Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rtp47.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!greipa!decwrl!decvax!bellcore!petrus!magic!nvc!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!akgua!mcnc!rti-sel!rtp47!throopw From: throopw@rtp47.UUCP (Wayne Throop) Newsgroups: net.origins Subject: Re: Human Sacrifice II Message-ID: <244@rtp47.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 18:14:29 EST Article-I.D.: rtp47.244 Posted: Tue Nov 5 18:14:29 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 15:39:55 EST References: <451@imsvax.UUCP> Organization: Data General, RTP, NC Lines: 38 I have two questions about the proposition that human sacrifice in ancient times implies "cosmic catastrophe". 1) Why is "human sacrifice" (in several forms, but primarily infanticide as a simple form of retroactive birth control) still common today? 2) Why was human sacrifice the response to cosmic catastrophe? The first question is the obvious outcome of the observation that Ted's "universal law" of parental love is broken daily, in many animal species, and in the among humans as well. Was this "universal law" more universal in the past than we observe it now, and if so, why? The second question is the obvious outcome of the assumption that these human sacrifices would have had *no* *effect* *whatever* on the cosmic events they were purported to influence. What maintained the co-religionist's sacrificial fervor when the sacrifices proved fruitless? Similarly, what process selected for these practices in the first place? Note that I'm *not* claiming that humans don't do things that are fairly thoroughly demonstrated to have no benefit... most papers have horiscopes after all. I'm just wondering what is the connection between cosmic catastrophe and human sacrifice such that the former leads to the latter, rather than, say, fervent prayer (which, come to think of it, might even be more effective than sacrifice). It seems to me, in light of these problems, that the proposition just doesn't make much sense. -- MICHAELMAS: "You don't think my theory holds water?" DOMINO: "A bathtub will hold water. A canteen is usually sufficent." --- from "MICHAELMAS" by Algis Budrys -- Wayne Throop at Data General, RTP, NC!mcnc!rti-sel!rtp47!throopw