Child witches in Nigeria and Christian responses

[Steve Hayes]

In some of the poorest parts of Nigeria, where evangelical religious fervour
is combined with a belief in sorcery and black magic, many thousands of
children are being blamed for catastrophes, death and famine - and branded
witches by powerful pastors. These children are then abandoned, tortured,
starved and murdered - all in the name of Jesus Christ.

See full report here:

http://tinyurl.com/6xunpv

I would like to know if anyone is doing any research into this phenomenon, on
the origins and spread of these beliefs, and who is holding and propagating
them.

This appears to be a fairly new phenomenon, but is spreading rapidly through
neopentecostal churches. Media reports, however, are rather uninformative.

I've blogged about it here:

http://methodius.blogspot.com/2008/11/saving-africas-witch-children.html

and also discussed it in discussion forums on

New Religious Movements:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nurel/

and African independent churches:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aic_research/

I would like to know of any serious research being conducted into this
phenomenon, and invite researchers to join these discussion forums.

[tifanny_m]

In some of the poorest parts of Nigeria, where evangelical religious ferv=

our

is combined with a belief in sorcery and black magic, many thousands of
children are being blamed for catastrophes, death and famine - and brande=

d

witches by powerful pastors. These children are then abandoned, tortured,
starved and murdered - all in the name of Jesus Christ.

...

Just a note to add to this, I really like at the end of the report
when Gary said
"It's an absolute scandal. Any Christian would look
at the situation that is going on here and just be absolutely outraged
that they were using the teachings of Jesus Christ to exploit and
abuse innocent children."

It's just amazing how some people say "God made me do it" to "get out
of it" when in fact, a true believe would know that God loves and that
he wouldn't wish harm on his worst enemy. I just thought that it's
something that non-believers need to know, they need to know that God
does not make people do things (for one): people have free will and
use it. God cannot FORCE someone to do something. And, for another
thing, God would never ask someone to kill, injure or harm a person or
any other creature that he created (in a bad way...you know what I
mean).


Just thought that I would mention that.

Thanks :)