|
Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Alternative belief systems > Occult studies > Witchcraft
In this sensitive and personal investigation into Benin's occult
world, Douglas J. Falen wrestles with the challenges of
encountering a reality in which magic, science, and the Vodun
religion converge into a single universal force. He takes seriously
his Beninese interlocutors' insistence that the indigenous
phenomenon known as aze ("witchcraft") is an African science,
credited with fantastic and productive deeds, such as teleportation
and supernatural healing. Although the Beninese understanding of
aze reflects positive scientific properties in its use of
specialized knowledge to harness nature's energy and realize
economic success, its boundless power is inherently ambivalent
because it can corrupt its users, who dispense death and
destruction. Witches and healers are equivalent to supervillains
and superheroes, locked in epic battles over malevolent and
benevolent human desires. Beninese people's discourse about such
mystical confrontations expresses a philosophy of moral duality and
cosmic balance. Falen demonstrates how a deep engagement with
another lived reality opens our minds and contributes to
understanding across cultural difference.
Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand witchcraft
branding as a contemporary form of child abuse. Witchcraft
accusations against children are occurring ever more frequently in
the UK yet continue to be underestimated by social work
professionals. This concise book provides a personal narrative of
witchcraft being used as a tool for the infliction of child abuse.
The narrative is interspersed with reflective questions, practice
dilemmas and relevant links to contemporary policy and practice in
social work. Written in an accessible style, it gives an honest
insider's perspective of the unusual form of cruelty and abuse
suffered by children in minority communities in the UK. For those
embarking on or already in a career in social work, this book is an
invaluable read.
|
You may like...
The Burnings
Naomi Kelsey
Hardcover
R354
Discovery Miles 3 540
|