The Persecution of Innocent Lives The period of witch hunting can be described by R.H Robbins as, “the shocking nightmare, the foulest crime and deepest shame of western civilization,” (“The Witch Hunts”). In Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, around 60,000 ordinary people were imprisoned and sentenced to death over accusations of witchcraft. Witch-hunting had the crime of degrading women and attempting to put people under authoritative control. The misogynistic society and strict religious beliefs of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 caused the persecution of innocent men and women, impacting American society’s morals and views.
Religious beliefs and the Church played huge roles in the Salem Witch Trials. Puritan laws were strict, and …show more content…
The majority of persons accused and convicted were women over fifty and those from the lower social economic class (“A HISTORY OF THE WITCH TRIALS”). Women were easily taken advantage of because they had limited power and were viewed as weak. Once blamed they would be disregarded and have no chance of escaping persecution. The second century St. Clement of Alexandria wrote: “Every women should be filled with shame by the thought she is a women,” (“The End of Magic and Miracles”). Aquinas even stated that God had made a mistake in creating women because they brought on the beginning of sin. Early thoughts of women being involved with evil contributed to the popular belief that they were followers of the devil, making it more convincing for their persecution. The witch hunts revealed men’s fear of female sexuality and independence, as they tried to restrict them from everything in the …show more content…
Local magistrates paid these professionals an equivalent of a month’s wages to expose witches (“Witch hunting”). There were five methods used to discover a witch: passing a test, physical evidence, witness testimony, spectral evidence, and confession (“Witchcraft in Salem”). Young girls screaming during the Lord’s Prayer or having blemishes that Satan could pass through were seen as evil. An accused person would be convicted if seen in the form of a spirit and through the misfortune of sorcery. An ancient method was “swimming” or “ducking” (“7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests”). By floating the accused was guilty and by sinking he or she was innocent. The practice was invalid because the outcome would always result in death. Many of the tests were rigged, and men would enlist in the position for money, not caring about the innocent life they were putting to
Religious beliefs and the Church played huge roles in the Salem Witch Trials. Puritan laws were strict, and …show more content…
The majority of persons accused and convicted were women over fifty and those from the lower social economic class (“A HISTORY OF THE WITCH TRIALS”). Women were easily taken advantage of because they had limited power and were viewed as weak. Once blamed they would be disregarded and have no chance of escaping persecution. The second century St. Clement of Alexandria wrote: “Every women should be filled with shame by the thought she is a women,” (“The End of Magic and Miracles”). Aquinas even stated that God had made a mistake in creating women because they brought on the beginning of sin. Early thoughts of women being involved with evil contributed to the popular belief that they were followers of the devil, making it more convincing for their persecution. The witch hunts revealed men’s fear of female sexuality and independence, as they tried to restrict them from everything in the …show more content…
Local magistrates paid these professionals an equivalent of a month’s wages to expose witches (“Witch hunting”). There were five methods used to discover a witch: passing a test, physical evidence, witness testimony, spectral evidence, and confession (“Witchcraft in Salem”). Young girls screaming during the Lord’s Prayer or having blemishes that Satan could pass through were seen as evil. An accused person would be convicted if seen in the form of a spirit and through the misfortune of sorcery. An ancient method was “swimming” or “ducking” (“7 Bizarre Witch Trial Tests”). By floating the accused was guilty and by sinking he or she was innocent. The practice was invalid because the outcome would always result in death. Many of the tests were rigged, and men would enlist in the position for money, not caring about the innocent life they were putting to