Sacrifice Page

: It was often seen as a way to transfer guilt or "sin" to a victim, thereby purifying the community and keeping deities "vigorous". Historical Development of the Practice

: William Robertson Smith argued that the original motive was to foster communion among group members and their god through a shared sacrificial meal. Sacrifice

Scholars generally categorize the long-standing motivations for sacrifice into several key theories: : It was often seen as a way

: Some anthropologists view it as a "cosmic debt-payment" or "buying" divine goodwill to resolve crises like crop failure. Sacrifice