Talk:Evil eye

African American mooshoo

Seeing as though Africans taken to America were in some instances Muslims, and African Americans have been involved in Islam for a long time, why is it an occultist is credited with introducing the evil eye into African American circles? Unless there is some factual basis for this that I (in ignorance) have missed this seems to be a patronising passage that should be removed or at least verified.

Origin

A few days ago I did some work on the lead section. As part of that, I noticed that one or more people have been repeatedly adding "originating in Greece", and a Greek translation, to the first sentence. The cited sources don't support this, either about the superstition, the amulets, or the glass beads. They do note the existence of the legend in Ancient Greece, but don't say that it originated there; at least one says that it came to Greece from Ancient Egypt, others say it's too old and widespread to trace. Even if it's possible to find published claims of a Greek national origin, there is insufficient agreement among reliable sources to make the unqualified statement in the lead sentence. Accordingly, I removed it as per WP:WEIGHT, and the translation as per MOS:FORLANG.

I have just reverted three subsequent edits by 49.180.118.234 (talk), that re-added some material, for these reasons:

• [1] re-adding "originating in Greece", see above.
• [2] unsourced, and the sentence just doesn't make sense to me.
• [3] unexplained deletion of sourced content, addition of unsourced.

--IamNotU (talk) 15:13, 14 February 2021 (UTC)

Still don't understand what it is

I read most of the article and still don't understand. Is it a fae-like floating eye? Is it some invisible demon flashing looks at people? Is it just when one person looks at another with scorn? I have no clue if it is a person, thing, or idea. Is it a living thing in and of itself? Is it the way something expresses? The article is so very unclear. I have seen the talismans, but am not sure if they are the evil eye or not—and if not, how are they thought to work? Why an eye to guard against an eye?

It reminds me of "the game." As soon as you have thought about the game, you've lost the game. When you see one of those talismans you think about the evil eye, whatever that is, and otherwise, no one thinks about it. Which means the talisman rather than protecting people from a thing keep it fresh in mind all the time. Or maybe people were tricked by someone who wanted the evil eye to be everywhere and the talisman is the evil eye. Or does the talisman just stare back at the eye? Os ot like a weeping angel where you suffer if you blink while the eye is watching; so the talisman watches for you?

I just don't understand it at all because I never grew up with this folklore. So, those who do understand, please explain it as if you area talking to someone who has no clue. Because I don't have any.2604:2D80:DE11:1300:ED2A:9572:F1A4:6B7C (talk) 06:04, 2 March 2021 (UTC)

The book "The Poor, the Crippled, the Blind, and the Lame: Physical and Sensory Disability in the Gospels of the New Testament" (https://books.google.com/books?id=_hVnDwAAQBAJ, p. 105) explain it well:

It refers to the power possessed by a person to bring harm or injury (I would also add and misfortune) to others simply through one's gaze. Such powers are wrought through the feelings of envy or jealously at the happiness, beauty and prosperity of others. Gre regiment (talk) 22:27, 29 September 2022 (UTC)

Eye of Horus

I think that the Eye of Horus from ancient Egypt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus) would be an earlier precedent than eye-cups. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Shanaoc (talk • contribs) 21:35, 17 October 2021 (UTC)

The evil eye in Christianity

Neither of the examples cited in Protective Talismans and Cures > By Religion > In Christianity purporting to indicate Christianity's beliefs on the evil eye have anything to do with the subject. Luke 11:34 is not talking about the evil eye in the mythological/paranormal sense; it is essentially talking about the effects of turning one's "eye" towards things Jesus considered wicked. (See Pulpit Commentary on Luke 11:34 - "If they gave way to passion, jealousy, prejudice, impurity, lawlessness in its hundred forms, then for them the spiritual eye of the soul would become diseased, and therefore incapable of rightly discerning any heavenly sign. It was this danger that the Master was pointing out to the crowd.") Mark 7:22 is cited, because the Greek words ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός literally translate "eye evil", but this is translated "envy" in most modern translations (https://biblehub.com/mark/7-22.htm). Even if this were to be translated differently, the verse is a list of sins and is not talking about "the evil eye" in the sense of the supposed supernatural phenomenon. Zomwolf (talk) 06:25, 8 February 2023 (UTC)

Exactly. The proposed bits in "In Christianity" are of Hollywood and hearsay. I recently edited out said bits, leaving in place a sentence of the "evil eye" not having any significant meaning or value in Christianity. I also wrote that even if some translation could possibly come to the word pair of "evil eye" somewhere in the Bible it doesn't mean it would still be of the "evil eye" as per the article.

All my edits were reverted. How does this work - how do we replace the current sham with facts?

Thanks. Jaakko.pontinen (talk) 20:17, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

I feel obliged to agree with you @Jaakko.pontinen; the section you originally axed is a disgrace. "Original research" doesn't even begin to cover it; whoever wrote it extrapolated very obviously false information from primary sources, if you can even call the 1897 novel Dracula a primary source on christian beliefs.

The user who reverted your edit didn't justify or explain their revert in any way, which by itself straddles the line of acceptable conduct. I can only assume they mistook your contribution for vandalism. I invite you to re-submit your changes, citing this discussion thread and any wikipedia policies you find fit to support it. If they still find your contribution unacceptable, they're welcome to explain their concerns here.

Heck, I'd do it myself, but I'm too lazy to log in :P 83.5.139.163 (talk) 05:41, 30 August 2023 (UTC)