Anti-Witchcraft Conference Attacked by Christians in Nigeria

One of the ongoing problems in parts of Africa - often areas where far right Anglicans led by the likes of arch gay-hater Archbishop Peter Akinola are ascendant - is that witchcraft is stilled believed to be real by the populace and children and others frequently accused of being witches and sometimes killed. It is difficult to fathom in a modern world how this type of ignorance and brutality continues to exist, but it is precisely in this climate of ignorance and superstition that the Anglican Communion - like the Roman Catholic Church - is experiencing the most growth. And these are the Anglican leaders to who break away Episcopals in the USA are swearing allegiance. To me, in speaks volumes about the craziness of the far right Anglicans. Now, a group of "Christians" have attacked a conference endeavoring to stop the madness and assaults on alleged witches. Here are some highlights from Richard Dawkins:

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Leo Igwe, a friend of the British Humanist Association and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, was attacked yesterday during a raid by 150 to 200 members of a Christian church at a conference he had organised on "Child Rights and Witchcraft" in Calabar.

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Helen Ukpabio and her church, the Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries, have run a campaign of terror against children and those committed to fighting for their rights, of which yesterday's raid was only the latest development. The conference had been organised by the Nigerian Humanist Movement and the UK charity Stepping Stones Nigeria in response to the widespread abandonment, torture and killing of children in Akwa Ibom and Cross River State due to the belief in child "witches".

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More on this story can be found here. I increasing believe that unless anti-gay and anti-intellect churches begin to change their intolerance and accept modern knowledge, they eventually will go the way of the dinosaurs - which in my view would do the world much good. Far too many people have died over the centuries because of religious based hate and lunacy.

Palin Was Blessed to be Free From 'Witchcraft'

I had previously done a post about Sarah Palin and her delusional pastor buddy from Kenya who believes in witches and hunts down supposed witches. Until now, most coverage has been limited to the blogosphere. Now, the Associated Press has done a story and, hopefully, more people will be gin to understand just how whacked out Ms. Palin is in terms of her religious beliefs. With each passing day, Palin demonstrates that she is unfit for high office as is McCain for having selected her (or having knuckled under to the Christianists, if applicable). The thought of Palin being potentially a heart beat away from the presidency sends shivers of terror down my back. The rest of the world must think America has gone insane. Here are highlights from the AP story:

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A grainy YouTube video surfaced Wednesday showing Sarah Palin being blessed in her hometown church three years ago by a Kenyan pastor who prayed for her protection from "witchcraft" as she prepared to seek higher office.

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The video shows Palin standing before Bishop Thomas Muthee in the pulpit of the Wasilla Assembly of God church, holding her hands open as he asked Jesus Christ to keep her safe from "every form of witchcraft."

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"Come on, talk to God about this woman. We declare, save her from Satan," Muthee said as two attendants placed their hands on Palin's shoulders. "Make her way my God. Bring finances her way even for the campaign in the name of Jesus. ... Use her to turn this nation the other way around."

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A spokesman for the McCain campaign declined to comment. A person who answered the phone at the Wasilla church confirmed the video was from May 2005 but declined further comment.

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On a visit to the church in June 2008, Palin spoke fondly of the Kenyan pastor and told a group of young missionaries that Muthee's prayers had helped her to become governor.

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"Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me, and you know how he speaks and he's so bold," she said. "And he was praying 'Lord make a way, Lord make a way' ... He said, 'Lord make a way and let her do this next step.' And that's exactly what happened."

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The Rev. Zipporah Ndiritu, who studied under Muthee in the Kiambu, Kenya-based Word of Faith Church, said the bishop is revered among evangelicals there. In a phone interview from Mombasa, Kenya, she said church doctrine focuses on ridding the world of demons — and witches.