One reason why some scientists have rejected religion is due to the fact that religion does not allow for rationalism—which also does not mean that these scientists are right in their thought. Even some scientists such as Feyerabend (1975, 87) have argued against the scientific process of problem identification, theory formulation, and hypothesis testing in favor of allowing scientists to engage in research without any laid down rules or pattern. This is dangerous, isn’t it?

The point I am making is this, society has the obligation of helping religion to also employ not only empiricism, but also rationalism in unraveling the mysteries surrounding some of the conundrum challenging religious beliefs and practices, especially on the African continent. Upon what basis can we conclude that a parent lost their job as a result of their child, mother, grandmother, etc. possessing witchcraft powers?

Not too long ago, in the United States, religion was the chief means used in addressing most of the ills in that society as was done in the precivilized era. People prayed to God for answers and solutions and interventions anytime there was an epidemic or calamity. They prayed when a child had measles, polio, and what have you? Can we conclude by saying that they were wrong? It will be unfair to answer in the affirmative because that was, probably, the best option they had at that time.

Human beings always needed to fathom, predict, and control nature. Animism, anthropomorphism, magic, religion, philosophy, and science can all be observed as efforts of meeting those needs. According to Waterfield (2000), “All systems of belief evolve to elucidate the order of things and to make sense of the world. In this sense, science is just as much a myth as anything else.; it is a framework or model designed to explain and form reality for those who accept it—that is, for those people who voluntarily become members of that society— and for only as there are enough people to accept it. If this is so, then so far from banishing gods, science has merely been the matrix for a new generation of scientific gods, children of the old gods.” (p.xxxii)

Now, let us come back to the issue of witchcraft. It is a fact that the existence of witches cannot be scientifically proven. That is not to suggest that it does not exist. We assume that it exists because it has a name—that is what we refer to as reification. If it exists, does it mean that it causes people, for example to be poor, sick, financially bankrupt, lead to the deportation of people?—when these people do not have legal documents?

I admit that there is a problem to be solved, but the question is how? If witches and wizards are the causes of our misfortunes, then it makes sense to assume that by “catching” them—which is not possible because of their nature—spirit beings, our societies would be the richest in the world. If the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and the rest of the developed and emerging countries have still relied only on religion in the solving of societal problems, they would not have been where they are—the envy of most Africans.

From the above, you would side with me, though that there is the need for Africans to reorient our minds and intellect from our unwillingness to appreciate the truth and subject some of our religious beliefs and practices into critical scrutiny. For me, our problem is not witchcraft, but ignorance. This canker has been our bane since time immemorial, and this is the time to arise and properly educate our children and ourselves the understanding that “catching” all the witches and wizards in Africa (Ghana) or exterminating them might not be the answer to our “deliverance” from poverty, disease, hunger, and the other social vices; it is the exercise of the intellect whilst at the same time keeping our faith in God. Keeping our faith in God and properly using our intellect must be in concert. God bless Ghana!!

Source: Kingsley Nyarko, PhD, Educational Psychologist, Accra (kingsleynyarko73@yahoo.com)