Donald Lewis posted in Correllian Membership Department Hub https://facebook/n/?profile.php&id=597133975&aref=328810305&medium=email&mid=b239c15G27784b2fG13993f41G96G5172&bcode=1.1421450994.AblO3i0jKx5RVYjE&n_m=windy0716@aol Donald Lewis 6:29pm Jan 16 RESPONSE TO ARTICLE ON TANZANIAN WITCHCRAFT KILLINGS Recently an article appeared in Design & Trend that appears to link Wicca and me specifically, Rev. Don Lewis, to African “Muti”. (designntrend/articles/34945/20150114/witch-doctors-banned-tanzania-albino-killings.htm) Muti is a kind of black magic that supposedly utilizes human body parts, the body parts being obtained through murder. The article discussed a move by the Tanzanian government to outlaw all “Witch Doctors” because a few are alleged to engage in Muti, and featured a prominent photo of myself. Allegedly Tanzanian Witch Doctors have been kidnapping and murdering albinos to use their body parts in Muti. For anyone who doesnt know me, I am the Chancellor of the Correllian Tradition of Wicca, and Co-Founder of Witch School where I currently serve as Head of Correllian Studies. Both of these are global organizations with members around the world. Now let me say first that I am definitely not in the habit of hunting down albinos or anyone else for their body parts. I do not practice or approve of Muti magic -and to be honest I am not at all sure that I believe anyone actually does either. Remembering the Satanic Panic, in which false charges spread like wildfire because people wanted to believe them, I am all too aware that people will believe things that are unlikely or even impossible if it fits their preconceived prejudices. Therefor I am not at all sure that Muti exists as anything more than folklore and a mythic bogeyman -but even if it does, traditional African healers, or Witch Doctors if you must, are very clear in regarding Muti as a rogue practice which they condemn. Therefor I question whether the Tanzanian government outlawing all traditional healers because of these allegations is the result of a real situation at all, or has been instigated by missionary interests -like the “Kill the Gays” bill in Uganda. But in any event Muti is certainly not a practice which, even if it were real, is associated with Wicca. Now you might think that I am being silly to respond to this at all, but in fact I have an important reason. I have never set foot in Tanzania. However Witch School does have a number of members in Tanzania, as does the Correllian Tradition. It is our African members I am concerned about. Wicca is a modern global religion whose members certainly do not do things like “Muti”. Our highest law is Do As You Will But Harm None and we strongly condemn any practice that involves harming people in any way. We believe in the sacredness of the Earth and of all life. Unfortunately Wicca is not always well understood by the wider society. An article such as this, falsely linking our faith to this horrendous practice, could seriously endanger our people in Tanzania or elsewhere in Africa. Now why would my picture of all pictures be used in this article? Why use a picture of an American Witch in an article about African Witch Doctors? Well, again, Witch School and the Correllian Tradition both have a significant presence in Africa -enough of a presence that we held the Correllian Lustration of the Ancestors in Africa in 2013. We had a pretty good turn out, too. Some of our members in Africa have also studied African Traditional healing, though not so far as I know, in Tanzania. But there is also another possible reason for using my picture, and it puts the entire matter in a different light. I have been rather outspoken for a number of years in condemning the Witch Hunts that have plagued Africa, and especially American evangelical churches that support them financially. Witch hunts have been a huge problem in Africa for many years now. Accusations of “Witchcraft” are frequent and usually have little or nothing to do with any actual practices of those accused. In fact many of those who have been accused were children. Violence against people accused of “Witchcraft” is endemic in many regions, and often results in the murder of those accused. Witch Hunters such as Helen Ukpabio prey upon the fears and folk beliefs of the region as well fraudulent ideas borrowed from the Satanic Panic to incite violence from which they in turn frequently profit financially. These accusations are usually grounded in fantasy, but result in real world tragedy. Moreover, the African Witch Hunts bear a strong similarity to the US Satanic Panic, especially in Ukpabios ministry which makes extensive use of video offering and “real life stories” and personal “testimonies”. As in the Satanic Panic these “testimonies” go beyond merely straining credibility and frequently feature impossible scenarios. Ukpabio and other Witch Hunters are frequent speakers at religious extremist churches and organizations in the US, and make millions in contributions here. The move to outlaw all traditional healers in Tanzania certainly dovetails with Christian Dominionist goals – and I cannot help but think that an article linking that move to a prominent American critic is more than an accident. I specifically denounce the practice of Muti, if it exists, as well as any other practice grounded in harming people. I extend my sympathy and support to the albinos of Tanzania. I also extend my sympathy and support to the legitimate traditional healers of Tanzania, since Muti -if it does exist- is not a part of their traditional practice either and is condemned by them as well. And I ask Design & Trend and any other publications running this or similar articles linking me to the situation to make a retraction clarifying the matter. Blessings to all, Rev. Don Lewis l.facebook/l/-AQEgINmRAQHb_ge40zMnZ4HmY71IuOrmszTX4vWEq0lj2A/designntrend/articles/34945/20150114/witch-doctors-banned-tanzania-albino-killings.htm Witch Doctors Banned In Tanzania Because Of Albino Killingsdesignntrend The Tanzanian government has recently banned witch doctors as a result of numerous attacks and murde...
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 01:08:06 +0000