Curse: Encyclopedia - Curse

Curse

A curse is the effective action of supernatural (or psychological) cause in an individual, group, or object's existence, distinguished solely by the quality of adversity that it brings, else it would be considered a "charm" or a "blessing." A curse may also be said to be the evocation of the spell or prayer, imprecation or execration, or other imposition as by magic or witchcraft, asking that a god, natural forces (e.g. see alchemical elements), or spirit bring misfortune to someone.

In a broader sense, 'curse' is a loose synonym for blasphemy or profanity (i.e. a "curse word.") The curse is also another term for the original sin of Adam and Eve.

Curse - Philosophy and Religion

A more philosophical kind of curse may be said to arise by violating religious or social principles and establishing a kind of irrevocable fate, in some cases of supernatural power. (e.g. see Blasphemy.)

Ordinary belief in curses seems to be a vague sort of animism of nature typical of folk religion and superstition. However very similar ideas are a large part of the founding beliefs of the established religions, even as their authoritative varieties typically forbid any practice among communicants, or even knowledge. However official practice may remain in many ways.

All religions offer forms of blessings of homes and objects and people with this in mind. Typically then a curse is only a category or type of something much larger.

Moreover if spiritual possession & demonic possession are merely varieties of curse, it may actually shed light on a much more universal nature. (Factoid: the original staff of the Vatican, according to Catholic records, included 300 full time exorcists.)

Curse - Folk Use

The deliberate levying of curses is often part of the practice of magic, at the boundary of accepted religion with Pagans cultures. Some people claiming to be gifted in magic or Witchcraft set up business to exploit fears, in order to profitably separate victims from their money. This has been a very large part of the mythos (and bad reputation) of modern day Romani peoples (Gypsies). However the most popularly feared source of curses are the Voodoo ("Vodun") and Santaria priests. All established religions (see Secular Religious Power) forbid such practices outright, and most Neopagans and Wiccans claim never to use evil magic, or to use it only in defense against evil that struck at them first.

Curse - Cursed places

Certain objects or places are said to be cursed. Sometimes, the curse was allegedly laid with a purpose; the "Curse of the Pharaohs" is supposed to have haunted the archaeologists who excavated the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, whereby an imprecation was supposedly pronounced on anyone who violated its precincts by the ancient Egyptian priests. Tecumseh's curse was reputed to cause the deaths in office of Presidents of the United States elected in years divisible by 20, beginning in 1840 (this alleged curse appears to have fallen dormant in 1980, as President Ronald Reagan, elected that year, failed to die in office).

Curse - Cursed objects

Other curses seem to have neither motive nor purpose. The Hope Diamond is supposed to bear such a curse, and bring misfortune to its owner.

Curse - Curses in the Bible

Some passages in the Tanakh treat curses as being effective techniques; they see a curse as an objective reality with real power. However, most sections of the Bible conceive a curse to be merely a wish, to be fulfilled by God only when just and deserved.

According to the Book of Proverbs, an undeserved curse has no effect (Proverbs 26:2), but may fall back upon the head of him who utters it (Genesis 12:3; Sirach 21:27), or may be turned by God into a blessing (Deut. 23:5).

The declaration of punishments (Gen. 3:14, 17; 4:11), the utterance of threats (Jer. 11:3, 17:5; Mal. i. 14), and the proclamation of laws (Deut. 11:26-28, 27:15 et seq.) received added solemnity and force when conditioned by a curse.

In the Bible, cursing is generally characteristic of the godless (Ps. 10:7), but may serve as a weapon in the mouth of the wronged, the oppressed, and those who are zealous for God and righteousness (Judges 9:57; Prov. 11"26, 30:10).

A righteous curse, especially when uttered by persons in authority, was believed to be unfailing in its effect (Gen. 9:25, 27:12; II Kings 2:24; Ecclus. [Sirach] 3:11). One who had received exemplary punishment at the hands of God was frequently held up, in cursing, as a terrifying object-lesson (Jer. xxix. 22), and such a person was said to be, or to have become, a curse (II Kings 22:19; Jer. 24:9, 25: 18; Zech. 8:13). An elaborate trial by ordeal for a woman suspected by her husband of adultery is set forth in Numbers 5:11-30; this involved drinking a "bitter water that brings a curse"; if the woman were guilty, she would suffer miscarriage and infertility.

It is especially forbidden to curse God (Ex. 22:28), parents (Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Prov. 20:20, 30: 11), the authorities (Ex. 22:28; Eccl. 10:20), and the helpless deaf (Lev. 19:14).

Curse - Curses in the Quran

The Quran, verse Surah 33, verse 68:

Curse - Curses in rabbinic literature

A number of sections of the Talmud show a belief in the power of curses (Berachot 19a, 56a.) In some cases, a curse is described as related to the nature of a prayer (Ta'an. 23b); an undeserved curse is described as ineffective (Makkot 11a) and falls back upon the head of him who utters it (Sanhedrin 49a).

Not only is a curse uttered by a scholar unfailing in its effect, even if undeserved (Mak. 11a), but one should not regard lightly even the curse uttered by an ignorant man (Meg. 15a).

The Biblical prohibitions of cursing are legally elaborated, and extended to self-cursing (Shebu. 35a). A woman that curses her husband's parents in his presence is divorced and loses her dowry (Ket. 72a).

Cursing may be permissible when prompted by religious motives. For instance, a curse is uttered against those who mislead the people by calculating, on the basis of Biblical passages, when the Messiah will come (Sanhedrin 97b). Cursed are those who are guilty of actions which, though not forbidden, are considered reprehensible.

According to legend, some rabbinic scholars cursed sometimes not only with their mouths, but also with an angry, fixed look. The consequence of such a look was either immediate death or poverty (Sotah 46b, and parallel passages). (See Evil eye)

Curse - Ancient Roman Curses

Roman curses, true to the orderly Roman mind, were somewhat more formal and official. They were called tabulae defixionis. They were written on lead or other materials and then were posted in some place considered effective, such as in a tomb, or tossed into a sacred spring.

In the text you uttered a prayer or formula that your enemy suffer injury in some specific way, along with the reason thereof. Perhaps someone stole a possession or harmed you or yours.

The Romans, Etruscans and Greeks in Italy all practiced this custom. Fortunately for us, they hid the curses so well that today we have a body of curse inscriptions to tell us how they thought.

Curse - Other curses

A well-known curse, known as the Seaforth Doom, was laid on the Seaforth family of Scotland by the Brahan Seer. Later events bore a striking resemblance to those foretold by the Seer.

See also

• Kennedy curse
• Curse of the Bambino
• Tecumseh's curse
• Motif of harmful sensation

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Curse", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki