Magic, Witchcraft, Healing

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The course delves into the historical and cultural beliefs and practices of magic and witchcraft in relation to illness and healing in different contemporary cultures and societies. It examines the intersection of culture, religion, and medicine, highlighting how historical and social forces such as science, colonialism, and modern global economies have impacted such practices and beliefs. Drawing from a diverse range of disciplines, including history, religious studies, and anthropology and case studies across Africa, Europe and the Americas, the course examines the practices and rituals of witches, witch doctors, diviners, healers, and shamans to heal individuals and communities. It will particularly focus on witchcraft in Africa and contemporary European and American societies, magic in modern urban European and American cultures, and shamanism in the Americas.