Curses, the students are doing voodoo

In reply to A. Young ... look like they also teach about Christianity at that school. Heres a selection of courses offered.

135.102 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 135.101 Hinduism and Buddhism 134.105 Philosophy of Religion 148.218 The Vikings

It appears that you want to have everyone worship the beliefs you've been fed, told are true, and have internalised.

A. Young, your ignorance (like most others who are railing against this idea) is astounding. This course strikes me as a really clever intersection of superstition, anthropology and history. What I find odd is that you denounce this as superstition, yet you believe in an omnipresent, omniscient old man in the sky. You mention Christmas and Easter as though they have always been christian celebrations. Do some research - they are only associated with Christianity due to the Romans, who found it easier to convert "pagans" by incorporating existing celebrations into christianity. If you're going to defend your superstitions, study up - you sound like a fool.

It might seem old fashioned to comment on this negatively.... but my feeling is that" VOODOO "and" CURSES" have to be activated by MALICE... surely a University Degree in Malice is to be deplored in these already violent and virtual(By Proxy violent) times.

My remarks are not activated by a religious philosophy.. I do have believe in the healing power of good thoughts. Conversely malevolent thoughts must go into making voodo dolls and messages.

Half of you lot need to shut you traps. It is you who "playing with things they dont understand". Voodoo dolls? Witch curses? So you acknowledge and believe in the basic tenants of Voodooism aka Santeria as well as a medieval belief in witchraft and one poster even mentioning demonic forces. You are insane. Do you believe there are devils and wraiths hiding around every corner too? Do you hang garlic over you bed at night? Because that is how ridiculous you are being.

Seriously, go buy a one of those useless witch boards, put your hands on a cup over it and left your mouth hang open and your jaw crash to the floor as you prove to yourself its all just a load of ..... hocus pocus.

Really Interesting discussion. I'm very pleased to see those with an open mind, and an understanding of the word tolerance seem to outnumber the bigots by a good margin.

Maybe our society is actually becoming enlightened!

This is an excellent way to further peoples understanding of what magic is actually about. It is about control of ones surroundings and connection to what one beleives. There is absolutely nothing wrong, and certainly nothing demonic about it.

please go back to the dark ages where you belong rahrah.

@ Robsta post #35 This is ONE PAPER! It's NOT a course. They'll be writing on their CV's BA of .... (Religion, History etc etc). Who in their right mind lists the papers they studied??? Also to those out there thinking that its somehow a practical course - huh??? Did you read the same article as me? Did you watch the biased journalism of Close Up and Campbell Live? To think that the students practise magic in this paper is stupidity at it's highest point! One assignment choice was that you could create a "spell" but did you notice that an ancient Roman or Greek tablet was written in ENGLISH! Don't quite think that the ancient 'Gods' of Rome and Greece (Hera, Zeus, Apollo, Demeter etc) are really going to be listening. If you're Catholic why are you so threatened by this? Are you not secure in your own beliefs is this why other belief systems can effect you so much? And if you practice magic (believing that it works) - fine that you believe but don't assume that other people do and believe in the same things. Performing this sort "spell" was believed by the Greeks and Romans to do no harm to the caster. Modern beliefs and ancients one never stay the same (thank whatever higher being you happen to believe in if you believe in one).

A Young: This does not push voodoo down anyone's throat or limit existing regions. You can still go to university and get a degree in Christian theology if you wish.

What it does do is inject some critical thinking into subject areas that have been rather devoid of it.

Some of the most enlightened Christians that I know (including a priest) spent a lot of time studying other beliefs. While they choose to be Christians they still respect the views and beliefs of others.

The juxtaposition of differing viewpoints is a really good way to help define them. This is one reason why kiwis often only appreciate and understand New Zealand after going on an OE: they have something to compare it with. Studying Eastern ways helps you understand Western ways; studying Buddism or voodoo helps you understand Christianity better too.

You're a turkey mate