Page "Human sacrifice" Paragraph 12

Human sacrifice may be a ritual practised in a stable society, and may even be conductive to enhance societal bonds ( see Sociology of religion ), both by creating a bond unifying the sacrificing community, and in combining human sacrifice and capital punishment, by removing individuals that have a negative effect on societal stability ( criminals, religious heretics, foreign slaves or prisoners of war ).

But outside of civil religion, human sacrifice may also result in outbursts of " blood frenzy " and mass killings that destabilise society.

Thus, the Thuggee cult that plagued India was devoted to Kali, the goddess of death and destruction.

According to the Guinness Book of Records the Thuggee cult was responsible for approximately 2 million deaths.

The bursts of capital punishment during European witch-hunts, or during the French Revolutionary Reign of Terror show similar sociological patterns ( see also Moral panic ).