The Supernatural in the Natural

This entry is from the 6th...this is the first chance I've had to get online. See you all soon!!!!!!

Today was supposed to be the first day of class. I reported to room ARD for SO: 264 – Introduction to Medical Sociology and Anthropology promptly at 12:55pm. Class started at one o’clock. Being on time was a benefit because my professor is a punctual man and made a scene of everyone who was late. This class is an overview of healthcare in relationship to cultural and social systems and norms. I’m really interested in taking it.

My professor this afternoon made an interesting statement in his introduction to medical pluralism. In the context of talking about alternative healthcare systems, he used a personal example. He stated, “In my life I have never taken a malaria tablet. When the doctors tell me I have malaria, I say that I am going to pray. It is an attack on my body.” I wasn’t the least bit bothered by it. The rest of my international cohort made it the topic of the day…almost in a mocking way. I finally mentioned that I was amused by the fact they seemed so bothered by his comment. It is his belief given in the context of saying that it was his method. I think I am less bothered by this because I come from a community that believes in healing. (Personally, I would take the malaria tablet and pray. The side effects are nasty.)

This leads me to an observation. Most of the students I am lumped in a group with are really skeptical about matters dealing with the supernatural in reference to God or witchcraft. This is not the only time I’ve seen this though the comments following class today led me to much thought. This culture is one that embraces the supernatural in the form of God or witchcraft. It is in the media, pop culture, lifestyles and conversation. Coming to Tanzania, it is necessary to have some concept of the effect of supernatural beliefs in the day to day lives of the people. Using the supernatural to explain things from malaria in infertility or a bad business day is common. Coming from the background I do, it has given me the ability to have conversations with people about these views. When something good happens, it is usually attributed to God. When it is a negative event or series of events, it is the result of witchcraft, probably a close family member or friend who is jealous of success or possessions.

Even the legal system is facing the issues of the supernatural. Recently there have been several articles in the news about people being killed because their neighbors considered them witches casting spells against them. One such story from The Guardian recently…A man was murdered by his neighbors because they thought he was a witch when they found him in their back yard. They proceeded to kill him by stuffing twenty, yes twenty, green bananas in his rectum. The courts ruled that this was a justifiable killing because the man had a reputation in the community of using witchcraft and the individuals who assaulted him were protecting their families and property. On the other hand supernatural healing is embraced as a reality because it is the only hope some people have. Not having access to the same kinds and caliber of medicine available in the West, people frequently turn to prayer because something that is considered a treatable illness elsewhere is life threatening here.

In this culture, in the context of health and healing a full discussion needs to include all of the avenues that people use to achieve and maintain health. Yes, it is different and some of the practices here would never fly legally in other countries, yet in this context it is culturally appropriate. To conduct humanitarian work here especially in the health sector workers need knowledge of these traditional beliefs and practices to be able to adequately give care and education to their patients. I see this as an opportunity to learn how to communicate cross culturally and learn how to do it effectively.