A mixture of fundie christianity and traditional beliefs in Nigeria. The Niger delta has more churches than anywhere else in the world.
I was going to quote some paragraphs but it is all relevant and all horrific. Easier if you follow the link and read the story.
This was a money quote though:
"putting a traditional religion together with Christian religion - and it makes nonsense out of it"
No I'll think you'll find it was a nonsense already.
The documentary Dispatches Special: Saving Africa's Witch Children will be shown on Channel 4 (UK television channel)on Wednesday, 12 November, at 9pm (GMT)
Hopefully it will be accessible afterwards on their wensite channel4.com
Posts
Horrible.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder, also, if this is the kind of "witchcraft" that African pastor was praying for Sarah Palin to be protected from.
ReplyDeleteGood point Kelly.
ReplyDeleteI'd say yes, it is.
kelly r. said...
ReplyDeleteI can't help but wonder, also, if this is the kind of "witchcraft" that African pastor was praying for Sarah Palin to be protected from.
The witchcraft on the continent of Alaska is slightly different than that in the country of Africa but they're all in cahoots.
Nice Craig.
ReplyDeleteNigeria is highly religious and still stuck for the most part in the dark ages. Which is sad as it could be a prosperous nation. They have a good supply of oil in their country but the government is so corrupt and the communities are so superstitious, it is going to take a lot for them to get out of it.
I also believe Nigeria is more Muslim than Christian. In fact the northern provinces are under shiria law.
I wonder what scripture they use to justify their actions there...
ReplyDeleteAny one seen any other articles/interviews?
rob,
ReplyDeletethis somewhat answers your question: "‘The more children the pastor declares witches, the more famous he gets and the more money he can make,’ he says. ‘The parents are asked for so much money that they will pay in instalments or perhaps sell their property. This is not what churches should be doing.’
Although old tribal beliefs in witch doctors are not so deeply buried in people’s memories, and although there had been indigenous Christians in Nigeria since the 19th century, it is American and Scottish Pentecostal and evangelical missionaries of the past 50 years who have shaped these fanatical beliefs. Evil spirits, satanic possessions and miracles can be found aplenty in the Bible, references to killing witches turn up in Exodus, Deuteronomy and Galatians, and literal interpretation of scriptures is a popular crowd-pleaser.
Pastor Joe Ita is the preacher at Liberty Gospel Church in nearby Eket. ‘We base our faith on the Bible, we are led by the holy spirit and we have a programme of exposing false religion and sorcery.’ Soft of voice and in his smart suit and tie, his church is being painted and he apologises for having to sit outside near his shiny new Audi to talk. There are nearly 60 branches of Liberty Gospel across the Niger Delta. It was started by a local woman, mother-of-two Helen Ukpabio, whose luxurious house and expensive white Humvee are much admired in the city of Calabar where she now lives. Many people in this area credit the popular evangelical DVDs she produces and stars in with helping to spread the child witch belief." (from the next link below)
This stuff is especially hard to stomach:
http://www.blacksunjournal.com/religion-inspired-murders/1163_children-are-targets-of-nigerian-witch-hunt_2007.html
"My youngest brother died. The pastor told my mother it was because I was a witch. Three men came to my house. I didn’t know these men. My mother left the house. Left these men. They beat me.’ She pushes her fists under her chin to show how her father lay, stretched out on his stomach on the floor of their hut, watching. After the beating there was a trip to the church for ‘a deliverance."
Picking some details, here are a few of the things mentioned: poisonous ‘asiri’ berries, boiling water, caustic soda, petrol, nails, machetes, live burial, flogging. All apparently done with consent from the top of the clergy and executed by parents and church elders.
http://www.atheistvolunteers.org/node/25
"...February 2007. A mob of Christian youths from their village in Nigeria, who had somehow come to the conclusion that the Kasalis* were witches, descended upon their home, destroying everything in their path, and beat Mr. Kasali* severely on the head.
If not for prompt intervention by the traditional ruler of the village (who is coincidentally the Chair of our affiliate, Nigerian Humanist Movement) and local police, the family's school-age children would undoubtedly now be orphans. The mob had intended to hang the parents, and burn them with gasoline and rubber tires."
If I'm not mistaken, the pastor that prayed over Sarah Palin got his witch hunting start by ferreting out a woman who lived near a intersection where a lot of traffic accidents had been occurring. Naturally, she was a witch and had been causing the accidents. Palin was the main reason I voted against McCain.
ReplyDeleteFor the record. I was listening to WOTM radio around the time the Palin "protection" videos were surfacing. Todd was defending it since those criticizing weren't aware of demons running amok in Africa. Those crazy Africans with their Witchdoctors and such. Send more bibles.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness to Todd, I doubt he was aware of the situation described in Nigeria but if you condone a little crazy it's not a big leap to real crazy. If you think it doesn't happen here (U.S.) look into exorcisms in America. Kids being suffocated, tortured and killed.
I hope this program gets aired here. Unless it's a fetus, it doesn't merit attention from some of the fundies.
Interesting concept craig. Protect the fetus and beat the child.
ReplyDeleteI watched bits of the programme on channel 4 (UK) on Thursday I think, it was so horrible I could not watch all of it. This practise has nothing to do with Christianity.It makes me angry that the name of Christ was even mentioned in this horrible disgusting evil practise of this conspicious Child Abuse. Now that is Child Abuse! And if those people who use witchcraft as an excuse to abuse children do not repent from their wickedness they are going to Hell. They will not escape the judgement of God. To think they choose to use the name of Christ in all this is appalling! Channel 4 (UK) is anti- Christ. It does a good job discrediting Christianiy.
ReplyDelete