June 27, 2017 • 2hr 50min
#8 - How to Serve Man - Sacrifice & Cannibalism, pt. 1
The Martyr Made Podcast
Key Takeaways
- Cannibalism and human sacrifice were once widespread practices that served important psychological and social functions for many societies
- These practices often involved complex rituals and taboos that helped structure and channel aggressive impulses
- The transition from cannibalism to less violent practices like headhunting represents a process of psychological "sublimation"
- Ritual cannibalism allowed societies to vicariously experience aggression while containing its most destructive aspects
- The Aztecs maintained cannibalism and sacrifice longer than most societies, possibly due to their unique worldview and circumstances
- Understanding these practices requires looking beyond surface horror to see their deeper psychological and social meanings
Introduction
This episode explores the history and psychology of ritual cannibalism and human sacrifice, with a focus on how these practices served important functions in many societies. The host argues that while horrifying to modern sensibilities, cannibalism and sacrifice were often highly structured practices that helped channel aggressive impulses and reinforce social bonds. He examines examples from various cultures to show how these rituals evolved and were eventually replaced by less violent substitutes.
Topics Discussed
The Prevalence and Functions of Cannibalism (0:02:00)
- Cannibalism was once widespread across Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Often tied to warfare, revenge, and assertions of dominance over enemies
- Could also be practiced affectionately on deceased relatives (endocannibalism)
- Served psychological functions like:
- Channeling aggression
- Reinforcing group bonds
- Coping with death
- "Animals kill and eat, but only humans sacrifice and feast."
Ritual Structures and Taboos (0:12:05)
- Cannibalism almost always involved complex rituals and restrictions
- Taboos helped contain the dangerous spiritual power believed to be unleashed
- Rituals structured the act and gave it social meaning beyond mere consumption
- Examples:
- Purification rites for warriors who had killed and eaten enemies
- Restrictions on who could eat which parts of the body
- Ritual vomiting after consuming human flesh
- "A human being can never be reduced entirely to meat."
Psychological Ambivalence in Cannibalism (0:28:21)
- Cannibalism involves conflicting impulses of aggression and identification
- Eating enemies involves unwanted compassion; eating kin involves taboo aggression
- Rituals help manage this psychological ambivalence
- Examples:
- Treating captives as family before sacrificing them
- Mourning enemies after killing and eating them
- "Both affectionate and aggressive cannibalism contain elements of the other."
The Process of Sublimation (0:42:33)
- Societies gradually replace literal cannibalism with symbolic substitutes
- This process of "sublimation" channels aggressive impulses into less violent forms
- Examples of substitutes:
- Headhunting instead of cannibalism
- Animal sacrifice instead of human sacrifice
- Symbolic consumption of bread/wine in Christian communion
- "Sublimation is taking place when we see the replacement of raw cannibalism for ritual cannibalism."
Case Study: The Kwakiutl People (0:58:21)
- Northwest Coast tribe that maintained cannibalism into the 19th century
- Had a special "Cannibal Society" that performed ritualized man-eating
- Whole tribe participated vicariously in the ritual
- Gradually replaced cannibalism with less violent substitutes:
- Biting small pieces of skin instead of flesh
- Destroying property instead of killing slaves
- Competitive gift-giving (potlatch) instead of warfare
- "The Kwakiutl provide some of the best illustrations of this process of sublimation in action."
The Aztec Exception (1:28:36)
- Aztecs maintained large-scale cannibalism and sacrifice longer than most societies
- Possible reasons:
- Unique cosmology that saw the universe founded on divine sacrifice
- Belief in a "blood debt" owed to the gods
- Awareness of civilizational impermanence from ruined cities around them
- Aztec practices shock us because of their sophistication in other areas
- "The Aztecs embraced [the carnage of life] rather than trying to escape it."
Cannibalism and the Human Condition (1:52:38)
- Cannibalism reflects deeper truths about the violent nature of life
- All life ultimately depends on consuming other life
- Humans uniquely aware of this cycle and our role in it
- Different cultures/religions develop various ways to cope with this reality
- Aztecs chose to embrace and ritualize it rather than deny it
- "We have been trying to find ways to mitigate [our fall from innocence] ever since."
Conclusion
While deeply disturbing to modern sensibilities, practices like ritual cannibalism and human sacrifice served important psychological and social functions in many societies throughout history. By examining these practices closely, we can gain insight into how different cultures have grappled with fundamental aspects of the human condition - our capacity for violence, our need for meaning, and our awareness of death. The gradual replacement of literal cannibalism with increasingly symbolic substitutes represents an important process in the development of human civilization. However, as the Aztec example shows, this process is not inevitable or irreversible. Understanding the deeper meanings of these practices can help us better appreciate both how far humanity has come and the psychological forces we must continue to grapple with.