Sin Eater

By Crusader1307

 The strange Occupation of "Sin Eater", was said to be an Individual who could "take on" or assume the "Sins" of a dying or recently deceased Person, through ingestion/transference. This was done through the use of bread and salt (both elemental religious symbols). This action wad thought to allow the "cleansed" Person to enter into their "Final Reward", according to their belief system. Sin Eaters are mentioned as far back as Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. They are even mentioned on Jewish Kabbalah. The Western Medieval Church Condemned such Holistic approaches to circumnavigating the "remission of sins. Sin Eaters were seen as Occult and Pagan in Nature. Those who declared themselves as such were often Burnt at The Stake. Since Eaters were known to exist in Germany, France, England and Wales.

The process required a specially trained and conditioned Practitioner. These rituals may be related to Pagan or "Earth Magic" practices. On Cases of terminally ill persons unable to "qualify" for "Extreme Unction", a series of prayers or incantations would be read. Next, a piece (or pieces) of unleavened bread with Sea Salt would be placed on either the forehead or torso of the Person. The Singapore Eater at a prescribed moment would consume the bread and ingest the "Sin". The Practitioner at a later time would "cast out" their newly acquired "sins" into small reptiles or animals. Historians doubt the existence of Sin Eaters all together, citing them an invention of the Church as a means of control.