A short article from Boston University’s “BU Today” site caught my eye while looking through religious news stories.
Onaje Woodbine has developed an iOS app that allows Apple iPhones and iPads to run an application the mimics the throwing of the chain for Ifa divination. By simulating various throws, users of the app can quiz themselves on the verses associated with it. It’s essentially a high-tech version of flash-cards.
The application seems to have received criticism from some in the community, who feel like it reveals too much. Personally, I don’t see an issue… All of the verses and things are widely available in books already. This just provides a way of easily accessing the information through a phone or tablet. Just because other people have already made information available doesn’t mean it’s right, though, and I get that… but I still don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal.
To put it in simpler terms, think about throwing Obi. Even if you explain to someone how Obi works, unless they have the ache and know what they are doing, it’s simply a handful of coconut pieces scattered on the ground — any sort of divination they do through it is based on pure luck at best.
