Christian Understanding of Magic and Azande Beliefs

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
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Author Note

1CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Can the Christian understanding of magic help us better understand
Azande magical practices and beliefs?
The Christian saw magic in a negative light. Magic was an accepted part and
practiceby the tradition of Christianity. There have been many references about witchcraft in
the Bible and it has been seen that the practices were condemned by the Protestants. People
towards the end of the middle age and at the dawn of the modern period believed in
witchcraft and it had become very popular during that time. The Christians view witchcraft as
an obstructive and a negative force. People believed that magic and witchcraft caused
material damage to the society. Christians however allowed magic in order to benefit the
society and during this time the Christians caught hold of two women who were practicing
white magic which is known as magic for the betterment and for selfless deeds. According to
the theory that has been put forward by the churches all kinds of magic that are practiced
cannot be done alone without the help of the devil (Mirecki). They believed that in order to
practice any magic or witchcraft the magician has to take the help of the devil even if he or
she does not want it.However during the 5th and 6th century people who were a part of the
church started practicing magic in order to witness and predict the future on the demand of
people however if anyone practiced this who outside the premise of the church or people who
did not belong from the church would be condemned. Despite of people being condemned
because of the practice of witchcraft and magic, magic was still being practiced in the society
back then. The Christians believed that even if people are practicing magic and witchcraft for
a good deed but to obtain this also the magician had to take the help of the devil (Sanders).
Zande is the plural form of Azande. Azande were ethnic groups who belonged from
North Central Africa. The people found witchcraft and magic to be a normal phenomenon
unlike other people and the Christians who found it supernatural. In the lives of Zande