This volume provides an introduction to the major classic and modern writings dealing with religious sacrifice. Collected here are 25 influential selections, each with a brief introduction addressing the overall framework and assumptions of its author. As they present different theories and examples of sacrifice, these selections also discuss important concepts in religious studies such as the origin of religion, totemism, magic, symbolism, violence, structuralism and ritual performance. Students of comparative religion, ritual studies, the history of religions, the anthropology of religion and theories of religion should find the historical organization and thematic analyses presented in this collection useful.
Author Biography
Jeffrey Carter is Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina.
