Navajo and European Witchcraft

Paper Summary:

This paper explores some of the similarities and differences between Navajo and European witchcraft. It discusses the background of each form of witchcraft and includes a discussion of the different cultures and geographical locations that influence the practice of witchcraft. It also looks at the characteristics of each form of witchcraft and how they differ.

Table of Contents:
Navajo Background
Navajo Traditions in Witchcraft
European Witchcraft
The Similarities and Differences Between Navajo and European Witchcraft

From the Paper:

"First, the Navajo by way of their Asian traditions from an ancient time, pursued stories of creation and the end of life, and compensated for those things which they did not understand or which mystified them with stories, prayers, and rituals. To the extent that they could not fully understand or explain something, they turned to shamans, or holy men, to explain those things for them; or, by way of ritual and prayer, to protect The People from them unknowns which might harm or adversely impact their lives. This is found to be much the same in the European tradition, as Europeans, like the Navajo, have traditions and rituals that were rooted in pagan eras and addressed those things about the world and universe that could not be explained or understood by the majority of the people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Clark, Stuart. Thinking with Demons: The Idea of Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. Questia. 10 Nov. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=62216044>.
• Coolidge, Dane, and Mary Roberts Coolidge. The Navajo Indians. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1930. Questia. 10 Nov. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=72398121>.
• Gill, Sam D. Sacred Words: A Study of Navajo Religion and Prayer. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981. Questia. 10 Nov. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=24370860>.
• Stevens, Phillips. "Children, Witches Demons, and Cultural Reality." Free Inquiry Spring 1997: 49+. Questia. 10 Nov. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001517377>.
• Towner, Ronald H., ed. The Archaeology of Navajo Origins. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1996. Questia. 10 Nov. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=9684050>.

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