The Threshold Covenant; or, The Beginning of Religious Rites

Name: The Threshold Covenant; or, The Beginning of Religious Rites
Author: H. Clay Trumbull

By H. Clay Trumbull

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Archaeology & Anthropology History - Religious Religion/Spirituality

About This Book

The author examines the origins and development of rites centered on doorways and household altars, arguing that early rituals expressed belief in binding relations between humans and the divine. He documents threshold ceremonies such as blood welcomes at the door, marriage threshold customs, being carried across or stepping over thresholds, foundation offerings, and symbolic marks like the red hand. The study then traces how these domestic practices expanded into temple thresholds across diverse regions and island cultures, and how threshold sanctity shaped local and national boundary rites. The work concludes with an inductive argument that blood offerings underlie covenant-making and sacred boundary formation.

About the Author

H. Clay Trumbull

H. Clay Trumbull was an American author and theologian known for his contributions to religious literature and ethics. His works often explore the intersections of faith, culture, and human behavior. Among his notable titles is "The Blood Covenant: A Primitive Rite and its Bearings on Scripture," which examines ancient practices and their significance in biblical contexts. Trumbull also wrote extensively on child-rearing, as seen in "Hints on Child-training," reflecting his interest in moral education. His writings provide insights into both spiritual and practical aspects of life, making him a distinctive voice in 19th-century American literature.