Hi. I posted a topic some time ago about ghosts and whether there is any scientific evidence of their existence. I was surprised when I saw that the majority of voters said that yes they believed in ghosts, but the majority of those who commented ridiculed the whole idea. See the thread here.

In this topic, I'm curious to find out whether sorcery/voodoo/witchcraft/magic is supported by any scientific evidence.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, this is what I understand: Some people claim that they can influence one's perceptions, and probably actions, through demonic intervention. Those 'sorcerers' claim that all they need is a piece from the victim, e.g. a hair or a nail. They they make a mysterious mixture with some sort of a spell. The end product supposedly will influence the victim, and this influence can be nullified if the mixture is found and dissolved or something like that.

I noticed that this idea is very very popular in some areas, e.g. southeast Asia and the Middle East. I made a quick search and found some links:

Magician with powers to heal, unite couples, find love nabbed (Kuwait)
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails...ed/Default.aspx

TV presenter gets death sentence for 'sorcery' (Saudi Arabia)
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/19/...arabia.sorcery/

Rumors of sorcery at an Indonesian university (Indonesia)
http://www.jstor.org/pss/20062742

Graveyard sorcery? (Malaysia)
http://www.malaysianmirror.com/homedetail/45/31120

Understanding Witchcraft and Sorcery in Southeast Asia
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Understan...e/9780824815158


Why does this idea seem VERY popular?????

With the availability of today's technology, it should be easy to videotape 'proof' of sorcery, right? Is there anything about this at YouTube for example?

I'm getting increasingly impatient

Yes. If sorcery really happens repeatedly, where is it? Any documentary evidence??

---

Added on April 22, 2010, 5:47 pmI've heard about karamas dozens of times, but never really seen any evidence of it. It seems that all of this is merely anecdotal and folklore stories passed on generation by generation without anyone actually seeing anything in reality.

If not, is there any documented evidence?

Suspicious

This post has been edited by Sara Apples: Apr 22 2010, 05:47 PM

Is it that difficult to find online?

Makes me even more suspicious.

Well, at least we need proof that it EXISTS!

Do you mean prove that this thing exists or not? Or explain it?

I think that - with all these stories about famous sorcerers and their power - if science still cannot prove that sorcery even EXISTS, I'd be cautious. Don't you agree?

It would make sense to start with the available online proof. Right? And please don't go off topic.

Documentry. If many experts from different sources investigate the subject and come up with the same conclusions, then we can be more confident with the results.

Surprisingly, until now there seems nothing

This is the very reason that makes me suspicious.

And by the way, aren't those 'sorcerers' going to make huge money out of it?

You seem very sure. Did you have a personal experience? If yes, please describe it. If no, how are you so sure?

So it's literally old wives' tales

I don't think the PhD school is the place for this excuse

Isn't it possible that these people are metally ill, and not necessarily "possessed"?