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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 10 page research paper which examines magical belief systems from an anthropological standpoint. The writer discusses the prevailing theories in this regard and demonstrates how magical beliefs perform certain concrete functions within the societies where this is prevalent. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Page Count:
10 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_Whypeop.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
when anthropologists turn their attentions to what are considered to be primitive, tribal societies in Africa; however, what is even more intriguing is that a firm belief in magic has
persisted in these countries even when the populace has developed the outer trappings of Western civilization. Additionally, magical belief systems attract converts from among Western cultures. Why? What purpose does
magic fulfill that its cousins science and religion do not? Anthropologists have been researching this question. The typical explanation for why people believe in magic and witchcraft is that
in pre-scientific, low technological oriented societies, there arent many ways to explain the effects of illness and misfortune. This, however, doesnt answer the question of why these beliefs persist in
a Africas cities where Western technology and science are available to offer more rational explanations. Some researchers feel that the answer lies in that these age-old beliefs offer an answer
to the fundamental problem of evil that makes more sense to Africans then the Western worldview (Kahl, 1996). As parts of Africa begin to resemble industrialized Western countries, in
the shadows of skyscrapers amidst computers and fax machines, millions of Africans still firmly believe in the existence of witches. A typical case is that of Muiva Ndambuki, a Kenyan
carpenter and father of eight, who believed an illness he suffered in 1994 was due to the jealousy of a colleague (Kahl, 1996). Sophisticated politicians suspect a colleague of
witchcraft when they lose an election and rich businessmen have their products "protected" by diviners (Kahl). People of every religious faith are careful regarding their hair and nail clippings because
these could be used against them by a witch. A partial explanation to these phenomena begins to emerge after taking a brief overview of this fascinating field of study.
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