Rumours of Sorcery at an Indonesian University

Abstract

Recently the Indonesian press has paid increased attention to reports or rumours of the use of sorcery by various people in order to gain or to hold onto official positions, or to influence others who hold such positions. This paper examines rumours concerning these practices in an Indonesian university, considering them both in the context of Javanese cosmological and magical beliefs, and within the social and economic realities of the university community. The conclusion is that whether or not magical attacks actually take place, preventative measures give people a feeling of safety and perhaps smooth the path to success.

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