6.26.2008
A Victory for South African Pagans and Traditional Healers
Word has come in from South Africa that the controversial Witchcraft Suppression Bill of 2007 has been put on hold "until further notice".
"Mpumalanga healers and pagans have been given a new lease of life after the Witchcraft Suppression Bill was put on hold. The proposed bill by the department of local government, which came under fire last year from various stakeholders, was put on hold yesterday. The department of local government said it had put the drafting of the bill of 2007 on hold “until further notice”. The department was mandated by the provincial executive council to prepare a bill which seeks to address high levels of violence in Mpumalanga linked to allegations of witchcraft."
The bill, which in theory was supposed to suppress violence against accused "witches" (an ongoing problem in many African nations), instead caused an uproar among modern Pagans and various traditional healers due to its overly vague language (and trying to "solve" the problem by essentially blaming the victims).
"...Witches themselves need protection from violent attack, Sapra said. "Practitioners of natural magic (witchcraft) throughout the country have rallied together to oppose the passage of the proposed Mpumalanga Witchcraft Suppression Bill on the grounds that the bill will criminalize men and women who practice witchcraft or who claim to be witches," Sapra convener Damon Leff said. Sapra has even submitted an alternative bill - the Mpumalanga Witchcraft Protection Bill - for the Mpumalanga Legislature to consider instead ... Potgieter said those who attacked people they accused of being witches were the criminal element that needed addressing, not witches themselves. She warned that the bill also affected traditional healers and "disempowered" them."
Government spokesperson Simphiwe Kunene says that further consultation and research is needed before any bill addressing witchcraft in South Africa can go forward. Kunene is hoping that affected groups won't "go to the media" when "certain matters" are raised with them in the near future (though "going to the media" is what stopped this bad bill from going forward). This is a major victory for South African Pagans, and a groundbreaking instance of cooperation with traditional religionists in the region.
Though witch-killings in places like Africa and India aren't aimed at practitioners of modern Paganism, it is slowing becoming a Pagan issue as we spread and grow in areas affected by this violent hysteria. While Pagans (ancient and modern) may never have truly suffered from the "burning times" of Early Modern Europe, we may soon find ourselves on the front lines of attempts to stem the tide of modern-day witch hysteria.
Labels: indigenous, law, Paganism, South Africa, The Burning Times, Witch Killings, Witchcraft
Comments:
What do you mean
"While Pagans (ancient and modern) may never have truly suffered from the "burning times" of Early Modern Europe," ????????
It's my understanding that folks are realizing that the ## are much lower than we used to think: the Burning Times DID happen. The Inquisition WAS real.
Even if it were only one person who was Put To The Question........
it is really frightening to read someone say "may never have truly suffered". What by your definition, then is Truly Suffering?
I think what he means is, those people who were Put To The Question were almost certainly Christians who were falsely accused, not actual witches or pagans of any sort. Not that nobody truly suffered, but that 'we' didn't.
What do traditional African pagans believe in, and what are their practices?
I really want to know. I'm sure that they have knowledge that would be useful to Pagans in the modern world.
"The Inquisition WAS real."
Indeed it was, and the Jews and Christians who suffered under it should be remembered. However, no hard evidence has been produced that any pagans (ancient or modern) were eliminated during this madness.
African "pagans" (they don't identify themselves as pagan) have a strong belief in the ancestors, who are seen as a link to their past, their future, and their concept of god. Try searching for "sangoma" (southern African shamans) on wikipedia and go from there; unfortunately I don't have specific links.
Thanks for covering this good news.
For a factual examination of ongoing 'Witch-hunts' in South Africa please read 'A Pagan Witches TouchStone'.
You can download a free copy of my book here:
http://www.paganrightsalliance.org/A%20Pagan%20Witches%20Touchstone.pdf
Damon Leff
South African Pagan Rights Alliance
www.paganrightsalliance.org
Thanks for sharing this information - the statement "While Pagans (ancient and modern) may never have truly suffered from the "burning times" of Early Modern Europe" does throw up an interesting debate. How many of us take for granted what portions of history actually happened? I for one until a few years ago assumed that there was an historical Jesus. I have to admit I have never researched the 'Burning Times' but I think I will probably now do some research, and I urge others to do the same.
Post a Comment
What do you mean
"While Pagans (ancient and modern) may never have truly suffered from the "burning times" of Early Modern Europe," ????????
It's my understanding that folks are realizing that the ## are much lower than we used to think: the Burning Times DID happen. The Inquisition WAS real.
Even if it were only one person who was Put To The Question........
it is really frightening to read someone say "may never have truly suffered". What by your definition, then is Truly Suffering?
I think what he means is, those people who were Put To The Question were almost certainly Christians who were falsely accused, not actual witches or pagans of any sort. Not that nobody truly suffered, but that 'we' didn't.
What do traditional African pagans believe in, and what are their practices?
I really want to know. I'm sure that they have knowledge that would be useful to Pagans in the modern world.
"The Inquisition WAS real."
Indeed it was, and the Jews and Christians who suffered under it should be remembered. However, no hard evidence has been produced that any pagans (ancient or modern) were eliminated during this madness.
African "pagans" (they don't identify themselves as pagan) have a strong belief in the ancestors, who are seen as a link to their past, their future, and their concept of god. Try searching for "sangoma" (southern African shamans) on wikipedia and go from there; unfortunately I don't have specific links.
Thanks for covering this good news.
For a factual examination of ongoing 'Witch-hunts' in South Africa please read 'A Pagan Witches TouchStone'.
You can download a free copy of my book here:
http://www.paganrightsalliance.org/A%20Pagan%20Witches%20Touchstone.pdf
Damon Leff
South African Pagan Rights Alliance
www.paganrightsalliance.org
Thanks for sharing this information - the statement "While Pagans (ancient and modern) may never have truly suffered from the "burning times" of Early Modern Europe" does throw up an interesting debate. How many of us take for granted what portions of history actually happened? I for one until a few years ago assumed that there was an historical Jesus. I have to admit I have never researched the 'Burning Times' but I think I will probably now do some research, and I urge others to do the same.
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