Blood Rites

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Blood Rites

• Origins and History of the Passions of War
• Barbara Ehrenreich

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Why have humans been drawn to war?
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Ecstasy of War

• Rational undertaking
• Continuation of policy

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Ecstasy of War

• Two theories of war
• Means to seek and advance interests
• Primitive violent drive

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Ecstasy of War

• Hand to hand
• See enemy face to face
• Fight or Flight response
• Using large muscles, heart rate increases
• Emotions and passions flow

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Ecstasy of War

• Long Distance
• Less personal
• Dont see the enemy
• Push a button
• Keep cool, steady, and aim

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Ecstasy of War

• There is no standard warfare personality type
• Much of war is preparation and waiting
• Men have avoided going to war

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Sacred Meat

• Blood sacrifice was a religious ritual
• Ritual shared by all ancient religions
• Demonstrations of power to kill
• Sacrifice would channel aggressive energy
• Instead of killing one another they would kill
  the victim
• Intimidate the masses

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True Mark of the Beast

• Hunting is bred in our genes
• Humans have no natural defenses like other land
  animals
• Large brains
• Allowed for tool making
• Strategize
• Coordinate as a group

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True Mark of the Beast

• Opposing Theory
• Man received major sustenance from gathering
• Diet contained little meat
• Ate meat left over from animal kills
• Protection if the predator came back to the kill
  site

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True Mark of the Beast

• Two overlapping eras
• Man was prey
• Man became predator
• Developed distance weapons, such as the bow and
  arrow 15,000 years ago
• Became the most dominant predator

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The Rebellion Against the Beast

• Defense against predators
• Fight or flight response
• Safety and strength in numbers
• Groups pull together by external threats
• World War I
• September 11

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A Rough Male Sport

• First evidence of war was 12,000 years ago
• Roots come from conflict with animals
• Possible decline of game forced humans to war
• Turned to agriculture and herds
• Raids for sustenance

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A Rough Male Sport

• Bands of men (eventually armies) would raid
  agriculture and herds
• Revenge became a motivator
• Either fight back or be annihilated
• Enhance warrior status in the community
• Defined manhood
• Womans status began to decline

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Warrior Elite

• Feudal system in Japan and Europe
• Warrior depended on non-warrior
• Grow the food, make the armor and sword, take
  care of the horses
• Warrior would protect community in exchange

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Warrior Elite

• Another option was to raid and rob communities
  for support (Mongols)
• Warriors find adventure, camaraderie, emotions,
  proof of manhood, territory, loot, and honor in
  death
• Special warrior lineage

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Sacralization of War

• Killing meant facing Gods wrath
• Invaders of Europe began changing the mind of the
  church
• Crusades in the holy land
• Crusades against heretics

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Guns and Democratization

• New technology and tactics changed warfare
• Opponents were further away
• Able to increase the size of the fighting force
• Bows and arrows and guns leveled the playing
  field
• Foot soldier became important
• Drills became integral part of training

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Guns and Democratization

• Effects of the Revolutionary War
• Guerrilla tactics instead of marching and firing
  on command
• Rise of nationalism (patriotism)
• Effectiveness of killing with a gun
• Everyman could be a warrior
• Rise of nations

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War Worship-Germany

• Nazism was closest thing to nationalism religion
• Nazi holidays
• Mien Kampf was the bible
• Oath taking paralleled religious rites
• Infused state symbols into religion
• Swastika
• Hitler believed he was a messiah

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War Worship-Japan

• Shinto became national religion
• Patriotism became intertwined with Shinto
• Nation body with citizens willing to give their
  lives
• Samurai code- honor in death
• War dead are worshipped as gods

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War Worship- United States

• America displays patriotism which is unique from
  nationalism
• Separate church and state prevents infusing state
  symbol with religion
• Special holidays, parades, flag, etc.

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Further Evolution of War in the 20th Century

• War persists
• Its not dying, but transforming
• More lethal than ever
• Anyone can purchase military supplies
• Hollywood glorifies war
• Gun is user friendly
• Gender differences are slowly fading
• War instills passions
• Courage, altruism, and belonging to something
  larger than ourselves