An important question in understanding our mindset is what informs or shapes our thinking. We need not dig into the depth of psychology to realize our mindset is shaped by ideas we have come to accept or believe. From the cradle to the grave we are loaded with information which we process and somehow come to accept or believe. And so it is necessary to examine or identify the nature and sources of the information and ideas we receive if we are to assess the soundness of our mindset.
Our mindset is usually framed by dominant ideas. Dominant ideas consist of information which has become established as truth or fact. They may be established as truth or fact not by our own personal examination of them but because others whose opinions we accept without question have accepted or declared them as truth or fact. Therefore, a dominant idea is generally a popularly accepted idea. This is why it is necessary for us not to be afraid or reluctant to examine the truthfulness of information which shapes our mindset.
Not all information that has become established as truth or fact is actually truth or fact. It may seem unbelievable to many today, but there was a period in time when the earth was considered flat. And it is even more unbelievable that with all the evidence now available about the earth being a sphere there are still people who will argue that the earth is flat.
The idea of a curse is a dominant idea which has existed in varying forms in nearly all the cultures of the world. With power and wealth being factors which have always been sought after universally, it can be understood why the idea of cursing which claims to offer both power and wealth has remained a dominant idea in most societies. But it can be argued the idea that any man can successfully invoke a curse on another is a real phenomenon begs for sound evidence and facts.
A curse is considered to be any kind of adversity thought to be inflicted by a supernatural power by means of a prayer, a spell, a spirit, witchcraft, or a god. Those who accept the idea of a curse use the idea to explain apparent misfortunes or adversities and to threaten their enemies. They believe that some people have power to impose adversities on others by invoking curses.
In most cultures the method used for invoking curses is the use of effigy, which is an image of the victim, or the person expected to be harmed. Effigies made with wax were common in ancient Europe, the USA, India, Africa, Persia and Egypt, and currently are still used. Effigies are also made of clay, wood and stuffed cloth (poppets). It is thought that the closer the effigy resembles the victim, the more the victim will suffer when the effigy is harmed or destroyed. The idea is as the effigy is harmed or destroyed, so the victim is harmed or destroyed.
It is clear that cursing involves some very weird practices with unproven success. Yet, there is no doubt that the concept of a curse is a dominant idea. But how real or true are curses invoked by man? In examining the truth of the concept of a curse, we need to ask if there is any evidence that anyone has successfully used curses to harm others. It is very unlikely that such evidence exists.
In a world where rich countries spend large sums of money to obtain weapons of destruction, and hatred among people is common, any such person with the power to do harm by means of a curse would be in high demand. And it is easy to imagine how swiftly hated dictators, unpopular political leaders, the disliked and even the envied would be eliminated.
Certainly, the nations of the world would have been showcasing their powerful witches rather than their military might. And in societies, sorcerers and not police would be dealing with criminals. People who claim to have power to inflict curses to do harm would not be operating in back alleys and dens but in lofty offices on main streets. And, of course, the inevitable problem would be to protect these evil practitioners against destroying each other.
Nonetheless, while there is a lack of evidence to support the idea that someone can do harm to another by the use of a curse, the evidence is those who believe in curses seem to be convinced about the effects of curses. What has shaped this unsubstantial mindset? Is this a case of turning a blind eye to contradicting evidence and focusing on mere coincidence to maintain one's belief?
Francis Bacon wrote: "It is the peculiar and perpetual error of the human understanding to be more moved and excited by affirmatives than by negatives." Psychologists refer to this error as confirmation bias. It is the tendency for people to take note of or look for what confirm their beliefs and ignore or set aside what contradict their beliefs.
For instance, one who believes in curses would ignore the many instances when people without being the object of curse rituals experience adversities, or people who are objects of curse rituals remain unscathed, but would take note of the relatively few coincidences when people who they know to be objects of curse rituals experience adversities. When we become blinded to evidence that refutes our beliefs, we become pitiful captives of superstition. This sort of selective thinking is the basis for most beliefs in psychic powers and the occult. And it is without doubt the basis for the idea one can do harm to another by a curse and the reason why the idea is a dominant idea in the mindset of so many people.
Since curses are thought to relate to the supernatural, the Bible should provide us sound information to frame our ideas about curses. The Bible contains numerous references to curses. But the Bible provides no reference to or support for the idea curses can be invoked by any one against another. What is clear in the Bible is no one can curse whom God does not curse.
Only God can curse. He reserves the power to curse to Himself. The evil and malicious intent of those who would use curses against others makes it obvious that God will not give such a power to any man over another, especially to evil, dark-minded people like sorcerers and witches. Balaam the sorcerer admitted: "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced" (Numbers 23:8)?
People will continue to practice and believe in cursing. But the fact is cursing someone is a vain practice. It is based on deceitful information and a misguided mindset. The only reality about it is the misery belief in it inflicts on people who think they are cursed.
The truth is adversities are not synonymous with curses. It is those who are misguided by the idea that man has power to curse see every sore spot in their and others' lives as a curse. If we will count our blessings it will surprise us how even apparent evils and misfortunes are blessings in disguise.
And so, it is really the mindset - how we see things. But we can't go wrong by allowing our mindset to be framed and shaped by God's truth. The word of God informs us to see the good in everything. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Furthermore, we are called upon to ponder and reckon properly and allow our mindset to be shaped by truth according to Romans 8:31-39: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep of slaughter." But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Whatever your lot today, why define it as a curse? Why the idea of a curse when God defines it all as blessings? If you are blessed by God, no man can curse you.
For all who have come to believe in Christ, we have the assurance God "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
Read the book, G.A.N. James, The Myth of the Generational Curse (Xulon Press, 2007).
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