Genitalia Theft Causes Panic in the Congo, Sorcerers Arrested

[Siberys]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...313926,00.html

I don't know which is worse, that this is the most hysterical thing I've heard all year or the fact that it's not been revealed a fake yet and really does have the potential to be 100% real.

[Lady Dragonfly]

Purported victims, 14 of whom were also detained by police, claimed that sorcerers simply touched them to make their genitals shrink or disappear.

Hm, I thought the effect of touch was quite opposite...

[Siberys]

If a random person came into your bedroom at night (when you had say a little morningwood), and they touched you, I'd think it'd shrink. Though...not to that extent.

[C Elegans]

Originally Posted by Siberys

I don't know which is worse, that this is the most hysterical thing I've heard all year or the fact that it's not been revealed a fake yet and really does have the potential to be 100% real.

Different cultures have different religious views and hold different beliefs. In parts of Africa, "witchcraft" is part of the spiritual beliefs people have. Just as in the Western culture, people may believe in spirits, a god, angels, the devil and similar transcendent phenomena. Some months ago I read an account of a young American girl who was scared into believing the devil would take her and she would go to hell if she did certain acts or thought certain thoughts.
Religion is a powerful part of culture - all cultures.

[VonDondu]

I suspect that many of those accusations of "witchcraft" are actually false accusations made by people against their enemies. It's an easy way to cause trouble for other people or to get them killed. I mean, the article is about lynchings, which don't exactly require the highest form of proof that the charges are legitimate.

[Moonbiter]

Oh fer..... This is CONGO! Y'Know... hell on earth? My wife has spent a considerable amount of time there (probably out stealing penises again, the floozy!) and this has to be THE dumbest article about the state of affairs in that particular circle of hell. Ebola? Cannibalism? Small, cute little parasites that swim up yer tract and hatches in yer scrotum? AIDS? Free AK47s to anyone who can name the current Prime Minister and why you don't like him! Witchcraft! The origin of Voodoo! Oh, and lest we forget: All the unpleasant rest.

[C Elegans]

Originally Posted by Moonbiter

Oh fer..... This is CONGO! Y'Know... hell on earth? My wife has spent a considerable amount of time there (probably out stealing penises again, the floozy!) and this has to be THE dumbest article about the state of affairs in that particular circle of hell. Ebola? Cannibalism? Small, cute little parasites that swim up yer tract and hatches in yer scrotum? AIDS? Free AK47s to anyone who can name the current Prime Minister and why you don't like him! Witchcraft! The origin of Voodoo! Oh, and lest we forget: All the unpleasant rest.

Just to put things in perspective in relation to the stupid "news" article, one could mention that the Democratic Republic of Congo has an average longevity of just over 45 years and a GNI per capita of about US$120. Murder, rape, abuse and slavery is everyday life, as is death from preventable and treatable diseases like cholera, pneumonia and malaria.

Small nitpick: the Voodoo tribe and the Voodoo culture actually origins from Benin, but is widespread in all of West Africa.

[galraen]

Originally Posted by C Elegans

Small nitpick: the Voodoo tribe and the Voodoo culture actually origins from Benin, but is widespread in all of West Africa.

It's also no better or worse than any other religion, most of the bad publicity surrounding Voodoo is pure Christian/Islamic propaganda.

[C Elegans]

Originally Posted by galraen

It's also no better or worse than any other religion, most of the bad publicity surrounding Voodoo is pure Christian/Islamic propaganda.

Of course, that's what I was trying to say in my first post in this thread. I am quite well read into West African religion in general, and personally, if I have to choose, I prefer voodoo beliefs over the major monotheistic religions simply because most voodoo beliefs are not at all related to missionary activities and converting others, and it is usually not exclusive and hierachical in its structure. In other words - it is generally less harmful to other people.

[Claudius]

I don't mind voodoo as long as they are not sacrificing animals or harvesting body parts.

[VonDondu]

Originally Posted by Claudius

I don't mind voodoo as long as they are not sacrificing animals...

I agree--it's much better to kill them and eat them.

[Claudius]

I agree--it's much better to kill them and eat them.

Body parts or animals Ok I guess sacrificing animals is no more barbaric than eating them needlessly. Farming is another topic. Definately a lot of suffering goes on. I support humane farming practices. At least give the animals a good life and humane slaughter. Personally I don't eat meat but I realize lots of insects get killed in crop raising. And I too will one day be picked by the crows and worms.

[C Elegans]

Originally Posted by Claudius

I don't mind voodoo as long as they are not sacrificing animals or harvesting body parts.

They usually eat the animals that are sacrified. Food is too valuable in West Africa to get wasted.

I don't think human sacrifices exist anymore although it has historically.

[C-K'R[PhoEniX]]

Originally Posted by Siberys

If a random person came into your bedroom at night (when you had say a little morningwood), and they touched you, I'd think it'd shrink. Though...not to that extent.

Heh, indeed. I mean, I knew sorcerers were supposed to be charismatic, but these guys must have perfected their intimidate skills.

[fable]

Originally Posted by C Elegans

Of course, that's what I was trying to say in my first post in this thread. I am quite well read into West African religion in general, and personally, if I have to choose, I prefer voodoo beliefs over the major monotheistic religions simply because most voodoo beliefs are not at all related to missionary activities and converting others, and it is usually not exclusive and hierachical in its structure. In other words - it is generally less harmful to other people.

That seems to be a common distinction, not so much between Voodoun and monotheistic religions, as between polytheistic and monotheistic ones. Polytheistic religions are by nature inclusive, heterodox. Monotheistic religions are exclusive, orthodox. Polytheistic religions certainly aren't adverse to labeling specific theological beings as "evil," however they define this. But with a plethora of gods to choose from, there is simply less opportunity to find somebody else's worship as going to something inherently demonic. The universe ceases to be seen as a war waged between one's own personal deity, and all others who are inherently evil. Whether one views polytheistic religions as spontaneously ariisng forms of commuincation with the unseen or cultural artifacts, they at least result in far less harm to others, than monotheistic religious belief systems. I think that much is demonstrable.

The monotheistic answer is usually based on compassion. It is compassionate to save others from everlasting torment after death due to having worshipped the wrong deity, per Islam and Christianity. And as it is closed, circular argument that depends upon a perexisting view of the universe, there is no means of demonstrating otherwise. But from the outside, it certainly seems as though the conflicts brought into a culture by monotheistic religion are much higher than would be the case if no attempts at conversion were tried, at all. It is arguably wrong to buy a Voudoun curse to put on one's neighbor, but it pales before an army gathering in the center of your town to tell you all people in it will henceforth worship the One True God, or be forced to leave at once without anything you own.