Witchcraft is a sensation that has captured the minds of people since the beginning of time. I think it important to first discuss some history of witchcraft. The World Book Encyclopedia (2002) describes some of the history as follows: .
The term witch comes from the Old English word wicca, which is derived from the Germanic root wic, meaning to bend or to turn."" "In many places around the world, witchcraft beliefs and practices have existed for centuries with little change, [and] [p]rehistoric art depicts magical rites to ensure successful hunting. (p. 371, 372). .
Some beliefs about witchcraft may have risen from stories and legends told, possibly around a fire, just as ghost stories are now told around a campfire. Around A.D. 700, Christian religion saw witchcraft as denouncing the Catholic Church and began to question "heresy-, a rejection of the church, and, "began a long campaign to stamp out heresy [and] [b]eginning in the 1000's, religious leaders sentenced heretics to death by burning- (World Book, 2002 p. 372). It was then that society and the church began associating witchcraft with devil worship. Although, according to The World Book Encyclopedia (2000), "historians doubt that worship of the Devil was ever widespread, if indeed it even took place. But stories about it created a mood of fear and anxiety- (p. 372.) By the 1600's, the "witch hunt- craze was at its highest point and most of the people who were accused of being witches were women. In author Ann Llewellyn Barstow's book Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts (1994), a typical witch was usually described in this way: "women which be commonly old, lame, bleare-eied, pale, fowle, and full of wrinkles- and "[like] a bitch far more hideous to look at than all the others- (p.16). A comparative analysis of a society, the Nupe of Northern Nigeria, and examples of witch-hunts throughout Europe during early European history, will show difference in time-line and reasoning, but one thing stands true; women were the focal point, and were most often thought to be, and accused of being witches.
People also practiced witchcraft in the days of the early Romans, and several thousand years before that time witchcraft was practiced in Egypt. ... In 1735 Scotland repealed all laws which dealt with witchcraft. ... Today most people no longer believe in witchcraft. ... Actually, witchcraft still exist in several parts of the world. ... Azande tribe is well-known for its witchcraft. ...
Witchcraft: The History The subject of witchcraft is something that has fascinated and instilled fear in people for centuries. ... Who would have really expected witchcraft to die there? ... It was now considered heresy to NOT believe in witchcraft! ... This was one of major causes for witchcraft. ... The history of witchcraft is a long and often times cloudy one. ...
It overrode the accuser's alibi because the judges blamed the witchcraft on their spirits. ... In an average outbreak of witchcraft, only one or two people were usually accused. ... In Europe, witchcraft was considered a heresy against the church, and heretics were burned. In England and New England, witchcraft was a crime, and the guilty were hanged. ... Today, witchcraft is legal and can be practiced as long as the government laws are obeyed. ...
Witchcraft is a phenomenon that has captured the minds of millions since its existence. ... People believed in witchcraft against the assertions of the church that it was mere superstition, and later the church began to believe in witchcraft too. ... (Russel, 658) Witchcraft has a very fascinating history. ... John Klaits best describes how the belief in witchcraft flourished by saying, "many accusations of witchcraft resulted from ordinary village quarrels." (86) Chance happenings in life were often blamed on witchcraft. ... Jews were among those accused of witchcraft during the mediev...
In The Crucible, a lot of conflict was going on about witchcraft. ... Ruth lies motionless in her bed due to being a victim of witchcraft. ... This also shows that witchcraft made Ruth paralyzed. As a result, Ruth is a victim of witchcraft by being paralyzed. ... This also shows that witchcraft broke the city apart. ...
Witchcraft is one of those religions. ... The misconceptions of Witchcraft have been inaccurate and misleading. ... Satan is a demonic figure from the Christian belief, not from Witchcraft. In Witchcraft there is no deity that is evil. ... Today modern Witchcraft "is a variety of paganism" (Russell 157). ...
Witchcraft was believed in every level of society therefore it was common to see every catastrophe as a result of the actions of witches. ... They claimed demonic witchcraft had no biblical justification, it was a type of witchcraft that was absent from the scriptures. ... Scot's 'Discoverie of Witchcraft,' written 1584, claimed that most accused were in fact innocent of witchcraft. ... However, despite the doubt expressed by judges and lawyers the belief in witchcraft was not eradicated in their minds. ... The religious group accredited events to be the work of God, rather than...
