Can someone remain genuinely spiritual while doing terrible things, or is it just a way to quiet guilt and fear?
By Zuko Komisa
It is a paradox that pops up time and again: men in mafia movies visiting confession booths before a hit, cartels weaving deep religious devotion into brutal operations, and right here in South Africa, cash-in-transit robbers turning to traditional muti or spiritual blessings for protection before a heist.
It begs a fascinating question how can deep faith exist alongside serious crime?
Inside gangs and syndicates, rituals and prayers serve multiple purposes. They offer psychological coping mechanisms to handle fear and guilt, create symbolic meaning around violent acts, and act as powerful tools of control.
Shared beliefs build group cohesion and enforce strict loyalty.
To bypass cognitive dissonance, individuals rationalise their choices, maintaining a sense of moral “rightness” even while harming others.
To make sense of this strange intersection, Drive 959 spoke to Dr Ashwill Ramon Phillips, a criminologist at the University of Free State who specialises in youth gang subcultures and occult practices.
According to Dr Phillips, spiritual belief systems whether religious or traditional often do not sit separate from a criminal’s identity, but are woven right into it.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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