Originally posted by Geladinhu
How I arrive at the conclusion that witchcraft is a rea pehonemon? Easy.
In various cultures witchcraft plays a heavy role and lots of events happen around this apparently 'fake' phenomena.
Why is there no
evidence for it then?
Unless of course you think illness/disease is caused by demons.
Originally posted by Geladinhu
How does a culture sustain itself for centuries or even thousands of years by having ideas that are not truly useful?
When it comes to the idea of 'killing people for witchcraft', its probably got a lot more to do with the indoctrination and conditioning of
youngsters carrying their 'programming' into adulthood - by the way, in what way do you think this practise is 'useful'?
As for concluding that all cultural ideas
must be true because 'they've been around a long time' - what are your thoughts on this one?
The religion of the Todas people of southern India forbids them to cross any type of bridge
Do you now think all bridges are supernatural?
Originally posted by GeladinhuIn anthropology we learn that every system has its own internal logic. Even if its completely illogical
for us all concepts and ideas are there for a reason and are key to all other ways of living in that respective culture.
So, on that precept, you've concluded that certain people are supernatural witches,wizards and warlocks (and deserve to be suitably punished)?.
What if a member of your own family was accused and had their head on the chopping block -would you be so quick to jump to conclusions then?
Originally posted by Geladinhu
Now, maybe we ought to think better what is witchcraft and that would require us to investigate empirically going to these places where occurences are
common and not only by taking conclusions of whatever 'news' comes to us.
You cannot study witchcraft 'empirically' as
there is no evidence -the best scientific study you could hope for would be a psychology paper
on the effects of fear and religious hysteria on the human brain.
[edit on 02/10/08 by karl 12]