In Africa they are outlawing Shamans, preventing them from using their cures.Is that right?

Question

Should their cures and magical ideas be investigated? Shouldn't we have to prove them wrong?Please do not answer without reading the link.http://www.aegis.com/news/ips/2002/Ip020412.html

Answer 1

In the article it specifically says that they are not making shamanism illegal, only harmful things like forcing young girls to have s*x with men who have AIDS, or pretending to be a shaman to convince people to give you money. The governments there agree that the shamans have a useful skill with local plants, what they oppose is the murder and mutilation of human beings to make potions.

Answer 2

Chuckle, outlawing any religion is wrong. Christians, Jews or Muslims can't prove their prayers work either, but we have to accept that "Magic" or religion as some call it,  is important to the mental well being of many people.

Answer 3

They aren't outlawing Shamans, the spokesman says that they cant stop people believing what they want to believe, but that dangerous 'cures' should be banned.

It's considered postcolonial for Westerners to want other countries to follow 'traditional' ways of life just because its more interesting for them, a 'human zoo', if you will. Time-tested medicine may contain a great many legit cures, but no-one benefits from every culture having their own unique quack doctors.

Answer 4

No

Answer 5

Any physician who claims to be healing one person while harming another is not acting as a true healer.  Of course, any healing practice should be investigated if it is suspected of causing harm to the population.

Having said that, alternative medical practices do have a place in every society.  Many of the medications that have been in use by the AMA have come to light by investigating the chemical compositions of herb and "potions" used by natural healers.  For example, the use of zinc to help diminish the effects of the common cold were derived from natural remedies that have been used by natural healers for years.

Should harmful practices be investigated, discouraged, and even outlawed?  Yes.  Should the actions of a group of unethical shaman discredit the work of legitimate healers?  No.

If a healer is not doing direct harm to the individuals in society, they should not be stopped from continuing their practice.  Even if the results are just psychological, that is, a result of the placebo effect, the patient is getting better, and that is the goal of healing.  Charlatans and fakers should be exposed, but the existence of con men does not prove that there are not some people who are providing a legitimate service.  Thanks for the question Z.

Answer 6

A very important question lies ones ability to heal vs. a governments will.  I would like to know how strict the government is before making a judgement involving the subject at hand.  I'm not of the mind to have a full understanding within these new laws and constrictions that are felt by the Shaman and areas in discusion.  

My personal belief is that when we're (I am) talking about cures to what?????  I might live, I might die.  These impacts of death and life really do not have a strong affect on the person I am.  I have no doubt that people in front of me will get to miss out on the same experience that we all can dream.  

I only wonder from the question posed if the human animal is not understood, while in relation to our ancesteral roots.  I'm not the person to ask for cures on religion, and I'm not the person to ask about the color grey.  Obviously in animal history this entire human thing has been foreceeding.  Maybe we can finally have a discussion to its means.

I know that this does not answer the Shaman question.  My determination is within freedoms.