Paul Stroller is an anthropologist who becomes an apprentice to Songhay sorcerers which results in gradually changing Paul’s belief in magic. During his apprenticeship which extends over five field stays, Paul learns incantations, ingests specific foods of initiation, and participates indirectly with sorcery (Stoller, Olkes, 1987, p.ix). Although Paul knew of the practice sorcery he did not believe in it, for he believed that science could explain these events or occurrences. However, his beliefs change as he starts to experience specific events that his rational thoughts cannot explain. Therefore, he relies upon what he learned over the last few years and comes to an understanding that these events must be a result of sorcery. Tanya Luhrmann is an anthropologist who travels to England to study the persuasion of magic. For a little over a year Tanya immerses herself in magic; reading books, practicing magical spells, taking magical courses, and joining practicing magical groups (Luhrmann, 1989, p. 17). During this time Tanya’s learns that practicing magic gradually changes a person’s perspective, that it slowly begins to change a person’s interpretation of events from the world around them, thus making magic logical, reasonable, and believable (Luhrmann, 1989, p. 11). These gradual transitions are theories that Tanya discusses…show more content… This changing process involves learning to find the evidence in a ritual by seeking out a connection or pattern that was once considered a coincidence, hence attempting to ensure that the ritual was a success. It includes the sharing of knowledge from other magicians therefore offering new and more ways to interpret magical events. Lastly, the magician uses these newly acquired beliefs thus slowly changing their intellectual thought process and as well as their perspective (Luhrmann, 1989, p.
