Witchcraft and Children

Witchcraft And Children

A 2008 article in the Los Angeles Times from Associated Press reports that thousands of African children have been abandoned, tortured, and murdered because they are believed to be witches.

Belief in witchcraft in the West has largely died out but in the past, the burning and murdering of “witches” was a common practice in Europe and North America. The Salem witch trials are an example of witchcraft-induced hysteria. As modernist worldview has gradually replaced the pre-scientific worldview witchcraft beliefs, the persecution of witches largely died out in the 18th century. There were some exceptions in pockets in Eastern Europe.

In other parts of the world witchcraft beliefs are common especially in parts of Asia and Africa. In Africa, there appears to be a revival of witchcraft beliefs as African traditional beliefs mixed with Evangelical fervor have given it a new impetus.

Gary Foxcroft speaking for Steppingstones Nigeria, an organisation that is active in campaigning against child witchcraft abuse has stated that it is an absolute scandal how the teachings of Jesus are skewed to commit child abuse. They have also mobilized a coalition of churches and Christians in Nigeria and beyond who say that these practices contrast with the original teachings of Jesus.

Another trend in Africa is that children are also used as witch-finders. This results in people being convicted and punished based on children's testimonies.