[JOSHUAH!]

I dont know if anyone watched this programme on Channel4 last night, but it was upsetting to say the least. Its a good thing C4 made the programme and let people know.

Basically in Nigeria, if a family death or village crisis occours, young children (mainly girls) are being targeted as witches. These so called Christian Pastors tell the parents of these yougn children that their son or daughter is a witch or wizard, the family usually chucks the child out of the village to fend for themselves. In some cases though, like on last nights programme, the children accused of being witches were burnt, killed and basically abused by villagers who believe they are witches.

These Christian Pastors including one famous woman Prophetess all say that the child has been possessed and they basically say the child must be killed to rid child of this 'disease'

It was terrible to watch though, kids at the age of like, 5 were being abused on streets and on the programme one girl went back to her village with her mother, and a man in the village said he was going to kill her before sundown if she did not leave the village.

The good thing out of this is that a rescue centre was built, and the programme followed the nurses and children in the centre who were all accused of being witches. The girl in the video below was seen at the end of the documentary smiling and laughing and she had clearly recovered from being abused and abandoned by her family.

I just felt I had to make a thread and talk about it because on Facebook there is a group were you can all support this charity and on a good note nearly £15,000 pounds has been raised so far after last nights programme, to go forward to the charity helping these children.

Here is that video:

Youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64VrjkqhMI

Thanks for reading

[Loukas]

Great post Josh! My dad watched it, targeted as witches! Wow thats s***!

[Hugo]

My post;;

Anyway on topic;; totally weird

[Conzors]

Awww Thats such a sad video.

Nearly made me cry

What alovely post Josh

xx

[Wildcat!]

Wow, crazy stuff I have heard of some very compelling stories about general unacceptance in Africa due to superstition. Most of these beliefs have been abandoned, mainly thanks to Islam, and catholicism. Its strange to see one that religion actually encourages. That is amazing.
Anyways, any chance of getting the link to the facebook group for that?
Thanks!

[rayheartbliss]

what was it called?

i didnt see it

but that sound terrible

[JOSHUAH!]

It was
Dispatches: Saving Africa's Witch Children, it was on at 9pm last night.

And 'Aint_Mad_Atcha' here's the facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...2763202&ref=ts

[Lauren]

It was extreme Pentecostal branches of Christianity.
I watched it, and was very moved by it. Lord knows the psychological damage that little girl must've suffered being moved town to town with a British film crew with each town screaming that they wanted her out. It was horrible.

If I ever become rich or wealthy, I'm donating money to CRARN (that shelter that takes in the abandoned children).

[Sticks]

It is also frustrating when people misuse religion and Christianity to go on ego power kicks like this.

"Exorcisms" as recorded in the New Testament were quick, the Spirit was just ordered out in the Name of Jesus. No beatings required.

Then the person could go back to their people.

Not at all like today's obscenities.

There is also the argument that such possesions and resultant need and ability to do exorcisms has ceased, which I tend to go along with and will explain later.

What happens here is a travesty and a complete mockery of true Christianity

[NettoSuperstar!]

Yeh it was really sad! that shows you how dangerous extreme religious views are. Poor kids!

[cheeseandpickles]

Easily one of the most disturbing programmes I have seen lately...very sad half the kids were only babies!