Beyond Sacred Violence: A Comparative Study of Sacrifice

by Kathryn McClymond

Overview

Winner, 2009 Georgia Author of the Year Award for Creative Nonfiction

For many Westerners, the term sacrifice is associated with ancient, often primitive ritual practices. It suggests the death—frequently violent, often bloody—of an animal victim, usually with the aim of atoning for human guilt. Sacrifice is a serious ritual, culminating in a dramatic event. The reality of religious sacrificial acts across the globe and throughout history is, however, more expansive and inclusive.

In Beyond Sacred Violence, Kathryn McClymond argues that the modern Western world's reductive understanding of sacrifice simplifies an enormously broad and dynamic cluster of religious activities. Drawing on a comparative study of Vedic and Jewish sacrificial practices, she demonstrates not only that sacrifice has no single, essential, identifying characteristic but also that the elements most frequently attributed to such acts—death and violence—are not universal. McClymond reveals that the world of religious sacrifice varies greatly, including grain-based offerings, precious liquids, and complex interdependent activities.

Engagingly argued and written, Beyond Sacred Violence significantly extends our understanding of religious sacrifice and serves as a timely reminder that the field of religious studies is largely framed by Christianity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801887765
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	07/02/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Kathryn McClymond is an associate professor of religious studies at Georgia State University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Re-imagining Sacrifice
2. Reevaluating the Role of Killing in Sacrifice
3. Vegetal Offerings as Sacrifice
4. Liquid Sacrificial Offerings
5. The Apportionment of Sacrificial Offerings
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Excellent monograph.
—Choice

A stimulating and persuasive case for the diversity, fluidity and interdependency of activities comprising sacrifice.
—F. Stavrakopoulou, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

Highly recommended.
—Nathan Carlin, Religious Studies Review

A thought-provoking examination of sacrifice.
—James Getz, Journal of Religion

Written in an engaging and informative style, this book would be interesting to both scholars and ordinary readers.
—Prabuddha Bharata

From the Publisher

Written in an engaging and informative style, this book would be interesting to both scholars and ordinary readers.

Prabuddha Bharata

A stimulating and persuasive case for the diversity, fluidity and interdependency of activities comprising sacrifice.

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament - F. Stavrakopoulou

Excellent monograph.

Choice

Highly recommended.

Religious Studies Review - Nathan Carlin

A thought-provoking examination of sacrifice.

Journal of Religion - James Getz

A thought-provoking examination of sacrifice.

— James Getz

Journal of Religion

Highly recommended.

— Nathan Carlin

Religious Studies Review

A stimulating and persuasive case for the diversity, fluidity and interdependency of activities comprising sacrifice.

— F. Stavrakopoulou

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament