City of Sacrifice: The Aztec Empire and the Role of Violence in Civilization

Rating:
Summary: This book is HORRIBLE!
Review: Fascinating study of Aztec religion in the context of the communal life of the City and the promotion of a common cosmology and morality. Unlike many authors of Aztec religion, Carrasco doesn't shy away from presenting the most grim aspects of Aztec human sacrifice, (from the drawing of thorns through the tongue to the heart wrenching sacrifice of children to the phantasmagoric ripping of hearts from chest cavities). In presenting these grim aspects, Carrasco asks the question "why" and offers one possible explanation in the context of the notion of communal city life and the preservation of a common cosmology and morality via ritual and myth, even if violent. Carrasco admits, refreshingly, that this is not the only explanation, and, in fact, we may never fully understand what would prompt any civilization to such wholesale spiritual slaughter, but Carrasco is one of very few scholars in religious studies willing to critically and objectively deal with the notion of violence in religion. One caveat: this is not a casual read and familiarity with Religious Studies and the work of Burkert and Eliade is assumed. At times the text can be hard going and the completion of the book has the abruptness of falling off a cliff. But for readers interested in the study of religion and how it shapes us, this book is an important addition to your bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, if grim, side of human religiousity
Review: Fascinating study of Aztec religion in the context of the communal life of the City and the promotion of a common cosmology and morality. Unlike many authors of Aztec religion, Carrasco doesn't shy away from presenting the most grim aspects of Aztec human sacrifice, (from the drawing of thorns through the tongue to the heart wrenching sacrifice of children to the phantasmagoric ripping of hearts from chest cavities). In presenting these grim aspects, Carrasco asks the question "why" and offers one possible explanation in the context of the notion of communal city life and the preservation of a common cosmology and morality via ritual and myth, even if violent. Carrasco admits, refreshingly, that this is not the only explanation, and, in fact, we may never fully understand what would prompt any civilization to such wholesale spiritual slaughter, but Carrasco is one of very few scholars in religious studies willing to critically and objectively deal with the notion of violence in religion. One caveat: this is not a casual read and familiarity with Religious Studies and the work of Burkert and Eliade is assumed. At times the text can be hard going and the completion of the book has the abruptness of falling off a cliff. But for readers interested in the study of religion and how it shapes us, this book is an important addition to your bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: This book is HORRIBLE!
Review: Its unfortunate that freedom of speach also allows authors such as this to completley fabricate and slander an entire culture. There has been documented scientfic evidence of the fabrications that substantiated human sacrifice and the so called god theory. The reality is, europeans LACKED the understanding and knowledge that would allow them to comprehend the indigenous cultures they encountered. Their belief system was so different, that they saw EVIL where there was none. To this day there has been NO archeological or scientific PROOF of sacrifices. This book is nothing more than a good piece of fiction.