Religious views on Black Magic In many Asian cultures and religions, just as you might find in any Western culture, there are beliefs about good and evil. It’s universally accepted that good and evil exists in various shapes and forms wherever you are in the world. However, when it comes to religious beliefs they are more often than not set in stone. A religious belief is a concept that is accepted by that particular religion and so as a follower of that religion you are expected to conform to that belief. Throughout Asia there are several main religions that either accept the existence of supernatural powers, for good or evil, or flatly refute them. Herein lies the problem. If a religion whole heartedly accepts that someone might have a mystical power that is designed to carry out good deeds then where is the opposite? There must be an opposite position if that religion is to determine the difference between good and evil. The Sikh religion in general does not accept Black Magic as a power, as a weapon or as a means for controlling another person against their will. Sikhs do however believe in god and therefore believe in good and bad but not in the devil or demons as such. Sikhism is a relatively new religion spanning only around 500 years, which currently has around 25 million followers worldwide. The Muslim Religion The Muslim religion is very much aligned to the good and evil that is both seen and unseen. Muslims believe that Black Magic is very real and even educated Muslims are of the belief that if a young girl has not received proposals of marriage then she must be cursed. Within the Muslim communities are Black Magic practitioners called “Amils”. Amils are regularly contacted about all types of problems faced by Muslim believers including loss of a job, career or business, family problems and infertility. The Hindu Religion The Hindu religion is immersed in deep-rooted beliefs about astrology, Black Magic and the role of negative and positive energies. It is believed that Black Magic is a form of negative energy that is being manipulated by someone with the intention to do harm to others. Interfering with the natural flow of positive energy can have an effect on logical thought patterns, which can cause people to do things out of character. Many Hindus believe they should take steps to protect themselves against the harmful effects of Black Magic and do so in several ways including, drawing auspicious pictures or rangolis and placing them at the threshold of their homes. They also believe that religious music, prayers and mantras will ward off any ill-effects of Black Magic.