If you take
alcoholic drinks, read each of the following questions carefully and answer YES or NO to each question honestly. If you answer YES to five or more questions, then you are an alcoholic.
Remember, if you cheat, you're only cheating yourself.
1.
Do you often
forget what you spoke, what you
did, what you ate and where you went when you were drunk? (This is called a black-out.)
2.
Do you
feel a strong craving or desire, a mysterious magnetic pull towards your favourite drink
when you do your work or any other activity? (This is called a mental obsession for drink.)
3.
Do you
find yourself often absent
from duty, meetings, church attendance, college, etc., due to drinking?
4.
Has your
drinking caused frequent fights and unrest at home?
5.
Do you swear or
make solemn promises that you
will never drink again (sometimes even by touching sacred
objects/images/Scriptures) when confronted by others, but break your promises repeatedly?
6.
Do you get
terribly irritated and annoyedwhen people advise you to stop or control your drinking and wish that they
should mind their own business instead?
7.
Do you
experience a hang-over (= heaviness
of body, giddiness, dullness, etc.) when you wake up in the morning after heavy
drinking of the previous night, and feel like drinking in the morning itself in
order to feel ‘fresh’??
8.
Do you
often feel guilty about
your bad behaviour (like abusive words, fights, acts of violence, crime,
immorality, etc.) when you were drunk and feel like drinking again to forget
about it?
9.
Has your
economic situation considerably deteriorated due to drinking, that is you are not able to save money or
meet needs of your family well in spite of earning?
10. Do you drink alone and secretly thinking that nobody will notice it?
11. Has any doctor advised you not to drink when you went for medical check
up?
12. Do you try to drink on the way before reaching a party or anywhere as a guest,
thinking that you may not get enough in that place?
13. When you don't have money to buy your drinks, do
you collect money from people by telling lies or by dishonest means?
14. Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple
of days?
15. Do you tell yourself and others that you can
stop drinking any time if you want to, even though you keep getting drunk when you don't want to?
If you have said yes to at
least five questions, then it is not you who are drinking alcohol, but
alcohol is drinking you. Learn how to get liberation from its slavery. [Follow
up these lessons till the end of the series.]
Read each of the
following questions carefully and answer YES
or NO to each question honestly. If
you answer YES to five or more
questions, then you are a TV addict. Remember, if you cheat, you're only
cheating yourself.
1.Do you watch 3 to 5 or more hours of TV per
day on average?
2.Do you frequently think about television
shows during the day, when not watching TV?
3.Do you find it too difficult to turn off
the TV in the middle of your favourite program to do more important work?
4.Is the focal point of your family room a
television set even while eating and talking?
5.Do you insist on a separate TV set in your
bedroom, though there is a common one at home?
6.Do you regularly take your meals while
watching TV?
7.Do you spend more time with a television
set than with your friends and family?
8.Can you live peacefully without feeling anxious,
restless, or irritable for three days without watching TV?
9.Do you ever rush home recklessly just to
catch your favourite TV show, and not for spending time with your dear ones?
10.Do you need TV to relax or fall asleep
after hard work of the day?
11.Do you go on changing channels after
channels, looking for something fantastic to watch, and thus spend more time in
surfing channels than real viewing a good program?
12.Do you feel you watch too much TV but
cannot stop it?
13.Is it difficult for others to get your
attention when you are watching TV?
14.Do others (especially family members and
friends) criticize, comment or scold about your preoccupation with TV and its
programs?
15.Have any friends or family members told you
that you watch so much TV that it is interfering with your family relationships
and work?
16.Have you ever tried to quit watching TV or
reducing its use, but every time failed miserably?
17.When eating snacks in front of the TV, do
you have a tendency to eat more than you intended?
18.Do you feel that you won’t be able to spend
your time or you will be bored to death, if you suddenly stop watching TV?
19.Have you ever missed work, school, or an
important event (even social gatherings and celebrations), because you did not
want to miss your TV program?
If you have said yes to at least five questions, then it is not
you who are using TV, but the TV is using you. Learn how to get liberation from
its slavery. [Follow up these lessons till the end of the series. You can get
this article in my Blog on Creative Ministries at freddielifetips.blogspot.in//]
Read each of the
following questions carefully and answer YES or NO to each question honestly.
If you answer YES to five or more
questions, then you are a computer/internet addict. Remember, if you cheat,
you're only cheating yourself.
1.Is your mind repeatedly preoccupied and anxious about your
work in the computer, or the previous on-line activity or with the thought of
next on-line session?
2.Do you feel the need to use the computer or Internet with
increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?
3.Have you repeatedly made efforts to control, cut back, or
stop computer or internet use and miserably failed every time?
4.Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, irritable or and
bored when you are not at your computer or when you try to cut down or stop
computer or internet use?
5.Do you get stuck to computer desk or stay on-line longer than
originally intended?
6.Have you risked the loss of significant relationship, job,
educational or career opportunity because of the internet?
7.Have you lied to family members, friends or others to hide
the amount of time and the type of activity you do when you use computer or internet?
8.Do you feel irritated and furious when you are criticized for
the overuse of computer or internet by your family members and friends?
9.Do you use the computer or internet as a way of escaping from
problems of life or to get relief from feelings of helplessness, guilt,
anxiety, depression, responsibility?
10.Do you feel thrilled
when you are on-line, chatting, or exploring the Net?
11.Are you or have you
been spending more and more time at computer or on-line?
12.Have you missed
very important duties, assignments or responsible tasks because of the overuse
of computer or internet?
If you have said yes to at least five
questions, then it is not you who are using computer/internet, but the
computer/internet is using you. Learn how to get liberation from its slavery.
[Follow up these lessons till the end of the series.]
An addiction is described as a mental obsession (uncontrolled craving or desire) for something (an object, gadget, behaviour, activity or substance such as alcohol, drug, etc.). It is further described as a compulsive and psychological or physical dependence on something. Addicts usually do anything possible to get/use the substance (alcohol, drug, etc.), or object (mobile phone, internet, etc.) they are addicted to.
Addictions can ruin your life. They will not allow you to live a life with definite aim or purpose. They will steal all your dreams for your future, for your family. In the next articles I give a self-examination test for some of the addictions such as addiction to mobile phone or cell phone, internet, T.V. alcohol, etc.
Are you addicted to mobile phone?
MOBILE PHONE (CELL PHONE) ADDICTION
Read each of the following questions carefully and answer YES or NO to each question honestly. If you answer YES to five or more questions, then you are a mobile phone addict. Remember, if you cheat, you're only cheating yourself.
1.Do you have your cell
phone with you constantly, and feel restless if it is not there right next to
you even while eating, sleeping, attending meetings, praying, playing, etc.?
2.Do you fiddle with your
cell phone whenever you have a little free time, or even when somebody is
talking to you, or when you are attending a meeting?
3.Do you feel the need of
calling someone as soon as you leave the office or home every time?
4.Do you always feel
anxious about your cell phone, especially when you are unable to use it (during
meeting, travel, class, prayer services or worship)?
5.Are you uncomfortable
and fidgety (nervous/restless) when you are not using your cell phone?
6.Do you feel the need to
talk on the phone almost all the time?
7.Do you take frequent
breaks during work in order to talk to someone on the cell phone?
8.Do you usually talk on
your cell phone while driving, walking, working, shopping, etc.?
9.Do you experience high
levels of anxiety, stress, or insecurity whenever you are without your cell
phone in your pocket or bag?
10.Do you sleep with your
cell phone under your pillow or on a stool right next to the bed? Do you think
that you cannot sleep well if that phone is not near you?
11.Do your friends and
family members make fun of you for using the mobile phone too often and for
silly reasons?
12.Do you sometimes
believe your phone is ringing, but when you go to answer it or listen
attentively you find it wasn't ringing at all (known as 'phantom ringing' or a
hallucination)?
13.Has the number of calls
made by you increased significantly day by day?
14.Do you get a shock when
you see the balance in your account zeroing too fast (if pre-paid) or your bill too high (if post-paid)?
15.Are you unable to
resist special offers on the latest cell phone models? Do you go on changing
the models of mobile phones?
16.Have you had problems
at work or school because of your cell phone use; that is did you get any
scolding or warning for its misuse in those places?
17.Do your family members
or friends criticize, joke, scold or forbid your too frequent and reckless use
of mobile phone?
If you have said yes to at least five questions, then it is not you who are using the mobile phone, but the mobile phone is using you. Your greatest possession (mobile phone) is possessing you. You will learn how to get liberation from its slavery, if you follow up these lessons till the end of the series. These articles are adapted from various sources. Share these with all your friends by forwarding them. May the power of God be with you.
THE KANARA MISSION VIS-À-VIS THE TRIBAL MISSION IN ODISHA (ORISSA)
Fr. Freddie Santhumayor SVD
The present diocese of Mangalore is a part of the larger mission called the Kanara Mission, consisting of the former North and South Kanara districts of coastal Karnataka. I, a Mangalorean Catholic now working as an SVD missionary among the tribals of western Orissa, would like to share with you my musings on the history and culture of Kanara Christians and compare them with my present tribal mission.
Tippu Sultan, who was the ruler of Kanara some 200 years ago, suspected that Christians of Kanara were supporting and helping his bitter enemy, the British. So he ordered his troops to round up all the Christians and deport them on foot to Srirangapatanam (261 k.m. from Mangalore) on Ash Wednesday, 24th of February, 1784. On that fateful day, our ancestors began their bitter and agonizing "way of the cross" which lasted for 15 years. Various authorities have put the number of Christians taken into captivity between 30,000 to 50,000. It is said that 75% of Christianity was wiped out from Kanara. 26 churches out of 27 were destroyed by Tippu's troops. All the lands of Christians were distributed to Hindus, Muslims and others. Many died on the way due to illnesses and fatigue. After reaching Srirangapatanam, men were forcibly circumcised and converted to Islam and women were sent to the harem. Quite a few died as martyrs.
While in captivity, our ancestors had no access to either priests or sacraments. They kept up their faith just by secretly praying the rosary. Later on, when Tippu was defeated by the British in 1799 only 10,000 to 15,000 Christians returned to Kanara with empty hands and started their life from scratch. They abjured Islam and returned to the Christian fold.
Though the church was persecuted much more than this from its very birth, there seems to be no parallel to this sort of deportation of a whole community in the history of the church. The only other parallel which comes to my mind is the (in) famous Babylonian Captivity of the Jews for 50 years. As the Jews wept by the rivers of Babylon, as the song goes, when they remembered Zion (Psalm 137), I too am led to reflect on the implications of the bitter agony and persecution of our ancestors to my missionary life in Orissa.
Now in some parts of India, we can see some "Tippu Sultans” just waiting to hit their targets at the next opportune time. You are aware of those forces. A great example is set by the laity of Kanara for us priests and religious missionaries working in North India during these trying times. It gives us a lot inspiration to face persecution courageously, if it will come.
Secondly, just like the Kanara Christians who were Christians for over hundred years only when this deportation and persecution took place, our tribals in Chhotanagpur (to which tribals of western Orissa belong) are also Christians for more or less the same number of years. Naturally, a question comes to my mind whether our tribal Christians will keep up their faith if anti-christian forces will suddenly strike like Tippu Sultan. From the lesson drawn from the Kanara Christians, and also from what happened in Eastern Orissa (namely the persecution in Kandhamal) I firmly believe that most of them will keep up their faith in such an eventuality, though some may relapse. This happened even to Kanara Christians. Some of them became Muslims
and remained in Srirangapatanam after their release. I believe, the present ‘Tippu Sultans’ may persecute Christians, but they will not be able to wipe out Christianity in the tribal or Dalit scoieties. On the contrary more tribals and Dalits will embrace Christianity. But like Kanara christians, some (priests, religious and lay people) may have to die as martyrs. The well known dictum, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of faith" will become true here also!
THE LORD OF HISTORY OR MIGRATION?
Though in Biblical Theology, God is called the Lord of history, in the case of Kanara Christians and tribals he is also the Lord of migration; that is a God who directs migration of people according to his plan. Most of the Mangalorean christians are the descendants of Saraswat Brahmins of Goa who migrated to Kanara after their conversion to Christianity by the Portuguese. It is said that Saraswat Brahmins had settled on the banks of now extinct river Saraswati in Punjab after their migration from Central Asia and later on moved to Trihotrapur in Bihar. After many years again they migrated to Goa and from there a number of them migrated to coastal Maharashtra and Kanara for two reasons: (1) to escape the harassment and threat of the Marathas under Shivaji and his son Sambhaji who used to fight the Portuguese in Goa; and (2) to escape the inquisition imposed by the Portuguese clergy on the new converts for practicing Hindu customs and rituals. After the deportation under Tippu Sultan, some of them settled down in Western Ghats (Chikmangalur), Coorg and Malabar since they didn't want to return to Kanara from Srirangapatanam.
God's ways are mysterious indeed. Since these Saraswat Brahmins came to Goa, they came into contact with Christian faith, and due to historical reasons mentioned above, through them Christianity spread to coastal Maharashtra, Kanara, Chikmangalur, Coorg and some parts of Malabar. The Lord of history used all these migrations and historical events to give us the Good News of Jesus Christ and through us to others.
When I came as a missionary to this tribal belt, I became aware of the fact that the Chhotanagpur tribals are also always on the move. Their history is also full of migrations. Some of them belong to the Austroloid race while some others to the Dravidian. Both these groups arrived in India before the Aryans to which Saraswat and all other Brahmins belong. Since these tribes moved from the Indus river valley to Chhotanagpur, they came into contact with Christianity more than a hundred years ago. From the present Jharkhand many of them moved to Orissa (mostly to Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts). The tribals are still constantly on the move mainly for two reasons: (1) in search of land and (2) due to eviction from their land caused by the setting up of industries and construction of dams. Now they are further spreading towards the central and eastern parts of Orissa. Though this leads to impoverishment and insecurity of tribals, we can observe that this also leads to the spread of Christian faith to other parts of Orissa.
PRESERVATION OR DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE CULTURES?
The missionaries are often accused of destroying native cultures. Though there is some truth in it, there are many examples of preservation and adaptation of local cultures. One of the reasons why the ancestors of the present Mangalorean christians left Goa was to uphold their culture. Due to this they developed their own culture by wonderfully assimilating and adapting Hindu-Christian traditions. Thus the culture of Mangalorean Christians became more indigenous than that of the Goans. Though in liturgy there was hardly any adaptation before Second Vatican Council, in social life there was a lot of it including dress, folksongs, dances, musical instruments and above all, the Konkani language.
Let me cite only three examples : (1) As per the marriage custom of Mangalorean Catholics, both the bride and the bridegroom are anointed with coconut oil and bathed with coconut juice on the eve of their wedding in their respective homes. This ceremony called ‘roce’ (= coconut juice) is conducted by inviting all the relatives and neighbours. It is interesting to note that the same ceremony is repeated on the dead also. They too are anointed with coconut oil and washed with coconut juice while preparing them for funeral. Traditionally the dead too were dressed with the same dress worn on their wedding day. Especially if women died while their husbands were still living, they were dressed with a special pink sari called 'sado' which they wore on their wedding day.
What must be the significance? For the Saraswat Brahmins the coconut tree was like the mythical 'Kalpataru' of paradise, a tree which satisfies all desires and fulfils all needs. Hence the bride and the bridegroom are blessed with the wish that their married life may be fruitful and may all their desires be fulfilled. The dead are also honoured and prepared for another 'wedding'. This is a clear case of christianisation of local custom: as per the biblical symbolism, Christian death is a wedding-feast in heaven. What a rich adaptation!
(2) The Kanara Christians had their own folk dances and folksongs accompanied by a drum called 'gumat'. In addition to the traditional social themes, they added Christian and biblical themes to these folksongs. Similarly, the tribals of Chhotanagpur also have added many Christian and biblical themes to their traditional folksongs and dances accompanied by drums called 'mandar', 'dholki' etc.
(3) The Mangalorean Christians, though settled in South India, don't belong to the Dravidian race of most of the South Indians. Both racially and linguistically they belong to the Indo-Aryan race of most of the North Indians. Their mother-tongue Konkani is derived from the Indo-Aryan languages. But after coming to Kanara they didn't force their language on others; instead they adopted the Tulu language of Dravidian people as lingua franca of social communication. Moreover they liberally borrowed many Tulu and Kannada words and expressions for Konkani language. Now the Mangalorean Konkani is so much mixed with Tulu and Kannada that Goans and Mangaloreans cannot easily understand each other though they speak the same language. Thus the Mangalorean Konkani built a bridge connecting the North and South of India, linking Mangaloreans to both the cultural and linguistic groups.
Due to this, though Konkani lost its purity, it became like an ocean which absorbs water from all rivers. It has even many Portuguese words. Mangalorean Christians follow the three-language formula from childhood: Konkani at home, Tulu in the market or while speaking to non-christians, and Kannada at schools and offices. Thus they become more cosmopolitan in their outlook from childhood itself and get acquainted with the two major language groups of India (Aryan and Dravidian). This is a big advantage for missionaries and job-settlers, since this makes it easy for them to learn other Indian languages from both the major groups. Due to the experience of living with Hindu-Christian and Aryan-Dravidian traditions from childhood, Mangalorean Christians become more receptive to other cultures.
To my great surprise, when I came as a Missionary to this tribal area, here too I found that the three-language formula is operative among the tribals here. They have their own mother-tongues like Oraon, Kharia, Munda, etc. and a lingua franca called Sadri for inter-tribal communication and Oriya in schools/offices. Like Mangalorean Christians, tribals are also acquainted with at least three languages from childhood (sometimes even more than three). They too enjoy the same advantage as Mangaloreans as far as cultural adaptation and learning of new languages is concerned.
It is fitting that we praise and thank the God of history and all cultures, for He has done marvellous deeds for us through the annals of history and cultural patterns of our people. Though the church has done a lot of good to humanity, she has also done some mistakes such as condemning and suppressing all cultural expressions as 'heathen' and devilish practices; hence sinful. This mentality caused so much pain and loss of cultural identity to our ancestors in Goa, tribals in Chhotanagapur and many other natives all over the world. Now the Church has come to the realization of this mistake especially after the Second Vatican Council. May the Lord of history, the Lord of cultures and languages, and above all the Lord of liberation supremely reign over humankind now and for ever.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST WITCHCRAFT OR SORCERY An Anthropological and Christian Perspective Compiled by Fr. Freddie Santhumayor, SVD
Introduction
(1)This
essay on witchcraft and witch-hunting is written as a part of the campaign
against this belief and practice in the light of cases of witch-hunting noticed
within the Christian communities even in modern times, and with the intention
of catechizing our people especially in the Year of Faith.
(2)
Here
witchcraft is treated from anthropological and Christian perspectives and also
as a social evil. It is an ancient
and universal problem, which still survives in some societies in many parts of
the world. . No reference is made to any particular community or tribe/caste. It is left to individual readers to
apply the points and issues discussed here to his/her situation, locality,
community or region.
(3)Though
belief in witchcraft and its practice differs from region to region and culture
to culture, there are many striking
similarities throughout the world (e.g. Latin America, Africa and India). Hence,
all the points discussed here may not be applicable
to your area or locality. You may even notice some elements found in your
locality or area missing in this article. It is left to you to find out which element
applies and which does not.
Who are witches?
Witches
are persons who are supposed to be possessed with the power of evil spirits.
They are believed to cast an evil spell or evil sight from a distance by their
thought or wish. They are said to use their evil power to cause sickness,
misfortune, calamity, infertility and even death, or to cause harm to crops and
cattle. They are supposed to assume animal forms such as a black cat or snake;
to undergo secret training; to gather at graveyard and undress completely, tie
brooms around their waist and dance on new moon night of month; to ‘steal the
heart’ of their victims; etc.
Usually
women (that too widows and unmarried women) are labelled as witches, though in
a few cases men too are branded. “Women who are widowed, infertile, possess
‘ugly’ features or are old, unprotected, poor or socially ostracized are easy
targets,” says Professor Kanchan Mathur, from the Institute of Development
Studies, Jaipur.
What is witchcraft
(sorcery)?
Anthropologists
tell us that witchcraft or sorcery, as people in some societies believe, is a
belief in supernatural power that is inborn in some persons or acquired
(learned) by secret training that enables them to work evil or cast an evil
spell. Some people think that witches can harm simply by thinking evil thought
or by evil sight (Hunter & Whitten 1976:405-406; Kiernan 1987:8).
This
belief was universal before the arrival of Enlightenment, education, science
and modern medical practice. Now in some pockets all over the world it still
strongly survives in spite of scientific and technological developments. The writer
of this essay has discovered that in some areas it still exists even in modern
technologically developed towns and cities and even among some educated people (e.g.
graduates) living there. Why? According to anthropologists, this belief is so
deeply rooted in some societies because it is culturally ingrained (implanted) in those societies. In spite of so
many beautiful aspects of a culture, this one continues to thrive as weed among
wheat.
What is
witch-hunt and who are witch-hunters?
A witch-hunt
is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft,
often involving panic, or mass hysteria.
Witch-hunters are witch-doctors who are believed to have power to detect (spot)
the existence of witches, especially when they are summoned by those who suffer
from illness or misfortune. Some witch-doctors boast of their powers to detect
a witch – but they will only do so ‘for a price.’ For their ‘service’ they need
to be paid with a goat or a fowl, and a bowl of rice-bear or a bottle of
liquor.
Normally
these witch-doctors point a finger at a house saying that people of that house
have cast a spell .If the two parties (families/houses) are already in enmity
and jealousy their desire for retaliation and the declaration of the
witch-doctor makes them confirmed in their ‘faith’ in the existence of a witch.
Then if there was or is a sudden death they begin to say so and so (witch) ‘devoured’
so and so. Both the witch-doctors and the parties who employ them have vested interests
in this belief; the former have business interests and the latter have a desire
to take revenge out of jealousy and fear.
The root-cause of
belief in witchcraft
(1)The root-cause of this belief is the problem of evil in the world. If there
would have been no evil (such as sickness, suffering, calamities, misfortune,
accidents and death), it is certain that there would have been no witches or
evil spirits. The fear of sickness (especially certain mysterious ones),
accidents, unknown future and death has given rise to these beliefs.
(2)This belief is a pre-scientific explanation for the problem of evil. As now, even before
science came into the picture, people always asked: “From where does evil come?
How is it that if God is good, there exists so much destructive evil in the
world and so much unhappiness in the lives of humans?” People of all cultures
and ages, have given their own answers. They came to the conclusion that God is
purely good and that evil comes from another source altogether: the evil spirits.
Further, they concluded, when certain human beings also get possessed by evil spirits they become
witches or sorcerers. Hence, this belief is a result of the universal human tendency (from ancient
days) to attribute evil in the world to the invisible power of evil
spirits/demons and witches. This tendency survives in many societies even now
in post-scientific times.[Why? As you read, you will understand.]
(3)This belief presents a framework to explain random (accidental) misfortunes such as
sickness or death. In some cases, it ‘explains’ why one person is
successful and another is not. Sometimes when two events coincide, people get
confirmed in their belief. For example, consider the story narrated to this writer
by a village leader about a woman who was believed to be a witch and said to be
haunting people at night by appearing in the form of a black cat. One night
people gathered and killed that cat and the woman also happened to die at the
same time. The story of this coincidence
will spread like wild fire to confirm the existence of witches, though in so many other cases when black cats (=
suspected witches in disguise) were killed, no women had died!
(4)People in some societies still believe in
witchcraft due to ignorance, lack of satisfactory
explanation/ knowledge about the causes
of sickness, fear of suffering and calamities. A pregnant woman who fears
that a witch can cast evil eye on the foetus in her womb may unconsciously
transmit that fear to the child. Hence the fear of witches (as well as belief
in their existence) may be carried from womb to tomb.
(5)Some anthropologists hold the view that originally
this belief was a ploy (trick) employed by men to control, subjugate and tame women, especially those who are more
powerful, prosperous, successful, forward-looking, courageous and even too
‘ugly’ or too beautiful among them due to their insecurity feelings. Contrary to its origin, now in some places, it
is widely used by women to suppress other women who are their opponents, or
whose nature/character they dislike, sometimes even out of pure jealousy.
(6)In some societies, labelling a woman as a
witch is a common trick to grab land
and settle scores. Widows who lay claim to their husband’s property may
be accused as witches to compel them
to give up that claim.
(7) In
some cases, when a woman turns down sexual
advances made by or sexual favours
demanded by her male neighbours, she is made to pay a heavy price by labelling
her as a witch.
(8)Quite often this belief becomes an easy weapon in the hands of emotionally
wounded people to chastise (punish) their opponents or to express their anger,
hatred and enmity caused by family feuds, land disputes, etc. Are all those who
are accused really witches?
(9)The
fear of witchcraft is being perpetuated by the vested interests (witch-doctors and neighbours/relatives); by the
former to maintain their business interests and by the latter to take revenge
or to pour out their anger and jealousy. In modern times, it could be used for political purposes in societies where
this belief is strong, to gain votes from the vast majority of witch-accusers
in a particular locality or to put down political opponents (especially women
politicians).
REMEMBER
Misfortunes,
Calamities and Illnesses
+ Ignorance + Fear
+Deep-rooted Belief
+Hatred, jealousy, sexual advances, mentality of persecution, greed, family
feuds, plots to have hold on others, unstable mind, psychological depressions
PRODUCE A WITCH
Thus say anthropologists
and psychiatrists
So which witch are you talking about?
So, are there real
witches?
It is
virtually impossible to prove witchcraft or the existence of witches/sorcerers,
and the truth about all the beliefs/stories about them (including their dance
in the nude), since the powers they claim are both supernatural and shrouded in
secrecy, and cannot be empirically verified. Accusations of practicing witchcraft are many, but persons who claim to
be a real witch are few (Barfield,
1977). Those who accuse also do it more privately and secretly than publicly
for fear of repercussions.
The question is not whether
there are real witches but whether all the women accused to be witches are
really witches or not.
From what is explained above under the subtitle of root-causes of this belief it becomes more and more evident that
witches exist only in mind and heart due to a fear-complex generated by multiplicity
of religious, socio-cultural and psychological factors, and not in reality.
Today, most historians and anthropologists agree that in the past all the
victims (so-called witches) were falsely accused, and the same is true even
today.
There may be cases where
some women probably pretend to be possessed by evil spirits and falsely claim
to be witches. Some people may literally believe their claim. Such women may be
either mentally disturbed or want to seek attention or want to frighten their
opponents and teach them a lesson. But are they real? Johan Weyer, a medical
scientist, and considered to be the father of modern psychiatry, made an
extensive study of witchcraft and sorcery. He revealed in the 16th century
itself that witchcraft and sorcery did not exist. More recently, Dr. H.
Narasimhaiah’s study from NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and
Neuro Sciences, Bangalore)
revealed in unmistakable terms, that witchcraft does not exist at all and it is
nothing but a fear-complex perpetuated by the vested interests and rumours.
Witchcraft as a
social evil
(1)It is a fact that belief in witchcraft dehumanises the vulnerable (especially
the women) in society. Once a woman has been accused of witchcraft inside her
own society, it is difficult for her to ever escape the stigma. She can suffer
severely the rest of her life. For her life becomes a living hell.
(2)It leads to violence against the accused women who are treated, most often falsely,
as anti-social. Branding them as witches can escalate into serious actions such
as their murder, flight to another safe place or suicide out of
depression/tension/frustration. Sometimes the accused women have to undergo
public humiliations such as tonsure (forcible shaving of their hair), stoning,
public beatings, lynching by mobs, parading naked in public and even have their
teeth plucked out. A survey done in 2010 estimates that a total of 2,500 women were
killed as witches in India
in the period of 1995 to 2009.
(3)Under the guise of witchcraft,
widows/elderly/aged/unmarried/infertile women who are the disadvantaged and the
helpless are banished from their
communities. This is also a serious form of gender discrimination of the society. According to Amnesty
International, this discrimination is the root cause of violence against women,
and that impunity (= no fear of punishment) perpetuates violations and abuses.
(4)This belief is also an assault on women’s dignity and human rights. It is
also an injustice and exploitation
against them, especially those who are widowed and helpless. The Commission on
Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), describes this act as an
“atrocious crime” and “very barbaric and one that greatly dims the nation's
human rights record”.
Christian response
to witchcraft in the Year of Faith
A question arises why belief in witchcraft
survives even in Christian communities in some parts of the world in spite of
many years of Christian faith and scientific education. The reason is that it is culturally
transmitted in some societies in a strong manner, and all people in that
society become culturally conditioned by
birth due to a process called enculturation.
According to anthropologists, enculturation is a process by which a child
unconsciously learns one’s own culture, which humanizes the child and makes it
a part of that culture.
Considering
this fact, we should not be surprised if
culture predominates over Christian faith among some Christian Faithful, in spite many years of religious
formation (or faith-formation) and secular education. Instead of condemning
them as people without faith and reason or rational thinking, it is our duty to
deepen our and their faith. Though we can empathize with the reasons behind
this wide-spread belief in some communities, in this Year of Faith we cannot but admit that it is not only a social evil
but also a bloton the Church. The following reflections may help us to
catechize ourselves and others:
(1)According to Christian faith, this belief
directly goes against the First Commandment of God according to which only God has power over life and death. He
has not given that power to any human beings. Belief in witchcraft implies
another supernatural force with almighty powers besides the Supreme God. Evil
spirit under whose power witches are said to inflict misfortune and death are
not to be regarded as a power equal to God. In Christian understanding even
Satan is God's creation, and operates subject to the divine will.
(2)We have to face evil by our faith in the power of the Risen Lord. As per
Christian faith, Jesus has won a victory over Satan (the Evil One). Satan or
Evil Power can do no harm to a fervent believer in Christ. So long as we affirm
our faith in Christ, especially at moments of evil and suffering, there is no
need to fear the influence of the evil forces. Satan or devil exists only as a
powerless force. His ‘battery’ becomes down up to the level of zero power,
provided that we do not ‘recharge’ this battery by cutting ourselves off from
the main ‘transformer’ who is the Risen Lord.
(3)Jesus came to liberate us from the clutches of Satan and other evil forces. In
His time, all people believed that all sicknesses and other natural calamites
were caused by demons or evil spirits. He never discussed whether their belief
was true or not, since science had not yet begun. He worked within their belief
system. His ministry of casting out demons was a sign that he had come to
liberate us from the hold (power) of evil forces on us so that God’s rule may
come among us and Satan’s rule may be destroyed (Mt 12:28). Hence our mission
is to liberate our people from the fear of witchcraft and the rule of evil
powers supposed to be possessed by a witch/sorcerer.
(4)This injustice
and exploitation against women, especially those who are widowed and
helpless is a serious sin against the love of neighbours, since helpless women
are persecuted and quite often baseless stories are spread about them. Can you
imagine their plight? Can you accuse your own mother or sister as a witch? “Do to others as you would have them do to
you” (Lk 6:31). It is high time to admit our failure to practice this
Golden Rule.
(5)Even if one believes that in reality there
are witches (which of course is false), as per Christian charity they are to be pitied rather than hated,
persecuted and condemned to death. If we hate and persecute others, no matter
how evil we perceive them to be, we ourselves are deformed by the same evil. It
is precisely by abandoning Christian
love and compassion that we betray Christ.
(6)This is one of the unjust structures of society that goes against the establishment of
God’s Kingdom. Is it possible to build a just society on hatred that manifests
itself in violence, especially
towards the socially disadvantaged?
(7)Our mission is not to steal, kill and
destroy life but to impart it in abundance (Jn 10:10). We are called to build
or create a culture of life based on
the Kingdom-values of non-violence and justice. Witchcraft and witch-hunts lead
to a culture of violence leading to a culture
of death.
(8)How much suffering is caused to innocent and helpless women who become
victims of somebody’s blind faith, fear, jealousy, enmity, revenge and greed!
We see the crucified image of Christ who was unjustly accused and crucified,
and who died the death of an innocent martyr.
(9)Our faith
is often tested in times of trials, suffering, calamities and death.
According to Christ’s teachings, his disciples have to consider these things as
personal crosses and carry them daily with the aim of participating in His
glory (Mt 16:24). Quite often, instead of accepting and carrying our crosses,
we avoid our crosses and download them on innocent people. For the victims this
situation becomes one of the heaviest crosses.
(10)Christ’s supreme example of taking upon
Himself all our suffering, sorrows, humiliation and even the fate of a criminal’s death is a constant inspiration to
face misfortunes and sorrows. He could have died a natural death and still could have saved us (for
nothing is impossible for God). If He would have done so how could He have become like us in every respect (Heb
4:15)? Since He became like us, He can understand our suffering and is with us to give us strength to
bear them.
How to fight this
social evil?
(1)It is important to educate people and
create awareness among them so that the negative perception of the society
towards suspected witches can change. It is our social and religious duty to
save innocent lives and protect the victims from such atrocities. There is an
urgent need to safeguard human rights of such victims.
(2)It is belief in the power of witchcraft
itself that gives rise to witch-hunts. Hence the best way to stop witch-hunts
is to eradicate the belief in witchcraft. This is a tough task since it is so
deeply rooted due to enculturation. Suppose a person believes in his/her heart
of hearts in the existence of witches, how can that person speak strongly
against their existence?
(3)When the case goes out of hands, and cannot
be solved within the community, the victims are left with no other option than
to take to the streets and assert their rights in non-violent ways. There
should be an ‘opposition party’ (= people who support the victimized women) to
oppose the ‘ruling party’ (= the witch-doctors and accusers or leaders who lead
the campaign against so-called witches).
(4)Sometimes the ‘ruling party’ may threaten
others of dire consequences if their decision to punish the witch is not
obeyed. In that case, when all attempts to solve the problem within the
community fail, the victims should not hesitate to take recourse to the law-enforcing
machinery, or report the matter to the District Women’s Commission or Human
Rights Commission to get protection for themselves. Women’s organizations (both in the Church and
civil society) must support and help such victims. Our silence may perpetuate
this atrocity.
(5)Within the Christian community, it is very
important to deepen people’s faith in God’s providential care and in the Risen
Lord’s power over evil forces. Both the Church leaders and Christian parents
must insist on systematic and on-going catechesis from early childhood onwards,
and should not evade this responsibility.
(6)It is time to challenge the view of some charismatic prayer and healing groups or individual preachers within the Catholic
Church who propagate that a particular sickness is caused by the spell of a
witch or is a consequence of the items
of spirit-worship buried inside the house ( by ancestors. Out of respect for religious
sentiments and faith, many of us cultivate a culture of silence. Our silence
may aggravate this social evil. (7) We can try to reconcile families living in
enmity in the neighbourhood. This writer has observed that in a village where
he worked for reconciliation between families, gradually whispers of labelling
a particular woman as witch died down. (8)If possible, we can challenge (if not
directly, through others) ‘witch-doctors and some medicine-men who often spread
this belief among the people by pointing a finger on innocent women or families. (9)In
our health camps we need to explain the scientific causes of sickness and
calamities. We need to convince the people that it is viruses and bacteria
which cause diseases an
d not the spell of witches, and explain how diseases are
spread through air, water, food, etc.
[Forward this to as many persons as possible in your contact especially in those areas and human societies where this belief is prevalent.] Also visit for Sunday Reflections: http://freddielifepromotion.blogspot.in/, http://lordsday-joymaveli.blogspot.in/, http://sundayseeds23.blogspot.in/
