someone a lesson.

Since 1967 the Israelis have been on a binge trying to teach an incorrigible Palestinian population a lesson into submission and abeyance.

Publication Title

CounterPunch

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS