In our time, the word "scapegoat" became phraseology.This idiom has long lost its original meaning.What it meant originally?Why a goat, and not some other animal?And who or what he is let go?What has undergone a metamorphosis and rethinking idiom later?This will learn from this article.We will explain in which cases it is appropriate to use the expression.Let's also look at what idiom closest in meaning to "scapegoat" and why it is used synonymous.
ritual cleansing
historical roots of origin phraseologism "scapegoat" to be found in Judaism. The Old Testament book of Leviticus chapter 16 gives the name of Godclear indications of how to do the high priest, and rest of the people of Israel to be cleansed from our sins and receive forgiveness from the Lord. In the Yom Kippur holiday, which is celebrated "in the seventh month, on the tenth day," according to the Jewish calendar, the temple led the four living creatures. They wereyoung bull (Taurus), sheep (ram) and two goats of the same suit. The priest metal lot on these last two animals. In one of them dropped a choice, it is put aside. Three others were cut, their blood sanctified the Tabernacle, and the carcasses were burned in front of the templeas a sacrifice to God. Survivor goat was brought to the high priest. He laid his head on his hands and confessed the sins of the Jewish people.It was believed that as a result of the ritual the blame to the people of God passed on the animal.After that a special messenger to the goat barren Judean desert, where left to die a cruel starvation.According to another version, the animal dropped off a cliff into the abyss of Azazel, which was considered the abode of the Devil.
Gift Satan?
This ritual, practiced in the days of the first tabernacle (X c. BC. E.) And up to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (I in. BC. E.), Spawned from neighboring peoples mistaken opinion that the Jews bring a sacrifice to the Devil.As the ritual slaughter and incineration outside the city bright red cow, the administration of small ruminants in the wilderness did not mean the gift to someone else.Then someone, rather than a scapegoat?The meaning of this ritual is: an animal pinned all the bad things people.Thus, it turned into a repository of sins.Goat sent into the wilderness, inhabited by demons and cleansed from defilement God's people could communicate with the Lord.In early rites remission accompanied by the fact that the horns of an animal tied a piece of red cloth.Before leaving the mill feed was cut in half.Half rag tied to the gate, while the remainder remain on the animal.If the Jews repent before God it was sincere, that at the time of the death of a goat in the wilderness was to turn white rag.A red cow was considered the symbol of the golden calf, avarice, the beginning of all sin.
Rethinking ritual "scapegoat" in Islam and Christianity
The world religions that revere the Old Testament, there was the inevitable interpretation of the rite.In Islam, there is a special ritual stoning of Satan.However, no animal is not "loaded with sin."People just go into the valley, where, according to the beliefs, the Devil lives, and to throw stones.In Christian theology, the scapegoat is sometimes interpreted as a symbolic image of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.All the Gospels and other books of the New Testament are full of references to the fact that the Son of God took upon their shoulders the original sin of mankind descended from Adam and Eve's disobedience, and redeemed him with her death.True, our Lord Jesus is not called "goat" and "Lamb of God" (for example, because it refers to the Baptist in John 1:29).But the ritual scapegoat atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is different one very important detail.This is - voluntarily.The animal did not choose his very death, he was appointed to be a "scapegoat."
Vitality image
Jews were not the only people who practiced a ritual transfer of sins and the subsequent murder of the "locus of evil."J. Fraser, a researcher of ancient beliefs, says that everywhere, from Iceland to Australia, people wanted to get rid of evil, adverse forces of nature in a similar manner.In ancient Greece, in the event of a disaster or plague were always ready criminals or prisoners who were sacrificed.Beliefs that sins may be the cause of universal disasters occur and the Slavic peoples.Thus, the ritual burning of effigies Winters is under a ancient rituals of human sacrifice.Agricultural people a kind of "scapegoat" practiced in the feast of the first furrow, haymaking, the last sheaf.
transformation of a metaphor
People tend to shift the blame from himself to others.It is very convenient and drowns pangs of conscience.Many of us had a chance to learn the hard way what it means to "scapegoat."But more often we blame others for our bad deeds of committed."I did not do the work, because I prevented", "I burst out because I have finished" - this kind of excuses we hear every day and they themselves speak.Perhaps part of the blame of the "other" is present.But whether we do any less guilty?Due to the fact that the practice of "shifting the blame on others" is found everywhere and at all times, a single ritual of the Jewish people became a household word.
«scapegoat»: the value phraseologism
Today, this idiom is used solely as a figurative expression, a metaphor.Under the "scapegoat" means a person, who unjustly blamed for the mistakes of others, made guilty for the failure to rehabilitate these criminals.Typically, such a "ritual animal" is lower in the hierarchy worker.In the context of a corrupt system of investigation and the courts, the prisons are overcrowded these "scapegoats", was sentenced for the actions of the rich people, who for a bribe "otmazatsya" from liability.
propaganda tool
History knows many examples when politicians hide the reasons for their own failures by blaming various pests and saboteurs, and sometimes entire nations have befallen people in disasters and misfortunes.Even during the Great Plague (mid XIV century) in the cause of the epidemic have been accused of the Jews.This has led to anti-Semitic pogroms that swept across Europe.Jews throughout history is often recorded in the category of "scapegoat."Expression of why there is no water in the tap, There, and in Russian.In Nazi Germany the blame for the economic crisis has also put the power to the communists, Roma and other categories of the population.In modern Russia, these scapegoats are traditionally the West and the United States.So always choose the policy "extreme."
Goats and scapegoats
Since the guilty often did poor people who can not fend for themselves, appeared in the expression "scapegoat" a synonym for "scapegoats."Why this railway worker became the face of a household?Because in the early days of train crash occurred frequently.The judicial investigation into the causes responsible for the disaster happened frequently descended down the ladder until it stopped on simple switchman.Like, the whole structure went downhill due to his negligence.Therefore also common expression "to translate arrows", signifying "to lay the blame on someone that does not have any relation to the case."No less popular is the saying "to throw the blame on others."It means that the guilty wants to shift the responsibility on the shoulders of another person.
