Outside Reading #3
"Consulting the Poison Oracle Among the Azande" E. E. Evans Pritchard
For the Azande of Central Africa, divination is an important part of their religion. They practice divination through a poison oracle "benge." Azande consult "benge" by reading its effects on chickens. In short, the chickens are poisoned, and their reaction to the poison is interpreted by older men. The legal system of the Azande is based off of this divination.
It is really interesting to think of this as a form of divination. Generally people think of the Oracle at Delphi, or a Diviner. The tools these interpreters use, usally take the form of crystal balls, tea leaves, tarot cards or palm reading. Seldomly is divination taken so seriously in the post-modern world. It is very interesting that it serves as the legal system for these people
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