On Mon, 25 Sep 2000 15:11:41 -0400, Todd Moody <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >Actually, the priesthood is a pre-agricultural role. A priest >is, by definition, one who is authorized to present sacrifices to >the gods, to propitiate them. Even in hunting societies, the >gods needed to be propitiated in hope of a favorable hunt. >Animal sacrifice is older than agriculture, and where there are >sacrifices there are priests, who may also be shamans. When >societies turned to agriculture, the nature of the sacrifices >gradually changed as well. > Actually, hunter/gatherers do not have a priesthood other than a single shaman (maybe two). Furthermore, animal sacrifice did not exist until the advent of animal husbandry. Pastoral cultures sacrificed animals to a god or gods as a form of bribery/bartering for favors. Agricultural societies had bread and cereal offerings. Sacrifice was not a significant part of any society until animal husbandry and agriculture permitted more "civilized" societies to arise. As ardeith says, modern religions are a result of "totalitarian agriculture". Their mantra is "everyone must follow our way of life", "convert the heathen HGs to christianity [or whatever] and make them grow food and herd animals". The religion then reinforces to the "have-nots" that they should do what the "haves" want. "Don't commit adultery" although polygamy and "free sex" is a typical HG practice, "do not steal" although possessions are essentially meaningless in HG society, "do what We want because you will burn in hell if you don't" although HGs never had any concept of hell, sin, God, or the Devil before. Brad