Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju,
For me, there is the Shekinah and that is sufficient. On Friday evenings Lecha Dodi is sung to welcome the Sabbath Bride! (N.B. people don't get married on or during the Sabbath)
Otherwise, I doff my hat to you, for those questions about which the enquirer is himself much more knowledge-able than I am.
Without going into any long-winded mode, I'd say outright that I don't know so much about the African nature religions, a world inhabited by various spirits, "superstition and unverified claims" or that Witchcraft - such as Wicca exists "in the African sense" – but then again, I know next to nothing about either Wicca or what's known as "African witchcraft". Is it about getting close to God? I have not read or studied any of its scriptures or practical manuals so I wouldn't know if it has the same aims as Kashmir Shaivism, or Tibetan Buddhism or Sufism with which I have been much more practically acquainted. I mention Kashmir Shaivism - and by extension, Tibetan Buddhism and Sufism because in his "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" ( with chapters on "The Power of the Pagan gods; Hinduism's Assault Upon Christianity" and in the other chapters in that book) the late Christian Eastern Orthodox Father Seraphim Rose is unequivocal when he says that the Eastern Orthodox church has a monopoly of the holy spirit and that any other spirit or spirits operating outside of the auspices of the Eastern Orthodox Church, cannot be the real Holy Spirit.
Rabbi Yaakov Hillel makes similar exclusive claims for the Holy Spirit which operates among the chosen people, in his Faith and Folly: The Occult in Torah Perspective
From that point of view, should I wish you the best of luck and Godspeed when you "aspire to such visibility for African witchcraft" since your exposé could sound the alarm…
P.s Yes, Benedictus Erectus did say that Africa must be cured of Witchcraft!
On Saturday, 23 November 2019 13:47:44 UTC+1, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:
Cornelius,Does witchcraft in the African sense really exist?To what degree is most of it not superstition and unverified claims?On the Pope's comment, I wonder if you could give a credible source to what I understand as such an unlikely comment from the Pope.The West, where the Pope comes from, has the world's most highly developed witchcraft culture, a culture whose history, representatives and texts are in public view and which is the subject of an academic industry.I aspire to such visibility for African witchcraft.Western magic is also one of the best developed in the world, its history well documented, generating a large publishing industry and central to scholarship in various disciplines.thankstoyinOn Sat, 23 Nov 2019 at 01:31, Cornelius Hamelberg <cornelius...@gmail.com> wrote:--About Pope Benedict's 2009 Africa visit, I do recall this one-liner: "He made one important announcement for a continent crippled with the doctrines of bankism, poverty, genocide, and sexual anarchy with its pandemic disease. Africa, he declared, had to cure itself of witchcraft and the practices of magic." (Papal Bull)
My understanding is that "Witchcraft" is not and cannot be good. For those who have beliefs to the contrary, the fact is that they (Witchcraft) could have developed a lot during the past decade; however, how that could have contributed or is contributing to Africa's spiritual and material well-being or progress is possibly on the agenda of this conference/coven of wizards and witches that is being convened.
Recently I have read quite a bit of Fr. Seraphim Rose on witchcraft, demons and evil spirits
His short essay found here under the heading " The Rise of Witchcraft" should be sufficient, serious warning ( to the wise)
It is understandable and it is to be expected that some of Church clergy and the Nigerian pastors' objections will be based on what is written in the Bible that says "You shall not allow a sorceress to live."
If this conference was going to be held in the type of theocracy that would take the Biblical injunction seriously, then the participants, especially the practitioners ( not the mere theoreticians or teachers and researchers) would be well advised to not even go near the venue lest they be rounded up and lined up for execution. But Nigeria is no such theocracy and at least, Nigeria's criminal code guarantees those attending the conference some material protection and some freedom of speech ( the pastors can exorcise demons but a child cannot be accused of witchcraft)
On Friday, 22 November 2019 16:07:58 UTC+1, Ibrahim Abdullah wrote:So the church should determine our research projects? Insane—back to the Middle Ages!Sent from my iPhoneOn 22 Nov 2019, at 2:40 PM, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju <toyin....@gmail.com> wrote:--
"But the President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Chimezie Fortunatus, who spoke to The Guardian on the issue expressed that contrary to various opinions on the upcoming conference on witchcraft, he believes the academia should be open to any form of discussion. "I do not see anything wrong with the proposed topic of discussion, it is supposed to increase our knowledge on the topic and not promote its practice. We are in a learning environment and are supposed to be open to anything new," he said."
Setting agenda for UNN's witchcraft conference
UNN cancels venue for conference on witchcraft
Does this last report mean the venue has been changed but the conference proceeds?
One account is stating the conference has been cancelled.
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