Traditional research on self-harm has predominantly focused on medical models and individual-level psychological factors, but recent sociological perspectives have highlighted the importance of understanding self-harm within broader social contexts. This article explores self-harm in biblical texts, employing Mary Douglas’ cultural anthropological theory on systems of purity and dirt. The study identifies three distinct forms of self-harm in biblical narratives: ritualised, political, and demonic. Ritualised self-harm is portrayed as a culturally sanctioned practice within Jewish religious rites, emphasising communal identity. Political self-harm is depicted as a collective phenomenon linked to cultural and religious power struggles, reinforcing the boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them’. The demonic form of self-harm is characterised by irrational and deviant behaviour, necessitating intervention and purification. The findings underscore the need to understand self-harm within its historical and cultural context, revealing tensions in how the phenomenon is described and its significance. By analysing self-harm in relation to influential historical texts, like the Bible, the study provides deeper insights into the socio-historical significance of self-harm and its role in cultural and religious settings. This approach highlights the importance of considering self-harm not solely as an individual pathology but as a phenomenon deeply embedded in cultural and religious contexts.
Bengtsson et al. (Mon,) studied this question.