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I would like to organize a panel on the topic of “Witchcraft accusations and Christianity: Syncretisms and Synergies” for the Society for the Anthropology of Religion Biannual Conference April 12-14, 2013 in Pasadena. The following is an initial draft of what the panel might cover:
In many regions of the world historically studied by anthropologists, older ideologies and practices related to witchcraft accusations are being reinvigorated, in part by being reshaped into new and more “Christian” forms. As witch ideologies are reconfigured synergistically to incorporate Christian ideas of Satan, demons, and exorcism, and as Christian pastors themselves increasingly replace “pagan” diviners and “witchdoctors” as primary “carriers” of the new ideologies and divinatory/accusatory practices, witch ideologies and accusations become increasingly central to Christian communities and to Christian orthodoxies. New patterns (where orphan children are accused of being witches for example, or where exorcism is deemed the appropriate treatment for the witch) are developing. Although there is not a single instance in the Bible where one person's affliction is attributed to another person acting through evil occult means, a significant percentage of Christian leaders in many parts of Africa or New Guinea affirm that misfortunes are caused by people in their midst (the elderly, widows, orphans) who are secretly witches acting supernaturally to bring harm. Disbelieving this is tantamount to disbelieving in God, for many Christians, as it was for John Wesley. In many cases Christian leaders and institutions contribute to the labeling of children, old widows, and others as witches, often with severe social consequences. Of course churches often also attempt to play roles which protect the accused. There is no single pattern in the churches. This panel will explore “syncretisms and synergies” between pre-Christian witchcraft ideologies and practices and contemporary Christian ideologies and practices related to witchcraft.
If you are interested in submitting a paper proposal for this panel, please email a one-page paper proposal with your name, academic affiliation, and email to Robert J. Priest by the deadline:
January 11, 2013
Email: [log in to unmask]
All the best,
Robert J. Priest, Professor Mission and Anthropology
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
P.S. If you want to see a sample of my own writing on the topic, see my review of Adam Ashforth’s book Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in South Africa.
http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2009/novdec/witchesandtheproblemofevil.html
My own fieldwork with the Aguaruna of Peru included some focus on this topic, and I am currently collaborating in research on the topic of the panel with others in several African countries.
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