Magical thinking kills

The article “UKZN Student Accused of Murder Says Burnt Roommate Was a ‘Zombie’”(DD, Oct 15) refers. A few days ago I wrote to the editor lambasting a health department official for claiming that 190 school pupils had all come down with “schizophrenia” in a prayer session, and I attributed his nonsensical diagnosis as well as a parent’s comments that the school be cleansed of “spirits” to the illogical and unscientific thinking (if it can be called thinking) that is so rampant in this country.

An inability to think critically, combined with magical thinking, is dangerous precisely because this is how this man grew up to be able to believe not only that a “zombie” was “blocking his luck”, but that he is entitled to kill this so-called “zombie” – and then still complain in court that it is “not fair” that his family wasn’t at the hearing!

Not fair? And this from a university student!

Even if a person were able to block another’s luck, how is it possible that a university student does not know:

● That zombies are not real; and

● The law?

Universities should really start screening prospective students, and if they insist on accepting the virtually ineducable, at least they should provide compulsory basic logic courses for all first-year students.

Of course, that is only a remedial measure, as these belief systems are fomented early, at home and in primary school, with belief in luck instead of reality, with “spirits” that have to be “cleansed” and with official spokespeople from the hilariously titled education department, of all places, randomly and with no research whatsoever, making medical “diagnoses” that are quite outside their mandate or expertise, if indeed they have any. via e-mail