Superstition
Advocacy for Alleged Witches: African skepticism in action
Leo Igwe -
The Western notion of "magical Africa" has become a liability - as we seen from accusations of witchcraft, and their deadly consequences
What effect can superstitions have on your mental health?
Superstitions can often seem fairly harmless for most people, but for some they can become repetitive, compulsive and a signal of a need for real help
‘Fan Tai Sui’: The Chinese superstitious belief that your birth date has offended the gods
In Chinese tradition, your birthdate can occasionally be seen as unlucky - which is why people spend money to appease the gods they fear their birth has offended
Closed coffins and open coffers: the costs of Singaporean Chinese funeral practices
Chinese funerals are extremely expensive, with prescriptive periods of extended mourning - but their value is for the living, not the dead
Joss paper offerings: how to make Chinese hell a fun place for your ancestors
Chinese mourners traditionally burn paper offerings for dead relatives - but recently, the practice has expanded to involve paper versions of iPhones and luxury goods
If you should go at midnight: legends and legend tripping in America
In his new book, sociologist Jeffrey S. Debies-Carl examines 'legend tripping': the adolescent rite of passage of seeking out purported sites of creepy or paranormal experiences
Len Dong: the role of traditional rituals in modern Vietnamese communities
Despite being linked to a string of injuries, accidents and even deaths, many Vietnamese people continue to put their faith in Len Dong shamanism
The shamanic hunt for missing planes and easy answers in Singapore
When MH370 went missing, Ibrahim Mat Zain - the 'Shaman King of the Astrology World' - felt sure the answer lay in a coconut-based ritual.
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