>[!abstract] >The formula do ut des ("I give that you might give") expresses the reciprocity of exchange between human being and deity, reflecting the importance of gift-giving as a mutual obligation in ancient society and the contractual nature of Roman religion. The gifts offered by the human being take the form of sacrifice, with the expectation that the god will return something of value, prompting gratitude and further sacrifices in a perpetuating cycle. The *do ut des* principle is particularly active in magic and private ritual. *Do ut des* was also a judicial concept of contract law. > >In Pauline theology, *do ut des* was viewed as a reductive form of piety, merely a "business transaction", in contrast to God's unilateral grace (χάρις, charis). Max Weber, in The Sociology of Religion, saw it as "a purely formalistic ethic." In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, however, Émile Durkheim regarded the concept as not merely utilitarian, but an expression of "the mechanism of the sacrificial system itself" as "an exchange of mutually invigorating good deeds between the divinity and his faithful" (Wikipedia, 2024). Do ut des is also related to the sacred reciprocity in Anglo-Saxon heathenry (Fyrnsidu): >[!abstract] >"The concept of “do ut des”, the gifting cycle, sacred reciprocity, is basic to Fyrnsidu. The terminology I use for this is “do ut des” because it is the most commonly applied term and one that came from a pagan religion (the *cultus deorum*) and had a similar view as how we apply it today in modern paganism. A rough translation of *do ut des* from Latin would be “I give so that you might give”. This is the foundation of the relationship we form between us and the gods. It only gets more convoluted from here but I will try and untangle it as best I can. > >Offering and sacrifice are important. I give to the gods, not because they need an offering of grain or food or mead but because in doing so I have taken the time and effort to think of them and offer to them and also I have taken something which could have nourished me and given it away. The gods do not need our bread, they do not strictly need anything we have to offer them, they are quite self-sufficient. That said, our offerings must please them or offer them some benefit because in offering we pave the way to receiving blessings from the gods (spēd)" ([[Wind in the World Tree, 2020]]). >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): — >- **East** (different): — >- **South** (downstream): —