CRITICAL THINKING, PARANORMAL BELIEFS AND AFRICAN INTELLECTUALS

BY LEO IGWE

Critical Thinking is the ability to examine, reason, and judge issues, claims and propositions, objectively, vigorously, thoroughly and carefully. To think critically, one must be able to question, analyze and challenge ideas. One must be undogmatic. One must be able to exercise the will to doubt. The Greek philosopher Socrates acknowledged the value of critical thinking when he said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And there is no way can truly realize an 'examined life without examining our beliefs particularly the paranormal ones

Paranormal beliefs refer to those modes of explanation and interpretation of the natural world or phenomena using as a part elements or ingredients that violate scientific principles or accepted scientific explanations. A common characteristics of all paranormal claims is that, they lack evidence. And where such exists, it is flimsy, or is based on ignorance, hearsay or fantasies. Paranormal claims include witchcraft, ghost, astrology, faith healing, demon possession, and exorcism, telepathy, clairvoyance, alternative medicine, ritual money, communication with spirits etc. Intellectuals are educated persons that enjoy activities in which one thinks seriously about issues. They shape, define and direct the thinking enterprise. So critical thinking is one of the distinguishing marks of intellectuals and a very prized commodity in the intellectual market.

Unfortunately in Africa , this is not the case. The thinking project and the intellectual culture are in a very bad shape. The continent is mired in intellectual stagnation, rot and stupor. Hence critical thought has become a ‘luxury’ which most people in Africa cannot afford. The black continent is plagued by the cult of unreason, magical thinking, superstition, anti-science and occult nonsense. Myth making, fetishism and obscurantism dominate Africa ’s intellectual space. To think critically is now a dangerous undertaking and those who indulge in it risk alienation, persecution or liquidation, In fact critical thinking is now identified as unintellectual and unAfrican. Any critically minded African is often dismised as being western oriented or inclined. As if critical thought is for westerners alone. Unfortunately, most intellectuals in Africa are not disposed to challenge, question, or analyze freely, openly and objectively paranormal beliefs especially when they are connected, related or sactioned by the religions or traditions, as is often the case.

In fact many educated people in Africa uphold and defend many superstitious and pseudoscientific beliefs as African science, discouraging any form of critical examination or evaluation. This darkage mentality has caused intellectual anomie and inertia. It has transformed the black continent into a stronghold of superstition and irrationalism. And I want to submit that the inability of African intellectuals to question, challenge and critically analyze the prevailing paranormal claims is at the root of Africa’s under development and lack of progress since independence.

And for Africa to experience true Enlightenment and civilization, Africans must not only begin to think critically, African intellectual must commence thorough examination, investigation and analysis of paranormal beliefs. African intellectuals must begin to ask questions, seek evidence, search for truth and knowledge about these superstitions and irrational phenomena that darken the continent. That means the educated in Africa must shun conformism, complacency, orthodoxy, dogmatism, authoritarianism, traditionalism, closemindedness and other forms of uncritical temper that numb the mind and dumb the intellect.

African intellectuals must wake up from their dogmatic slumber and put an end to this academic somnabulism in our campuses.They need to put down the shield of occultism, obscurantism, mysticism and magic, and put on the armour of scientific.temper, open mindedness and skeptical inquiry. African intellectuals must begin to rebel against primitive societal norms and traditions especially those informed by lies, ignorance, unreason, dogma and superstition using the weapons of science, logic and free thought. This is a veritable way to renew and recreate Africa . This is the credible path to the realization of a genuine African renaissance. Because paranormal beliefs are not just innocuous. The misinformation and misperception underlying these claims can be confusing, misleading and dangerous. Many paranormal claims have caused- continue to cause- a lot of harm, death and destruction across Africa : Let’s take for instance, the belief in witchcraft. Most Africans believe that witches exist and are real. That witches cause diseases, accidents, death and business failures. Incidentally, there is no evidence for witchcraft or the activities associated with witches .But because of the misconceptions associated with witchcraft, those accused of being witches are attacked, tortured, maltreated and killed in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa . In May, at least eleven people alleged to be witches were burnt to death in Kenya . Those who masterminded this heinous act said they had ‘evidence’ that they were witches. There have been other cases of witch hunt in Nigeria , Tanzania , Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda etc. Witch hunt ended in the western world centuries ago. That means that those alleged to be witches are no longer beheaded or burnt at stake in Europe or America . This is because the people in the West have realized that there is nothing like witchcraft. And that witches likes spirits, gods, angels and demons are imaginary entities without any real existence.

But in Africa , the belief in witchcraft remains in force mainly because African intellectuals have failed in one of their duties and responsibilities - to promote critical thinking and scientific investigation of paranormal claims.

The educated in Africa have failed to subject the belief in witchcraft and other superstitions to critical examination, test and inquiry. They have refrained from asking questions, seeking evidence and demanding for proofs for these extraordinary claims Because it is the critical spirit that will provide the intellectual dissonance, awakening and thrust for people to abandon paranormal beliefs and nonsense. Intellectuals need to make Africans to understand that the belief in witchcraft is baseless. That witches do not cause diseases, microorganisms do. That witches do not cause accidents, careless driving and bad roads do. That ritual sacrifice cannot bring money or wealth. That albinos have no magical powers. And that charm does not work. And the most persuasive way to get Africans to realize this is by promoting critical thinking and rational inquiry.

Critical thought should also be applied to the teachings of all religions including those of Christianity and Islam. Many paranormal beliefs continue to exist in Africa because Christianity and Islam promote and sanction them. They include the belief in witches, ghost, after life faith healing, divine revelation, communication with spirit, etc.

The two world religions – Christianity and Islam- introduced and control formal education in modern Africa . Hence the educational system on the continent is practically held hostage, dominated, driven and corrupted by the anti intellectual, uncritical, dogmatic and paranormal teachings of these religions. In fact organized religion remains the greatest obstacle to understanding, tackling and combating the negative influence of paranormal beliefs on the educational system. African intellectuals as a matter of urgency need to embark on critiquing and critically analyzing all paranormal beliefs whether they are sanctioned by the religions or not, so that the intellectual and educational systems in Africa will grow, develop, improve and flourish.

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