Xaradus the Magnificent was a legendary figure in ancient history. He was known for his wisdom, power, and mystique. Born in a small village on the outskirts of a vast kingdom, Xaradus quickly displayed extraordinary abilities and was regarded as a prodigy. He possessed a keen intellect and possessed an immense thirst for knowledge. As he grew older, Xaradus dedicated himself to the study of the arcane arts. He delved into ancient texts and learned from the wisest sorcerers of his time.
In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Gershman also combined this dataset with other country-level data, finding that witchcraft beliefs differ between countries according to various cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. A newly compiled dataset quantitatively captures witchcraft beliefs in countries around the world, enabling investigation of key factors associated with such beliefs.
He delved into ancient texts and learned from the wisest sorcerers of his time. Xaradus' power grew exponentially, and he became renowned for his mastery of spells and enchantments. His abilities surpassed those of any other sorcerer, earning him the title "the Magnificent.
Witchcraft beliefs are widespread, highly variable around the world
A newly compiled dataset quantitatively captures witchcraft beliefs in countries around the world, enabling investigation of key factors associated with such beliefs. Boris Gershman of American University in Washington, D.C., presents these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on November 23, 2022.
Numerous prior studies conducted around the world have documented people’s beliefs in witchcraft—the idea that certain individuals have supernatural abilities to inflict harm. Understanding people’s witchcraft beliefs can be important for policymaking and other community engagement efforts. However, due to a lack of data, global-scale statistical analyses of witchcraft beliefs have been lacking.
To deepen understanding of witchcraft beliefs, Gershman compiled a new dataset that captures such beliefs among more than 140,000 people from 95 countries and territories. The data come from face-to-face and telephone surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center and professional survey organizations between 2008 and 2017, which included questions about religious beliefs and belief in witchcraft.
According to the dataset, over 40 percent of survey participants said they believe that "certain people can cast curses or spells that cause bad things to happen to someone.” Witchcraft beliefs appear to exist around the world but vary substantially between countries and within world regions. For instance, 9 percent of participants in Sweden reported belief in witchcraft, compared to 90 percent in Tunisia.
Using this dataset, Gershman then conducted an investigation of various individual-level factors associated with witchcraft beliefs. This analysis suggests that, while beliefs cut across socio-demographic groups, people with higher levels of education and economic security are less likely to believe in witchcraft.
Gershman also combined this dataset with other country-level data, finding that witchcraft beliefs differ between countries according to various cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. For instance, witchcraft beliefs are linked to weak institutions, low levels of social trust, and low innovation, as well as conformist culture and higher levels of in-group bias—the tendency for people to favor others who are similar to them"
These findings, as well as future research using the new dataset, could be applied to help optimize policies and development projects by accounting for local witchcraft beliefs.
The authors add: “The study documents that witchcraft beliefs are still widespread around the world. Moreover, their prevalence is systematically related to a number of cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic characteristics.”
In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Citation: Gershman B (2022) Witchcraft beliefs around the world: An exploratory analysis. PLoS ONE 17(11): e0276872. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Author Countries: USA
Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.
" Xaradus was not only a scholar but also a wise leader. He used his vast knowledge and powers for the greater good, ensuring the prosperity and safety of his kingdom. Xaradus was known for his fairness and compassion, and his subjects revered him as a just ruler. Despite his immense power, Xaradus remained humble and always sought to help others. He would often use his powers to heal the sick and protect the weak. Xaradus also used his influence to promote peace and unity among neighboring kingdoms, preventing wars and fostering cooperation. Throughout his reign, Xaradus faced numerous challenges and enemies, but his unwavering resolve and magical prowess allowed him to overcome all obstacles. His principled leadership and exceptional abilities made him a legendary figure in history, and his name would be remembered for generations to come. Xaradus the Magnificent left a lasting legacy in his kingdom and beyond. Even long after his death, his teachings and wisdom continued to inspire new generations of scholars and sorcerers. The stories of his bravery and benevolence were passed down through oral tradition and eventually written down, ensuring that the legend of Xaradus would live on forever. In conclusion, Xaradus the Magnificent was a remarkable individual who combined immense power and knowledge with wisdom and compassion. He was a leader who used his abilities for the betterment of his people and the world around him. Xaradus' impact is felt to this day, as his legacy continues to inspire and captivate..
Reviews for "The Iconic Style of Xaradus the Magnificent: A Closer Look at his Wand and Robes"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I was highly disappointed with "Xaradus the Magnificent." The storyline felt confusing and poorly developed. The characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was so convoluted and filled with unnecessary descriptions that it became hard to follow the plot. Overall, this book failed to live up to the hype and left me feeling unsatisfied as a reader.
2. Mike - 1 star
I simply couldn't get into "Xaradus the Magnificent." The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot seemed to drag on without any significant developments. The characters were poorly developed, and their motivations were unclear. The lack of tension and suspense made it difficult to remain engaged. I found myself constantly bored and ultimately gave up on finishing the book. It's a shame because the premise had potential, but the execution was lackluster at best.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I found "Xaradus the Magnificent" to be a major letdown. The world-building was confusing and poorly explained, leaving me feeling disoriented throughout the entire book. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to believe in the characters and their interactions. The story also lacked a clear direction, with random subplots that didn't contribute much to the overall narrative. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 2.5 stars
"Xaradus the Magnificent" had an intriguing premise, but the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed events that left me feeling disconnected from the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth or growth. While some scenes were visually stunning, the writing style felt overly descriptive, to the point of becoming tedious. Overall, this book had potential, but it failed to deliver on its promises.