What beliefs surrounded the practice of Sin Eating?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Sin Eater
Sin eating was a practice in which a person, known as a sin eater, would consume food placed on a deceased person's body to absorb their sins, allowing the soul to rest. This ritual stemmed from beliefs in sin transfer and redemption, reflecting societal views on guilt, atonement, and the afterlife, particularly in 19th-century rural communities.