Moloch

Moloch is an ancient Canaanite deity that was worshipped by several cultures from the Bronze Age to classical antiquity. Moloch, also known as Molech, was often depicted as a bull-headed idol with outstretched arms, where he was alleged to accept child sacrifices. In some depictions, the idol was heated with a fire, and babies were placed into the raging flames and placed into the arms of the idol. The Canaanite people believed that this deity would grant them victory in battle, success in agriculture, and even offer solutions to community issues. Moloch was widely worshipped in the Levant, often through the practice of child sacrifice, and several cultures contributed to his worship. It is believed that the Carthaginians, a Phoenician civilization, also worshipped Moloch, as some evidence suggests child sacrifices occurred within this culture. Despite its prevalence in history, Moloch remains a generally obscure figure in today's society. However, in recent years, Moloch has been used to represent dehumanizing practices and bureaucratic systems— the rituals of financial institutions, totalitarian states, and modern-day capitalism. In particular, the term “Moloch” has been employed to describe the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small group at the top of a hierarchy, in a system that exploits and harms the majority. Where the exploitation part is equivalent to sacrificing the poor and transferring their wealth to a few resources. In the poem “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg, Moloch was mentioned heavily, which helped insert the term into the lexicon of counterculture groups. Today, it is often used to refer to the negative excesses of capitalist society and the overbearing power of institutions. Critics often use the term Moloch to describe the ways young people are forced into universities and education systems primed for entry-level positions, where they will be underpaid, overworked, and ultimately worn out, especially if they don't have any practical experience or alternative paths, resulting in a massive institutionalized power imbalance. In summary, Moloch remains an elusive deity with a history of child sacrifice, worshipping practices. It is a term that has been inserted into popular discussions about the negative excesses of capitalist society and exploitative institutions. The term Moloch helps us to recognize these exploitative systems, how they harm individuals, and the need for alternatives that promote a balance of wealth and power.