Monday, 26 July 2010

Dispatches: Britain's Witch Children on C4

A documentary on Channel 4 tonight, called Dispatches: Britain's Witch Children is about pastors in the UK branding children as witches or saying they are possessed by evil spirits.

Apparently this is an increasing issue in some African churches, with ministers charging large amounts of money to perform "deliverances". The experience can leave children emotionally and physically scarred.

The programme is on Channel 4 at 8pm this evening.

4 comments:

Ms Beauty Soul said...

I watched this program last night and was absolutely shocked at how people are getting taken in by these charlatans... all in the name of God. Its absolute madeness... Charging £170 for a prayer and then having the nerve to answer your phone in the middle of your fake praying? Blatant liberties!!!

Chatters said...

Hi i didn't watch this, missed it. But sounds awful, disgusting. How do these people get away with it

chilledchimp said...

Just watched this. It's terrifying, especially as at least one of the churches is in the London borough in which I live.
It's interesting that the Churches conflate being possessed and being a witch. Compare that belief to the Salem witch trials where the alleged witches were supposed to have caused young women to be possessed, but were said to be acting as Satan's agents, not as passive vehicles for evil spirits. The Salem witches were supposed to have made a pact with the devil of their own free will, whereas these children are blamed for their "possession" and weren't said to be practicing magic, just demonstrating behavioural changes common to most young people growing up.
Watching the documentary reminded me of something Prof Ronald Hutton said at Witchfest a few years ago -something like while there are these kinds of beliefs still in society modern Witches, Wiccans and Pagans must be very careful.

Badwitch said...

I agree with all your comments. It was shocking. I really hope something can be done to stop this abuse.

Like Chilledchimp, I am also a litte concenred about how this could affect the pagan community.