Would You Have Been Accused of Witchcraft?

[onager]

This month's issue of BBC History magazine has a great article by Owen Davies, "Witches In The Dock."

The piece covers 10 of the most infamous witch trials in British history. From 1441 to 1875 (yes, that's 1875!)

I especially liked the skeptical bent of Judge John Powell, during the 1712 trial of Jane Wenham.

When a witness claimed Wenham could fly, Judge Powell cut off the testimony by noting: "There is no law against flying."

To complement the article, the History mag website has a test - here, see if YOU could have been accused of witchcraft:

http://www.historyextra.com/witchtest

[LiberalEsto]

1. Almost certainly

What a surprise.
Been Wiccan almost 40 years.

[Marrah_G]

7. A Blessed Solstice to you and yours :)

[LiberalEsto]

11. bb to you too

[a geek named Bob]

2. interesting test

it also explains why I keep friendly relations with my neighbors, and have two firearms.

[tama]

3. While the patriarchal sexism of witch hunts is true of most of Europe

here in Finland most of the accused and sentenced were males. And originally the cases were about using witchcraft to harm others. Btw the Finnish and Sami words for 'witch', "noita" and "noaidi" have same original meaning as Tungus word 'shaman' which means 'the one who knows'. There may be etymological link to Indo-European root behind words 'gnosis' and 'know' etc.

[LiberalEsto]

12. Terve! Tere!

The Estonians mostly use nõid for witch too, but doing research I discovered they have dozens of other words for it including võlu, arbuja and sorts.
My parents were from Estonia. I visited Estonia a couple of years ago, flying to Helsinki and going to Tallinn by ferry boat. My aunt and cousin live there.

[tama]

14. Estonia is interesting in terms of religion

Christians are small minority and it's considered "foreign" and imperialistic, and most people have some sort of nature-spiritual / neopagan world view. Estonians have also strong ties to Native Americans who preserve and share their traditions. I've been surprised how well connected and "globalized" various local pagan/neopagan traditions and movements are. Not much in public media about that, partially also because in some rituals also the traditional "shamanistic" healer and teacher spirits of currently illegal substances are communicated with, so it's bit hush hush but also surprisingly open.

The scene I've witnessed is the kind of open localism that I like and consider most ethically sound, local ancestral traditions are proudly valued and respected, but also lot of dialogue and mixing with other traditions. Haven't seen any dogmatic "our way is the best and only way" in those circles.

[LiberalEsto]

16. Are you familiar with Maavald?

Pagan Estonian web site. link: http://www.maavald.ee/eng/

It sounds very much like what you describe.

I've been in touch with them asking how one can practice Maa-Usk (Earth religion) in another country, since the Maa believers make close connection with their native ground. One wrote back that I should research and honor the indigenous Native American spiritual practices more than the Estonian pagan beliefs but seek to blend where possible.

My grandfather in Estonia was a member of the pagan Taara believers. I believe Taara is a variant of Thor. That isn't my belief, I revere Maa Ema, Earth Mother.

Sorry having trouble typing, injured left hand today and using one finger on right hand to type.

[tama]

20. Yup

It's a good advice your Estonian friend gave you. Here's Estonian link of interview of Rupert Encinas aka Flying Eagle who visits regularly also Finland with Estonian friends: http://www.bioneer.ee/bioneer/arvamus/aid-1461/RUPERT-ENCINAS%3A-Eestlased-peaksid-ennast-rohkem-v%C3%A4ljendama

A good friend of mine made this song about the Native American Church ceremony where we met:

Sami, Finns and Estonians and other Uralic peoples are not really "Europeans" but indigenous people with shamanic roots hereabouts, conquered and subjugated and assimilated by European crusaders etc. centuries ago and slow by slow, so we share lot of common history and experience with our Native American cousins. I trust your heart is sincere and you will find what you seek where you live and where your path takes you.

'Maa' is same in Finnish as in Estonian. Btw. in Finnish 'path' is "tie" and 'to know' is 'tietää'

[mr blur]

4. Seems that I "would not have been immune from an accusation"

I guess that the toad, the goat and the black cat gave it away.

[rug]

5. Nope, and it wouldn't stick if it did.

"Your answers show that you would not have been immune from an accusation of witchcraft during the early modern period. Although not all accusations led to trial, even the smallest suspicion cast against you could have resulted in a visit from the local witch finder."

[2ndAmForComputers]

15. Of course not.

You'd be, let's say, sitting on a different seat.

[rug]

17. And I'm sure you would be the first witness called.

No subpoena necessary.

[2ndAmForComputers]

18. I'd start by accusing the Grand Inquisitor of being a demon in disguise.

[rug]

19. I seriously doubt it.

I expect you'd be among the crowd pointing fingers at the accused.

[2ndAmForComputers]

31. In other words, taking the side of the Catholic Church? Me?

[rug]

32. No, that observation is based on your posts in Meta.

You are prolific is pointing fingers and muttering insinuations.

[2ndAmForComputers]

34. Oh, the poor oppressed right-wing trolls.

They are JUST like the "witches" your church burned to death centuries ago.

[rug]

35. Oh, good. Are you calling me a right wing troll?

Come on, you can do it. Although you've just proven my point, you can summon the couage to make a direct statement.

Then you can talk about it again in Meta.

[2ndAmForComputers]

36. Why do you think I am calling you a right-wing troll?

[2ndAmForComputers]

38. Oh the irony.

[rug]

39. Make that two dashes.

[skepticscott]

21. An accusation of witchcraft didn't have to "stick"

if the accused could be made to confess under torture. And what admirable organization would eschew reason and evidence to do such a thing, you ask? Gee....

[rug]

22. Hmmm, KGB, CIA?

[skepticscott]

23. Both of those organizations

are smart enough and sane enough to know that witches like that don't exist. Some organizations have yet to completely shed medieval thinking, though.

Keep flailing, though...it's what you do best.

[rug]

24. Your post was about torture and confessions not witchcraft.

Do you now wish to extol the KGB and CIA?

[skepticscott]

25. My post said

An accusation of witchcraft didn't have to "stick" if the accused could be made to confess under torture. And what admirable organization would eschew reason and evidence to do such a thing, you ask? Gee....

Is it more of your "logic" to claim that this post had nothing to do with witchcraft? Do you think no one can read two posts up? Sheesh.

Round are over..

[rug]

26. Don't let me keep you from your appointment.

[Marrah_G]

6. Considering I am Wiccan... still am

And I am fine with that.

[okasha]

8. And what's more

I would have been guilty.

[Adsos Letter]

9. My wife certainly would have.

Last edited Sat Dec 22, 2012, 02:59 AM - Edit history (1)

Her tilapia in pan drippings really is that good.

[applegrove]

10. I was such a scapegoat as my younger self. I would have been

burned at the stake many times over. Thankfully by family doesn't go for **** like that.

[jeepnstein]

13. I've been accused of everything else, so why not?

[kestrel91316]

27. Female medical practitioner, cat owner, cat DOCTOR, single, not a good

christian churchgoer, plus I have a couple of halo moles.

I'd be the FIRST to burn at the stake, lol.

[Kalidurga]

28. It would have been more than likely for me...

And on top of all that, one thing the quiz didn't ask is "are you considered odd or eccentric. A lot of people find me so. But, I think it's the other way around there are a lot of odd people in this world.

[no_hypocrisy]

29. Come and get me.

[xfundy]

30. Apparently so.

Thankfully, most christians have dropped "witch" as an accusation, preferring to accuse those they don't like of being "infected with demons."

How very far they've come.

[intaglio]

33. Yup, but it would never get that far

Heresy and Apostasy would have done for me long before that.

[JoeyT]

40. Yeah,

but so was every other odd kid. Small towns in the deep south are weird.

"Don't be stupid. There's no such thing as magic." just seemed to confuse them.