Compilation of Notes and Memoranda Bearing Upon the Use of Human Ordure and Human Urine in Rites of a Religious or Semi-Religious Character Among Various Nations (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

John Gregory Bourke

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0331970783 ISBN 13: 9780331970784

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

A scholarly overview of how human ordure and urine appear in rites around many nations.

This book collects notes and memoranda to help researchers compare beliefs, practices, and their meanings in ritual life.

It blends historical accounts, field observations, and literary references to illuminate a topic many find repugnant yet revealing about human culture. The scope includes religious, medical, and ceremonial uses, showing how excrement and urine have been seen as purifiers, offerings, medicines, or symbols across time.

• Understand the range of practices described, from cleansing rituals to offerings and divination.
• See how ethnographers and historians document controversial topics with care and rigor.
• Explore cross-cultural connections, from ancient to more recent traditions.
• Learn how field notes and translations contribute to broader anthropological questions.

Ideal for readers of anthropology, ethnology, and history who seek a serious, reference-oriented look at controversial religious practices.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0331970783
• ISBN 13: 9780331970784
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 64