Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft.

Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa, where belief in traditional religions and witchcraft remains widespread, and where ritual killings to obtain blood or body parts still occur.

14 Comments:

Sounds to me like people in Congo needs to either stay off the steroids, or stay out of the swimming pool! LOL

Or do they actually believe stuff like Harry Potter is a true story?
posted by S., at 4/23/2008 5:31 PM

People all over the world have weird beliefs. In the Congo they've got penis snatching. Here in America we've got Jesus dying for our sins and rising from the grave.

Until we live in a society that is free from superstition, I think we should refrain from judging others.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/24/2008 1:54 AM

The Jesus 'myth' is hardly the same as penis snatching!
posted by Anonymous, at 4/24/2008 9:56 AM

Has anyone seen my cat's penis??
posted by Anonymous, at 4/24/2008 10:27 AM

No, the Jesus myth is even more profoundly ridiculous and pervasive. At least the people in the Congo are susceptible to believing in penis snatching because of a lack of proper biology education - they have somewhat of an excuse.

But even "educated" people in the supposedly enlightened Western world believe Jesus was a physical manifestation of the ancient Hebrew storm god Yahweh, performed miracles and rose from his grave, and that Christianity is the one "true" religion out of the countless others on this planet.

And I doubt "penis snatching" has been used as a justification to oppress and destroy people for hundreds of years.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/24/2008 7:23 PM

Ooooo someone's bitter! BTW, the literalist interpretation you just gave to the Jesus story is so yesteryear. Most theologians and biblical scholars dont even 'read' it that way anymore. Sorry mate, if I had a choice to live at the Vatican or the Congo, I'd pick the former. Besides, the art and music are better.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/26/2008 10:35 AM

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