Destruction, Death, and Drama: Narratives of Religiocide in the Hebrew Bible

Abstract This article analyzes active strategies for dismantling religion and discusses their role in demise. The aim is to throw light on how the dramatic violent narratives of demolition stemming from different religious groups factor into processes understandings I focus change Hebrew Bible, analyzing aspects two that thematize an practices: (1) story competition Mount Carmel between prophet Elijah Baʿal prophets 1 Kings 18, involving prophet’s mockery, denigration, eventual killing his opponents; (2) “reform” King Josiah 2 23 involves king instigating several forms destruction objects cult sites priests deemed illegitimate. Analyzing activities are portrayed, suggest about form part cultural memory Persian era, not eras they purport depict. discuss which roles play narrative, played a identity building leading ancient “Israelite” “Judean” lived toward early “Judaism” era as performative group-internal communication supporting enclave characteristics. My key suggestion should be taken account discussions demise more broadly. Narratives often spectacular, dramatic, violent, can important formation memory, especially by making apostasy appear risky within in-group. Thus, influence both transformation processes.