During the European witch craze that lasted from about 1480 to 1700, women who practiced unusual rituals were often persecuted as witches. This craze began after the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and the consolidation of national governments. When scientists could not explain certain bizarre events that occurred in nature and society, the church used its own biblical knowledge to provide an explanation. Science searched for reasons as to why old woman acted peculiarly, whereas religion accused women for being possessed by the Devil. Other than the battle for power, there was a battle for money that occurred within society. Many judges and townspeople were benefited financially because of the public persecutions of witches. The witch trials served as an opportunity for the government to increase its power and profits due to the contradictory views science and religion had of witchcraft. .
The government posed the witch-hunt movement in hope of acquiring wealth from the persecution. In order to achieve power, the government accused and tortured women and men for unknown, unexplainable events that occurred. The judges" minds were obscured by their craze for supremacy that they did not look for reasons or explanations for such happenings. As the government's power grew, the voice of society shrunk. If one disagreed over a woman being a witch, he is considered to have no religion because he has no ideas to believe in. Without a religion, people cannot be guided to do the right things. Not only did judges gain money, but notaries and copyists made great profits for transcribing documents and recording how many witches were being burned. Even the executioner himself, acted as thought he had supreme power over all the persons since he killed the witches. Being the executioner was a privilege and honor because it showed strength and ability to rid the evil forces that infected society.
