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Krishna: Witchcraft is superstition, pure and simple!

No two things could be further apart, seemingly, than demonology and science. Because there is no evidence for the former to exist (3).

Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. Anthropologists have applied the term "witchcraft" to similar beliefs and occult practices.

Numerous studies conducted around the world have documented people's beliefs in witchcraft - the idea that certain individuals have supernatural abilities to inflict harm.

Witchcraft beliefs appear to exist around the world but vary substantially between countries and within world regions. For instance, 9 percent of participants in Sweden reported belief in witchcraft, compared to 90 percent in Tunisia (1).

Witchcraft beliefs differ between countries according to various cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. For instance, witchcraft beliefs are linked to weak institutions, low levels of social trust, and low innovation, as well as conformist culture and higher levels of in-group bias -- the tendency for people to favor others who are similar to them (1,2).

While beliefs cut across socio-demographic groups, people with higher levels of education and economic security are less likely to believe in witchcraft.

Contemporary witchcraft beliefs worldwide

A 2022 study found that belief in witchcraft is still widespread in some parts of the world. It found that belief in witchcraft varied from 9% of people in some countries to 90% in others, and was linked to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Stronger belief in witchcraft correlated with poorer economic development, weak institutions, lower levels of education, lower life expectancy, lower life satisfaction, and high religiosity.(4,5)

It contrasted two hypotheses about future changes in witchcraft belief:(5)

Witchcraft beliefs should decline "in the process of development due to improved security and health, lower exposure to shocks, spread of education and scientific approach to explaining life events" according to standard modernization theory
Some aspects of development, namely rising inequality, globalization, technological change, and migration, may instead revive witchcraft beliefs by disrupting established social order- according to literature largely inspired by observations from Sub-Saharan Africa.

When there is no evidence that these magical things happen or people can be harmed, it is superstition. When it is superstition, invoking supernatural or something in the belief system is natural.

A religion is a set of ritual acts and practices invoking or calling up the divine. By that definition, Wicca is undoubtedly a religion, according to some. Wicca is a surprisingly modern religion that draws on some ancient ideas.

It delves and thrives in the cults or religious arena.

Beliefs, certain cultural, and traditional practices can be considered pseudoscience. Pseudoscience is of science works with facts, pseudoscience works with opinion. Good science is always peer reviewed prior publication, while pseudoscience is almost never checked and is simultaneously published for the public. Pseudoscience is false science that with acquired skills makes the public fall for it and start believing in it as it targets one’s emotions and needs.ten vague, exaggerated and lacks the ability of evaluation. Good science on the other hand, is one that follows the scientific method checklist. Good science could be measured, tested, evidence based and therefore it is valid and reliable.

While goodience works with facts, pseudoscience works with opinion. Good science is always peer reviewed prior publication, while pseudoscience is almost never checked and is simultaneously published for the public. Pseudoscience is false science that with acquired skills makes the public fall for it and start believing in it as it targets one’s emotions and needs.

Black magic/witchcraft works only on mentally weak people, not because it actually works but because it affects their psychology. When you think it is working, you get scared, worried, get depressed and think everything negative happening in your life is because of it.

If somebody can control your mind and life like that it is because you showed them your weaknesses and vulnerability. Fear, uncertainty, greed and jealousy and of course ignorance are these deficiencies in your mental make up.

Just a few mantras, lemon and chilies or some kumkum and haldi or a doll or a few neem leaves or candle magic, ladders , poppets, cannot do any harm to anybody. A person who cannot control his own destiny cannot do any harm to others. No person has such supernatural powers as to cause harm to others just by wishful thinking. Realize that. Then nothing or nobody can affect you.

The nocebo effect has been seen in clinical trials. The opposite of the placebo effect, the nocebo effect can cause patients to develop symptoms when told they may be a side-effect of a possibly harmless drug. This may explain how a curse or some strange cult processes could have a real effect.(6)

Some people try to earn money by cheating people and telling them they can do black magic/witchcraft on others. If you are a sucker, you believe them.

Science doesn’t accept black magic/witchcraft because there is no such thing actually. It just is a superstition. Your baseless belief that is effecting you mentally because you are not strong. So stop believing in it if you don't want it to work psychologically.

It's nonsense, obviously. Well, perhaps not complete nonsense. But definitely something for the funny folk who blindly believe in it. So debates as to whether magic is a psychological or supernatural power, or a bit of both go on forever. Parapsychology exists for these people! Even now, in our scientific age, we can't quite make up our minds about The Craft. Strange!

Because magic connects with people on some ancient level. It's like a race memory almost. It hits the primitive part of our minds. People who cannot analyse things in a modern scientific way, fall for it easily. And Wiccans simply harness and develop the parapsychological techniques to earn money and magical fame.

Therefore, despite ritual abuse "has never been substantiated by empirical evidence", a part of the public remains willing to lump witchcraft. And kill people too because of these strange beliefs! Harry Potter series sells like hell!

Okay, this is a science space, so we deal with science here. Witchcraft has no evidence and therefore doesn’t exist for the world of science. Period!

Footnotes:

  1. Witchcraft beliefs are widespread, highly variable around the world...
  2. http://Boris Gershman. Witchcraft beliefs around the world: An exploratory analysis. PLOS ONE, 2022; 17 (11): e0276872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
  3. Witchcraft and Science
  4. http://Witchcraft beliefs are widespread, highly variable around the world". Public Library of Science via phys.org. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  5. http://Gershman, Boris (23 November 2022). "Witchcraft beliefs around the world: An exploratory analysis". PLOS ONE. 17 (11): e0276872. Bibcode:2022PLoSO..1776872G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276872. PMC 9683553. PMID 36417350.
  6. Qs people asked me on science and my replies to them - part 118- bl...

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