Endocannibalism is a customary rite based on spiritual beliefs

Endocannibalism is the customary anthropophagy (the consumption of humans) of those belonging to the same community, usually the dead.^[1] As opposed to exocannibalism which is more violent in nature and involves the consumption typically of one’s enemy to assert dominance, endocannibalism is a funerary ritual to honor the dead. It is seen as a way of absorbing their virtues, like their bravery or wisdom. It was considered to be a way of helping the deceased transcend into the spiritual realm as in the Yanomami tribe of South America, and continuing the circle of life and death and as a process of grieving like in the Amazonian tribe of Wari’.^[2] The Amahuaca tribe, on the other hand, practised endocannibalism as a means of pleasing the gods through sacrificial offerings. This ritual was also practised in communities which were not anthropophagic in their roots, like in the West African tribe of Junkun where the chief of the tribe consumed their predecessors to maintain their authority.^[3] With so many societies which have not only accepted cannibalism into their culture, but embraced it as a religious or spiritual rite, how can cannibalism be considered to be immoral and unethical? If done for the right reasons, such as in endocannibalism, there should be no problem with letting people consume the flesh of their fellows as a way to honor them.

[P1] Ancient tribes believed that by eating their ancestors, they maintained an eternal link with them, even after their death. [P2] Endocannibalism is a form of cannibalism which should be considered ethical.