At Massey University, there’s an extramural 1o1 paper on “Magic and Witchcraft.” It seems to be predominantly focused on a comparative cross-cultural perspective, dealing with its historical and social significance in ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe, pre-colonial Maori societies, and involves manufacturing spells, curses and poppets based on those historical precedents as course work. And one has to give a reason why.

Chris van der Krogt and Gina Salapata are responsible for the paper, and neither said it was engaged in wiccan/neopagan evangelism. For one thing, any sociological or religious studies analyses into contemporary post-modern reconstructionist versions of Wicca/neopaganism seem to be missing from the course description.

This hasn’t stopped the New Zealand Herald from asking “whether or not” this should be on the Massey University syllabus. Actually, given the decline of Christian religious beliefs, surely if any religious studies option is to be chopped, then that should be? And shouldn’t we also be doing more to encourage East Asian studies in our tertiary institutions, given that we’ve just signed a China/New Zealand free trade agreement, and it would benefit our exporters to know more about that?

Somehow, though, I don’t think that’s what “Family Party” co-leader Richard Lewis meant when he argued against the presence of this course in higher education. Yeah, right. Given the Pentecostal provenance of his party, I suspect he dare not articulate what they really think about paganism in the academy, for fear of being laughed at. Anyway, since when have most Family Party zealots been able to make it to university, anyway?

Recommended:

“Witchcraft on syllabus at Massey University” New Zealand Herald: 13.o8.08: http://www.nzherald.co.nz

Not Recommended:

Family Party: http://www.thefamilyparty.org.nz