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A comment on Belief in black magic persists in Papua New Guinea. Parent comment

Re:Belief in black magic persists in Papua New Guinea by lukifer on Friday May 24, 2013 @09:17PM (#5766025)
Human sacrifice is far more ancient than the modern state, coinciding with primitive religion. As sick as it may be, I think its primary purpose is in-group cohesion, regardless of the religious or political narrative pretext. A cadre who have knowingly committed murder together is one whose members will have strong bonds of loyalty to one another.

See also: http://www.meltingasphalt.com/religion-politics-and-self-sup...

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Re:Belief in black magic persists in Papua New Guinea by incision on Friday May 24, 2013 @09:26PM (#5766038)
This is where my original question was going.

To question whether there's some lower level function to this behavior. If it's developing consistently, independently I would think there's some base, primal desire being satisfied through it.

It's an arresting question, I think.

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