Holy slaughter: Child sacrifice in the Bible
In this episode, Em and Caz discuss the disturbing theme of child sacrifice in the Bible. They investigate its significance and occurrence in a number of biblical texts from both the Old and New Testaments. Along the way, they discuss how these ‘texts of terror’ resonate with contemporary discourses of gender-based violence and child abuse, as well as the metaphorical ‘sacrifice’ of children to toxic political discourse.
Show notes
Find us on Twitter @BloodyBiblePod, on Facebook @TheBloodyBiblePodcast, and on Instagram @bloodybiblepodcast. You can also email the podcast at BloodyBiblePodcast@gmail.com.
The Bloody Bible podcast is produced by Caroline Blyth, Emily Colgan and Richard Bonifant
Episodes are recorded and edited by Richard Bonifant
Our podcast music is ‘Stalker’ by Alexis Ortiz Sofield, courtesy of Pixabay music https://pixabay.com/music/search/stalker/
Our podcast art was created by Sarah Lea West
Resources for this episode
BBC, “Church of England failures ‘allowed child sexual abusers to hide.’” 6 October 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54433295
Omri Boehm, “Child Sacrifice, Ethical Responsibility and the Existence of the People of Israel.” Vetus Testamentum 54, no. 2 (2004), pp. 145–56.
Bravehearts, “Child sexual abuse & religious organisations.” https://bravehearts.org.au/research-lobbying/stats-facts/child-sexual-abuse-religous-organisations/
Aris Folley, “Jeffress suggests Democrats may worship pagan god Moloch, ‘who allowed for child sacrifice’.” The Hill, 2 October 2019. https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/464073-jeffress-suggests-democrats-worship-pagan-god-moloch-who/
Maxine Jacobs, “‘We failed in our sacred duty’: Methodist Church responds to Abuse in Care inquiry.” Stuff, 19 October 2022. https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300715313/we-failed-in-our-sacred-duty-methodist-church-responds-to-abuse-in-care-inquiry
Simone Sunghae Kim, “Psychological Contours of Multicultural Feminist Hermeneutics: Han and Relationality.” Pastoral Psychology 55 (2007), pp. 723–30.
Jon D. Levensen, The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son. Yale University Press, 1995.
Lauren A. S. Monroe, “Disembodied Women: Sacrificial Language and the Deaths of Bat-Jephthah, Cozbi, and the Bethlehemite Concubine.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 75 (2013), pp. 32–52.
Nathaniel J. Pallone, “Sin, Crime, Arrogance, Betrayal: A Psychodynamic Perspective on the Crisis in American Catholicism.” Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 2, no. 4 (2002), pp. 341–72.
Monika Pesthy-Simon, Isaac, Iphigeneia, and Ignatius: Martyrdom and Human Sacrifice. Central European University Press, 2017.
Royal Commission of Inquiry (Aotearoa New Zealand), “Abuse in Care.” https://www.abuseincare.org.nz/our-progress/reports/
Emily St James, “The sexual abuse scandal rocking the Southern Baptist Convention, explained.” Vox, 7 June 2022. https://www.vox.com/culture/23131530/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse-scandal-guidepost.
Francesca Stavrakopoulou, King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities. Walter de Gruyter, 2004.
Francesca Stavrakopoulou, “The Jerusalem Tophet: Ideological Dispute and Religious Transformation.” Studi Epigrafici e Linguistici 29-30 (2012-2013), pp. 137–58.
Mark Townsend, “Home Office faces legal action over children missing from UK asylum hotels.” The Guardian, 11 June 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/11/home-office-faces-legal-action-over-children-missing-from-uk-asylum-hotels
Mark Townsend, Sian Norris and Katharine Quarmby, “Children reaching UK in small boats sent to jail for adult sex offenders.” The Guardian, 27 August 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/27/children-reaching-uk-in-small-boats-sent-to-jail-for-adult-sex-offenders
Support Services
Safe to Talk (New Zealand) http://www.safetotalk.nz/
Youthline (NZ) https://www.youthline.co.nz/
List of sexual assault support services (NZ) – https://sexualabuse.org.nz/resources/find-sexual-assault-support-near-you/
1800 Respect (Australia) https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Full Stop (Australia) – https://fullstop.org.au/
Stop It Now (UK) https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/helpline/
Rape Crisis (UK) – https://rapecrisis.org.uk/
Rape Crisis Scotland – https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/
Child Help (USA) https://www.childhelphotline.org/
Life in Mind (Australia) https://lifeinmind.org.au/organisations/kids-helpline
Shine (NZ) - https://www.2shine.org.nz/
Family Violence - It’s Not Okay (NZ) - https://www.areyouok.org.nz/
National Domestic Violence Hotline (USA) - https://www.thehotline.org/
Women’s Aid (UK) - https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
RAINN (USA) – https://www.rainn.org/
Helping Survivors (USA) – https://helpingsurvivors.org/
Financial abuse resource https://www.annuity.org/financial-literacy/financial-abuse/
