Witch Burnings

[R. P. Lane]

Hello j. d.

I keep trying to post but I am being told that I am not logged in. At the same time just above the space for posting I am told that I am logged in. I also can't copy and paste. I thought I would outsmart this whole thing and just copy my text and if I lost it then I could try again by just pasting. LOL, copy doesn't work. What is happening?

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by R. P. Lane

Hello j. d.

I keep trying to post but I am being told that I am not logged in. At the same time just above the space for posting I am told that I am logged in. I also can't copy and paste. I thought I would outsmart this whole thing and just copy my text and if I lost it then I could try again by just pasting. LOL, copy doesn't work. What is happening?

I don't believe it will let you copy until something has been posted -- then you have to copy from the post in situ, rather than going back into editing mode. But as to why it's giving you trouble otherwise (the log-on/off thing), I think what you have happening there is that you have such a long post that you are being timed out. It will still show you as logged in up above until you attempt to post, but that's becase the page has not yet changed. What has happened is that you are no longer actually logged on, and if you relog on where it gives you that message, it should then go ahead and allow your post.

However, I would suggest doing something like a word document, or an e-mail to yourself, or somesuch, then doing a copy-and-paste from that, if you have a lengthy post. That way, you don't have to try to rewrite the whole thing when this happens....

[R. P. Lane]

Thank you j.d.

I was starting to get discouraged, first nothing then the last post appears twice. I'm trying to reply to the post that started this thread. What I was doing is copying it into my reply (so everyone didn't have to scroll back up) and then adding my text underneath. I don't think it was too long but perhaps the two together.... But I think that the 'set-up' thought that I was trying to edit someone elses post. I have travelled through so many rooms and I have never come across anything like this before. But I'm tired now, it's midnight, so I'll try again tomorrow.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by R. P. Lane

Thank you j.d.

I was starting to get discouraged, first nothing then the last post appears twice. I'm trying to reply to the post that started this thread. What I was doing is copying it into my reply (so everyone didn't have to scroll back up) and then adding my text underneath. I don't think it was too long but perhaps the two together.... But I think that the 'set-up' thought that I was trying to edit someone elses post. I have travelled through so many rooms and I have never come across anything like this before. But I'm tired now, it's midnight, so I'll try again tomorrow.

If you're trying to quote a previous message, simply hit the "Quote" button on the lower right of that post. That should provide you with a box in which you will see that post (plus the coding for it) and allow you to make your reply... just as I did with this one....

[R. P. Lane]

NAIROBI, May 21 (Reuters) - A mob has burned to death at least 11 people accused of witchcraft in an area of west Kenya where traditional beliefs run deep, police said on Wednesday.
"Their houses were torched. Eight women and three men suspected of being witches died," Kenya's deputy police spokesman Charles Owino said.
Kisii district residents confirmed the killings, saying an enraged crowd had gone house-to-house on Tuesday night, using a list of supposed witches in the region.
"They burned them alive in their homes," one resident said, asking not to be named.
About 30 houses were torched.
Police drafted extra personnel into the area to prevent revenge attacks in a region already reeling from tribal killings during Kenya's post-election crisis.
Traditional African beliefs, Christianity and Islam co-exist peacefully in Kenya. But there is widespread suspicion of sorcery, particularly in west Kenya, which has a long tradition of witch doctors and faith healers.
Owino said almost all the victims were elderly Kenyans, aged between 70 and 90, although one was nearer 40.

Well, for what this is worth I’ll give it a try. - j.d. I had tried using the quote button but what came up is the link not the article itself.

What I had tried to post last evening is that the above article does not make any sense.

• They ‘used a list of supposed witches’.
• All the victims were elderly except one
• It occurred during a post-election crisis

Now let’s take these one at a time.

• Why would they need a list and who compiled it? Something to keep in mind is that the victims were ‘supposed witches’.

• Why were the elderly targeted and one younger victim? Mysticism involves all ages. What the elderly do have that younger people don’t is the ability to ‘persuade’ with more authority. The people in Africa, along with other countries, are used to having their shamans and healers. These individuals are more respected than they are feared. When they are ill they run to the healers, for marriages, burials, and nightmares (during sleep) they run to the shamans. Mysticism is more deeply rooted than Christianity will ever be. Killing their ‘healers’ is the equivalent of killing off all our doctors. It would be insanity.

• Since this incident occurred during the ‘post-election crisis’, and since shamans and healers have absolutely nothing to do with elections, I would hazard a guess that the list was made up of individuals who had spoke volubly to others as to who to vote for and why. Since it was the losing party who was on the rampage they would go after those who they knew had swayed the ballots. My second guess would be that someone wanted only one or two individuals done away with. To hide this fact he/she would have started a story about ‘sorcery’ and got others worked up. Again, why was a ‘list’ made up?

[TheEndIsNigh]

Originally Posted by R. P. Lane

.

..., I would hazard a guess that the list was made up of individuals who had spoke volubly to others as to who to vote for and why. Since it was the losing party who was on the rampage they would go after those who they knew had swayed the ballots. My second guess would be that someone wanted only one or two individuals done away with. To hide this fact he/she would have started a story about ‘sorcery’ and got others worked up. Again, why was a ‘list’ made up?

Welcome R P - a touch of the cynical - You should enjoy it here in the short time we all have left

[R. P. Lane]

Originally Posted by TheEndIsNigh

Welcome R P - a touch of the cynical - You should enjoy it here in the short time we all have left

I have to ask a couple of questions TEIN,

1. What makes you so sure that the 'end is near'?

2. And why on earth do you consider analysis and logical thinking as being 'cynical'?

[TheEndIsNigh]

Ah R. P. I sense doubt. Be strong, believe. Prepare thyself.

Seriously though I don't think it's fair to hi-jack the thread with my personal philosophy. I'll start a new one with your quote at the front just to get it going when I have the time.

Just at the mo the monkeys are getting restless (some fool pointed out there were a lot of new faces following a recent "trial" on the Eternal Life project) And the Mars lander is driving me nuts with the drilling so watch... For another space.

[The Procrastinator]

Rachel, you don't sound cynical to me... But about the list, you're right it could be politically motivated, but it also could just be an example of a slightly more organised form of witch-hunt. Perhaps there are those in the community who hate witches with a passion and, inspired by the tribal killings that had been going on, decided a few more would be in order. To make sure of getting as many "evil ones" as possible they made a list. Perhaps the list was also an attempt to minimise harm to "non evil" citizens.

[R. P. Lane]

Originally Posted by The Procrastinator

Rachel, you don't sound cynical to me... But about the list, you're right it could be politically motivated, but it also could just be an example of a slightly more organised form of witch-hunt. Perhaps there are those in the community who hate witches with a passion and, inspired by the tribal killings that had been going on, decided a few more would be in order. To make sure of getting as many "evil ones" as possible they made a list. Perhaps the list was also an attempt to minimise harm to "non evil" citizens.

Hello Procrastinator, nice to hear from you.

The major problem with the 'witch' hunt Procrastinator is that there is no difference between a witch, a shaman, a saint, and a sorcerer. They are all in the same brown bag so to speak. It is just different terminology for the same type of people and the names are interchangable. The various terms are due to errors in scribal interpretation, and there were many, many scribes. There is also the fact to consider that the church wanted complete power and authority. Hence, a devil, his abode Hades, along with a legion of demons was invented to help keep this control. To show that yes there are evil people a demarcation was invented in the above grouping. It is ok to be a saint or a prophet/ess but not ok to be a witch or a shaman. It was psychological control actually.

There is also the fact to consider that the books of the bible and the entries were not proof-read before printing. This is why the Christian Bible is so messed up. As examples;

1.There are 2 different creation stories at the beginning of Genesis.

2.Although god was to have given commandments and spoken to the people, in Jeremiah 7:22 god states that "For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. Jeremiah is more than half-way through the book. If we believe god here than who did the talking for the first part of the bible?

This is only 2 of many, many errors. I would go on to explain more but this is just a quick reply. What I would like you to do though, if you don't mind, is to tell me how you feel that a witch is any more evil than a saint. Please leave 'gods' out of it. It is far to simplistic to just say that one follows one god and the other follows another. Please think of what they both have in common and what they don't have in common. If you say that one does good things and one does bad things, then this is the wrong answer. Example, in the bible book of 2nd Kings chapter 2, verse 24, the scene opens with the prophet Elisha leaving a city where he had just created miracles. Children were laughing at him because he was bald. Elisha called down "evil on them in the name of the lord" and 2 she bears came out of the woods and tore to pieces forty-two children. (sounds saintly doesn't it?)

I don't know how much room I have here Procrastinator, and I am still on my first coffee of the morning. Plus I don't have spell-check here, LOL.

Don't forget to describe to me what you think is the diff between a witch and a saint.

[R. P. Lane]

Originally Posted by TheEndIsNigh

Ah R. P. I sense doubt. Be strong, believe. Prepare thyself.

Seriously though I don't think it's fair to hi-jack the thread with my personal philosophy. I'll start a new one with your quote at the front just to get it going when I have the time.

Just at the mo the monkeys are getting restless (some fool pointed out there were a lot of new faces following a recent "trial" on the Eternal Life project) And the Mars lander is driving me nuts with the drilling so watch... For another space.

Ok, I'll give you time, LOL. I sense doubt in you too, LOL, you just don't want to explain why you think that analytical thinking and reasoning is cynical.

So what's this other story about, the "trial on the Eternal Life project"?

[TheEndIsNigh]

Originally Posted by R. P. Lane

Ok, I'll give you time, LOL. I sense doubt in you too, LOL, you just don't want to explain why you think that analytical thinking and reasoning is cynical.

So what's this other story about, the "trial on the Eternal Life project"?

Ok it all started innocently enough with a simple question. If you follow through the thread you'll see my problem.

Book length - Is this a worrying new trend

If you want a brief synopsis try these links.

Book length - Is this a worrying new trend

Book length - Is this a worrying new trend

My spokesman role for the life forms on Mars is established in the

Mars lander thread.

Science Fact - Mars Lander.....er....lands.

I'm off to get my trumpet polished now but you did ask.

[TheEndIsNigh]

R. P.

regarding the logical and reasoned query :-

a definition of cynic (with minor modifications): a critic; especially : one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest.

Seems to fit the bill perfectly. By the way, I agree with you on your analysis. Though I would probably go straight for your second theory myself.

[R. P. Lane]

Originally Posted by TheEndIsNigh

R. P.

regarding the logical and reasoned query :-

a definition of cynic (with minor modifications): a critic; especially : one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest.

Seems to fit the bill perfectly. By the way, I agree with you on your analysis. Though I would probably go straight for your second theory myself.

LOL, TEIN, I suppose you are partly right. I am not a 'cynical' person as a rule. However my observations of humans has been sharpened by my training in using logic and discernment. I do believe in mankinds ability to do good deeds, when and if it suits them, but self-centered motivations will usually take precedence over any altruistic behaviour they may possess. Also it is the general trait of humans to hide any bad or wrong deed they commit.

I also am more inclined towards the second theory, but the first is also a good fit. Good way to get rid of someone, charge him/her with 'witchcraft' and throw a few others in also. It's been done for hundreds of years.

[TheEndIsNigh]

It's a perfectly workable system though, as long as everyone knows and can follow the same rules. as in:-

"She's a witch BURN her".

"Yeeh! well he's a united* supporter castrate him". *insert required 'religion'.

Most social systems rely on mutual destruction principles. It's when someone interferes with the 'established' patterns it gets out of hand.

Oh by the way what other sentient being have you studied. Please name planet and give galactic co-ordinates.