Many religions have been misunderstood by people. Sometimes their ignorance and beliefs cannot be opened up to the truth. Witchcraft is one of those religions. The majority of people have sometimes compared Witchcraft to Satanism or any religion dealing with the occult. In fact, Witchcraft is sometimes referred to as the "Old Religion", and is completely different from the misconceptions of people. It is certainly one of the most misunderstood religions. It will continue to remain to be misunderstood if people insist on keeping a closed mind on the subject and believe the stories and rumors that have been misconstrued over the years.
Witchcraft is considered to be one of the oldest religions dating back to Pre-historic times. Its practices were found painted on the walls of caves long before Christianity was established. Witchcraft had all but disappeared until an Englishman by the name of Gerald Gardner revived it in the 1940's. While on a trip to Asia he became overwhelmed by magic and the worship of the Mother Goddess. In 1939 he was initiated into witchcraft by a woman named Old Dorothy Clutterbuck, the heir to the ancient tradition. When he returned to England he began a coven, and from this coven he wrote rituals and published books on Witchcraft, his grimoire, or bible, is still in existence and is located in the Ripley's collection in Toronto. .
Gardner soon became a part of many covens and spiritualist organizations. He was influenced by a man named Aleister Crowley, an earlier occultist who styled himself as "The Great Beast". Crowley was a part of an occultist group named the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an occult that Gardner would later join. Gardner took the complicated rituals of Witchcraft and made them simpler so that ordinary people could perform them. By the 1950's people were flocking to Mr. Gardner. In the mid-1960's several Americans went to England and brought back the teachings of Gerald Gardner thereby forming the modern Witchcraft of today.
All people practicing witchcraft were condemned by the Puritans. ... In addition, the philosophy structured by the Puritans is the most desirable way to live by. ... Witchcraft was unacceptable to the Puritan's beliefs. ... Witchcraft is to support and engage in awful behavior. The Puritans lived their lives by serving God and basing their philosophy from the Bible. ...
In his writings he warned us of this philosophy's dangers by bringing to light a tragic but meaningful event in our history. ... One similarity was that anyone who undermined the authority of the judges in Salem was accused of witchcraft and the same held true during the red scare when people were accused of being communist. ... Although unfair, Americans adopted this sort of judgment to crush the ideas of witchcraft and communism in fear that one of these philosophies would prevail. ...
People died because of the crazy idea of witchcraft. ... Puritan religion had a very low tolerance because the philosophy of their religion was rooted in spiritual flawlessness. ... In finding witchcraft they found a way to blame their misfortunes on something. ... To stand out would probably mean that you would get accused of witchcraft as well. ... America for the most part doesn't believe in witchcraft. ...
Various forms of magic and witchcraft exist in "Conkiajgharuna: the Little Rag Girl" as well. ... While some may chose not to teach these versions to their young children, others may view this magic as only framework for the basis of a good "light versus evil" fairytale, and while the satanic Cinderella Lee Tanith presents may seem vile and corrupt, it can be seen as a normal reaction, following in her mothers footsteps and adopting her philosophy for justice. ...
The Tarot has been known as the "Game of Man" and is said to encompass Gypsies philosophies. ... (Encyclopedia 360) Christians classified the gypsies as believing in witchcraft. ... ROMS have been synonymous with witchcraft, fortune telling, and thievery. ... Witchcraft I practice some elements of witchcraft that I have learned and studied. ... Witchcraft is the craft of becoming one with the goddess, moon, and earth. ...
Wicca, the Old English term for a witch, is the principal branch of the Pagan revival to which most witches adhere and which principally sustained modern witchcraft. ... In the 1692 witch trial in Salem, Massachusetts, people went out of control accusing other people of witchcraft and nineteen innocent people lost their lives. ... NeoPaganism, the term generally applied to modern Paganism, includes witchcraft and other disciplines that adapt a reverence for the natural world and the mother Earth. ... In the United States, NeoPaganism encompasses a broadly New Age philosophy. ...
(Kerr 11) Miller lived during an era that is renowned for the philosophy of McCarthyism, a great paranoia and fear of the spread of Communism. ... "Why does Abigail accuse the local women of witchcraft? It is because she herself fears being accused of witchcraft, and rather than be accused she chooses to accuse others." ... Therefore, she accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft, ultimately because she feels threatened by Elizabeth's relationship with John. ... (Miller, Crucible 858) Although there is never any proof or evidence, she is condemned and hangs for witchcraft. ...
Puritan lawmakers felt that even members of the church could be found guilty of witchcraft. To control the spread of witchcraft a community of vigilance was created to hunt down and prosecute all suspected witches. ... This was done by accusing the people moving up socially of witchcraft and placing them on trial. ... The witchcraft trials were used by the farming community as a method of restoring order among the social groups. ... (Hysteria) Because Bishop dared to go against the strict Puritan philosophy she was put on trial as a witch. ...
