Atonement is a social device for dealing with infringements of the conventions whereby any cohesive human community defines and preserves its identity. The conventions may come from the remote past, perhaps attributed to the ancestors, to a noted law-giver, or to the deity. Or they may derive from more recent events, and sometimes can be regarded as patterns of behaviour imposed on weaker members of the community by the stronger. But whether willingly or grudgingly obeyed, the conventions give the community its character. Therefore any infringement endangers the community. Accidental or careless infringements can be dealt with by simple penalties; defiant infringements are more difficult – but processes of atonement are in general available. If, however, major disagreement arises about the validity of the conventions, or if an external power tries to substitute alien conventions, then the community may resist, suffer, and accept martyrdom.

Martyrdom is taken to mean being put to death for refusing to abandon or compromise one's religious practices and convictions – it being assumed in antiquity that the public practice of religion was an indicator of communal origins and political reliability. In Jewish antiquity the word marturia belongs to the language of disputes and of agreements that may settle or prevent disputes. When one party accuses another, both bring martures, not impartial observers but accusers and their allies, or supporters of the accused. A martus put his knowledge, experience, and reputation behind his statement and at the service of a friend in need.