Blackwell Reference Online

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[viii] Magic was used to combat evil forces, which were often personified as demons. Sometimes a sick person was identified with an animal, which was then killed [23: 21]. Myths and ritual combats (see Ancient near eastern religions; Festivals (ancient near eastern)) depicted the victory of good over evil, but people's own sin and not the god's vengeance was regarded as the cause of their suffering. No human troubles were therefore considered unjust, and a renewal of the god's favour was sought through prayers and lamentations [16: 166].Misfortune was regarded as the result of divine negligence or of a person's sin (or even that of his or her forebears); however, blame was never attributable to the gods, and prayer could gain salvation [16: 153–66]. ... log in or subscribe to read full text