BACKGROUND: This week, you watched the video on the branding of children as witches in Africa. The Christian Missionary, Gary, tried to help the children. He tried, to some extent, to understand the practice (e.g., asking Villagers why they thought a child was a witch), but he was also more focused, practically, on giving aid to those children who were branded as witches. As a scholar studying religion, our job is to practice 'critical tolerance', that is, to separate our 'judgment' about whether something is right or wrong (this is not the same thing as not having a judgment), from our 'understanding' of it. Note that some scholars have argued that actually, in order to effectively help vulnerable populations, you need to first understand the practice in its context before you can put forth a "culturally sensitive solution" (i.e., you can't just go in to another culture and say 'you're wrong', it won't work - you can't change it unless you understand it).

With this in mind, as a 'scholar' studying 'religion',

QUESTIONS: What was your experience of practicing 'critical tolerance' as you watched the film this week? (i.e., separating your feelings about child witchcraft - whether you approve of it or not, from your attempt to understand the practice - why it emerges, when, amongst whom etc). Were you able to practice critical tolerance? If not, what did you notice was difficult? If so, what did you learn, if anything, that helped you understand the practice? You can focus on answering one or all of these related questions.

Dispatches: Return to Africa's Witch Children (1 of 5)