The Sacrifice: Religions and the Role of the Scapegoat

Many religious traditions have a story of sacrifice at the heart of their cultic practice. These articles explore the meaning of sacrifice seen through the words of the Bible and the Quran, through literature and pilgrimage and testimony. They reflect on key stories and practices, such as Abraham's offering of his son, the Leviticus rites of sacrifice and purity, the Hajj, and the death of Christ. Can a substitute be offered for punishment? What happens when an innocent victim — a scapegoat — takes on the suffering of another? Redemption or injustice? Or both?