Johannes Lenhard 
What is achieved through sacrifice? 

Essay from the year 2013 in the subject Pedagogy – Science, Theory, Anthropology, grade: 67%, University of Cambridge, language: English, abstract: Sacrifice can be conceptualised in various forms. Traditionally, the four-step-scheme (presentation, consecration, invocation, immolation) of the ritual as described by Evans-Pritchard (1956) reduces it to as Gibson (1986: 182) describes “a gift to spiritual beings in which the life of an animal is substituted for the life of a human”. Originating in Hubert’s and Mauss’ account (1964), what can be called the ‘communication theory of sacrifice’ is illustrated by Evans-Pritchard’s study of Nuer religion. Without further challenging the common perception of the ‘scheme’ of sacrifice, the Evans-Pritchard’s study will serve as an example for this first approach.