Is Judaism the origin of 'scapegoating'?

[Condemnedbylove]

Did it exist in any earlier religions?

 

[PatAnderson]

Um, if it is why does it happen AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN even in totally isolated societies for 2000 years? This is the real question

 

[†Seektruth†]

oh sorry, what is meant by scapegoating? Judaism was the first religion.

 

[ImagoDei]

I'm assuming you're referring to the ritual of the Day of Atonement, on which a goat bearing the sins of the Israelites is left in the desert "for Azazel."

This ritual is the origin of the English word "scapegoat."

I am not sure if there are earlier parallels of this ritual in Canaanite and other cultures. It is clear that other cultures had concepts of purity and sin similar to the Israelites, and it would make sense that those cultures had their own rites by which they disposed of their iniquity. Whether or not a goat was involved, I cannot tell you. Perhaps a little research is in order?

GREAT question... way better than you typically get on R&S!

 

[choko_canyon]

You mean has any other religion ever blamed some other people or group for something, prior to the Old Testament? Are you serious? I hope you're not, for your sake.

 

[NoChanceWithoutJesus]

Actually God is.

But he did it with the Jews

There is no earlier religion than the one that starts with Adam and Eve

 

[mountainparadise]

God originated it;
Lev 16:And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.