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Mushahara: A Nubian Concept of Supernatural Danger and the Theory of Taboo 1
Author(s) -
KENNEDY JOHN G.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
american anthropologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1548-1433
pISSN - 0002-7294
DOI - 10.1525/aa.1967.69.6.02a00040
Subject(s) - taboo , harm , freudian slip , islam , philosophy , psychoanalysis , history , epistemology , sociology , psychology , social psychology , anthropology , theology
The religous system of the Egyptian Nubians is a syncretistic complex of orthodox and popular Islam and “pagan” elements. Mushahara is a “pagan” concept referring to supernatural harm caused to individuals in vulnerable states by other persons' violation of taboos. Analysis of mushahara behavior reveals that it is oriented around life‐cycle crises and the fear of spirit‐beings. Functional anthropological and Freudian approaches appear to have some applicability in explaining the customs and changes in customs, but they leave major theoretical and methodological problems unsolved. In conclusion, an attempt is made to describe the nature of taboo.