The Salem Witch Trials

[Verv]

It was not a unique occurrence. Events such as these were happening all across the Colonies and Europe

Proof?

I know of course of Salem and some of the issues that were occurring in the geographic area that comprised Germany but I would like to hear more about this.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Mankind also doesn't need to believe in the supernatural to hate and fear people and groups.

Indeed, people come up with all kinds of reasons for that . Some very mundane, others completely rooted in superstition.

 

[MaxP]

Indeed, people come up with all kinds of reasons for that . Some very mundane, others completely rooted in superstition.

Like I said, it's merely a vehicle.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Like I said, it's merely a vehicle.

I'm not disagreeing. But that hardly lets catalysts off the hook.

 

[MaxP]

I'm not disagreeing. But that hardly lets catalysts off the hook.

I don't think it does either, but one has to realize that such vehicles are more of an excuse(even though they may be, at times, promoted by the authorities from whence the vehicles came).
The belief in witches is one of many examples of people trying to discover a scapegoat for bad fortune. Witches were thought to cause terrible harvest as well as outbreaks of sickness, which was a terrible combination in those times especially. Eventually, rather than being a scapegoat blamed for such catastrophe's after they occurred, they were sought out and killed in a preemptive fashion. Many religious officials encouraged this practice. But even then, witch trials, especially on the scope of Salem's, were rare.
A similar situation was created by the scientific community with Eugenics: a scientific reason to believe in the inferiority, sub-humanness, of black people, and indeed many non-white races. Scientific authorities believed in this excuse to hate, much as religious officials put their stamp of approval on scapegoating witches.
Really, the only reason Christianity can be partially at fault is because it was the predominant force and belief of the time: people were bound to use it as an excuse to hate, fear, and assign a scapegoat for their troubles. People still do.

 

[MoonLancer]

Proof?

I know of course of Salem and some of the issues that were occurring in the geographic area that comprised Germany but I would like to hear more about this.

there had been others in new york and long island between 1665 and 1670, and nine witches were hanged in Connecticut between 1647 1662.

1563, elizabeth I signed a new witch craft act which was particularly hard on fortune tellers especially those who foretold her death. Under this act, 535 bills of indictment were drawn up, and 82 people were executed.

Three witches were tried in chelmsford in 1566, one of whom was hanged. A second was hanged after being tried in 1579, along with another condemned witch. In 1582.. two witches (were) hanged

-page 15

(in scottland) 1607 a total of forty one people were executed for witchcraft

-page 16


by the end of 1645 some 200 peple were longed up awaiting trial in suffolk as a result of hopkins' zeal...

-page 21

eighteen people were quickly convicted and hanged, followed by another fifty...

by 26 july 1646 Hopkins was in norfolk where another twenty witches met their fate... It is uncertain how many died in his march across East Angilia

(for clarification Hopkins was a famous witch hunter)


-page 22

in all, in england, around a thousand died

-page 23


well the book goes on its around 138 pages.

 

[MoonLancer]

Really, the only reason Christianity can be partially at fault is because it was the predominant force and belief of the time: people were bound to use it as an excuse to hate, fear, and assign a scapegoat for their troubles. People still do.

that and the bible says to kill witches...

 

[MaxP]

that and the bible says to kill witches...

Written in his laws for the Israeli nation. The law was written to keep the Israelites, God's chosen people, free of heretics and those who worshiped the devil. You can't be a member of the Jewish nation and a witch.

It is no longer binding to Christians.

 

[MoonLancer]

It is no longer binding to Christians.

then why is it in the bible?

for that matter,

I was not aware that the new testament specifically said don't kill witches...

also note, that anyone who did not workshop God was said to workshop the devil. Thus all other religions were considered those of witchcraft. that's a lot of blood. It really makes one wonder.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Written in his laws for the Israeli nation. The law was written to keep the Israelites, God's chosen people, free of heretics and those who worshiped the devil. You can't be a member of the Jewish nation and a witch.

It is no longer binding to Christians.

A modern concept. Not one shared over a great deal of time by Christians of other eras.

 

[MaxP]

then why is it in the bible?

for that matter,

I was not aware that the new testament specifically said don't kill witches...

also note, that anyone who did not workshop God was said to workshop the devil. Thus all other religions were considered those of witchcraft. that's a lot of blood. It really makes one wonder.

Actually, the Catechism specifically states the relationship between the good in other religions.

A modern concept. Not one shared over a great deal of time by Christians of other eras.

A concept not so modern, but still not shared by all Christians.

 

[SiderealExalt]

Actually, the Catechism specifically states the relationship between the good in other religions.


A concept not so modern, but still not shared by all Christians.

And?

Man to his neighbors-"No no, it's ok...I was violent and killed and tortured a long time ago. No big deal....guys..where are you running to?"

 

[canukian]

It was not a unique occurrence. Events such as these were happening all across the Colonies and Europe

ithink this happend during the little ice age when there were crop failures,starvation. do you have any inkiling what it is like to live thru a time like that?

 

[canukian]

And?

Man to his neighbors-"No no, it's ok...I was violent and killed and tortured a long time ago. No big deal....guys..where are you running to?"

and... athiests are the worst mruderers of all time, communists.

 

[MaxP]

And?

Man to his neighbors-"No no, it's ok...I was violent and killed and tortured a long time ago. No big deal....guys..where are you running to?"

That's man throughout time.

 

[SiderealExalt]

and... athiests are the worst mruderers of all time, communists.

Lol this old and tired argument. For one, worst murderers of all time? We got statistics for that? Also, the russian bolsheviks didn't kill FOR atheism. They killed for their personal brand of totalitarianistic communism. So like this tired, sad and old argument always does. It falls flat.

 

[SiderealExalt]

That's man throughout time.

And here in lies a difference between atheists and theists. We're quite fine with knowing that, and that knowing that in no way means that religion should not be discarded.

 

[Inviolable]

Posted here because I feel this is more a Ethics/Morality question rather than a life science question
So on to the question

Anyone who does a quick study of the history of the trials can see for themselves that it was based entirely on superstition.
The bible didn't really play a part. Not entirely anyway, which many people fall under the assumption that mean old Christians went out of their way to kill self proclaimed witches.
For starters no one was a "self proclaimed witch".
The reality is that "everyone" back in those day's was practicing religion one way or the other and Christianity was almost always the focus of said religion.

So basically it was Christians accusing Christians over superstition that was easily aroused by a slave girl.
Ignorance fighting ignorance. The people with the weapons won.

Which would mean my answer to the question is,
I don't think so.

 

[MaxP]

And here in lies a difference between atheists and theists. We're quite fine with knowing that, and that knowing that in no way means that religion should not be discarded.

Theists recognize man is destructive and spiteful beast. Hell, some even go so far as to say man is too destructive and sinful to even have a chance of redeeming himself.

 

[MoonLancer]

Actually, the Catechism specifically states the relationship between the good in other religions.

Which version of the catechism do you speak of?