Cannibalism

Cannibalism; dating earliest back to the British colonies, was saw as a form of war tactic, or a practice of religion (Arson 1). Though as a form of religion, it was a punishment tribal religions would use for the deepest sinners and atheists (Arson 1). Cannibalism was also a means for survival among slaves and peasants (Wikipedia 2). Though never really accepted as a “normal” thing in society, cannibalism is very apparent in a not so distant past (Wikipedia 2). Cannibalism is not a lawful or ethical form of practice for any religion or society.

Cannibalism in its rarest form was once a practice of religion. Cannibalism has been detected in the early religious writings of the Egyptians, Greeks and Catholics. In a funeral ritual it would be proper to eat the remains of a respected member of a clan to assume the life-spirit and to insure immortality. Also cannibalism was portrayed in many stories related to religion. It was used as a form of “scare-tactic” to insure the following of many people. It was also shown as a form of war tactic among gods to slaughter the demons that threaten them.

Cannibalism is apparent in religion in as a form of punishment of non-worshipers. Cannibalism is very present in the Bible. Cannibalism is apparent in the old testament of Deuteronomy 28:53-57, God punishes the Hebrews who fail to worship him by making their enemies overtake them, leaving the Hebrews to eat their offspring. Though a more brutal from of punishment it is still very apparent that cannibalism is a big part of religion. Cannibalism was only present in religion, but in more normal settings.

Cannibalism was accounted during the years of British colonial expansion. It was common among slaves as a means of survival when faced with terrible conditions. Cannibalism was also common in the Chinese culture. Frequently written in Chinese literature was the killing and eating of human flesh. Mainly used as a war tactic and a means of gods punishing the souls who committed great atrocities. “Marvin Harris has analyzed cannibalism and other food taboos. He thinks that it was common among bands, but disappeared in the transition to states, the Aztecs being exception.” ( ). Meaning, only individual tribes and clans practice cannibalism, also called anthropophagy, now while it used to be common among larger civilizations. Used in the First Crusade, Some of the crusaders fed on the bodies of their dead opponents after the capture of the Arab town of Ma’arat. During the later stages of the march on Jerusalem, foraging parties fed on the remains of the dead bodies. Though many reasons could have caused the act of insanity, hunger, fatigue, and a sense of want to force terror on their enemies, could have made the forces act as they