Metal Reviews

First things first, I am not Christian nor do I believe in Jesus.


The interesting thing about the story of Jesus and his crucifixion is that Jesus has to go through a legal process and convicted in order to be crucified.

Sure this was probably a kangaroo court.

However it's a good example of how even in supposedly barbaric cultures, due process is required to apply state violence.

It goes to show how important it is to portray state violence with a sense of legitimacy.


It's seldom in human society where power wielders can go around executing or torturing those that oppose them.

Even the great dictators of the 20th century tended to surround themselves with bureaucrats, processes and other state implements in order to legitimise butchery.

As someone who studies Roman history for a living...

What the fuck?

I don't really know where to start with this, but... wikipedia always helps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law#History_of_law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_law

Don't encourage him.

+1


In Ancient Rome, state violence was often the source of the legitimacy of its ruler and was taken at face value.


I'd venture to say that this continues into 21st century America.

And everywhere else...

It's more about the proceduralisation of state violence.

Sure you feed some Christians to the lions - that in itself is procedure (as well as propaganda).

In mainstream media, violence is often shown as being persecuted arbitrarily and without repurcussion - e.g. villages are destroyed, even prominent people are murdered.

And it's not just Romans, it's pretty much any non-modern Western culture in the media.