Definitions HQ

Stoning (n.) by ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the Law of Moses required the two accusers to throw the first two stones, which deprived them of a model.

Stoning (n.) solves ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a ritual puzzle: everyone must strike the polluted victim, and no one may touch him — so all strike from a distance.

Stoning (n.) accelerates ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by imitation: the second stone follows the first, the third has two models, and the rhythm quickens as the models multiply.

Stoning (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its whole secret in the first stone: once one is thrown the rest follow, and Jesus names the principle of every crowd, ancient and modern, without any abstract vocabulary.

Stoning (n.) and ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the cliff solve the problem of vengeance: everyone takes part in the destruction but no one touches the victim, so the group alone is responsible.

Stoning (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠one of the forms the founding murder takes by local geography: a cliff where there is a cliff, a lake where there is a lake, stones where there are stones, trees for hanging or crucifixion.