Sacrifice

Lore & Background

The Latin term sacrificium derived from Latin sacrificus, combining sacra (sacred things) and facere (to make, to do). The word came to apply to the Christian eucharist in particular, sometimes named a 'bloodless sacrifice' to distinguish it from blood sacrifices. The term usually implies 'doing without something' or 'giving something up,' but also occurs in metaphorical use to describe doing good for others or taking a short-term loss for greater gain. Multiple scholars have developed theories on sacrifice. E.B. Tylor suggested sacrifice could be understood as a gift to the divine. William Robertson Smith argued its sole function was for humans to achieve communion with the divine. Émile Durkheim argued sacrifice served a dual function: social communion and divine communion. Marcel Mauss and Henri Hubert argued sacrifice is a form of gift directed to the gods with the social expectation of a greater gift later. Sigmund Freud argued sacrifice was a neurotic ritual to displace guilt. René Girard argued sacrifice functioned as a temporary catharsis for mimetic desire. Nancy Jay argued sacrifice creates and maintains patrilineal kinship structures. Georges Bataille argued sacrifice was a deliberate form of conspicuous consumption of surplus value.

Reader's Guide

Sacrifice has been a central religious practice across many cultures and time periods, from ancient Hebrews and Greeks to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and modern religions. Animal sacrifice is still practiced today by Muslims during Eid al-Adha and by followers of Santería. Human sacrifice, though no longer officially condoned in any country, was practiced by many ancient cultures, including the Aztecs, Phoenicians of Carthage, and pre-Hellenic Minoans. The scholarly understanding of sacrifice remains debated, with theories ranging from gift-giving and communion to social bonding and psychological catharsis. The term itself has broadened to include metaphorical uses in everyday language, such as self-sacrifice or strategic sacrifice in games. The diversity of sacrificial practices and interpretations underscores its enduring significance in human religious and social life.

Did You Know?

• The Latin word sacrificium came to apply to the Christian eucharist, sometimes called a 'bloodless sacrifice.'
• Evidence of ritual human sacrifice has been found in pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica and in European civilizations.
• Muslims practice animal sacrifice as part of the annual Eid al-Adha celebrations.
• René Girard argued that sacrifice functions as a form of displaced aggression on an innocent scapegoat.