Hi,

One problem with African religions is the issue of 'witchcraft'.  This tradition, according to African historian/linguist Chris Ehret, originated in West Africa.  It serves as an explanation of why misfortune occurs.  The threat of possibly being called a 'witch' may have been useful in the past in making sure that members of small communal groups helped each other out in hard times.  But now, the practice seems superstitious and impractical.  People look very ignorant and childlish when they blame their problems on someone else instead of rationally evaluating themselves and their situation.  When will this tradition die out?  Should it die out?  Or am I being ethnocentric/biased towards Western thinking in this view?

Peace.