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A '''witch''' is a female practitioner of witchcraft; a male practitioner is a wizard. Witches, in league with [[Satan]] practice the black arts through [[supernatural]] powers and [[magic]]. The Bible gives us clear instructions on how to deal with witches: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus 22:18). Traditionally the easiest method of determining if someone is a witch is to tie their right thumb to their left toe and attach a rope to the waist then thrown them into a river or deep pond. If the suspect floats they are clearly in league with the Satan, shown by their rejection of the [[baptism]]al water. If the suspect drowns they clearly possess no supernatural powers and are innocent. The most secure method of destroying witches is to burn them, preferably at the stake. Since the [[liberal]] [[enlightenment]] and the rise of [[atheism|atheistic]] [[junk science]] the Biblical truth has been rejected and in many countries [[freedom of religion]] has been restricted by outlawing witch-hunting. However, the practice is still allowed in [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Cameroon]], and witch-hunts regularly occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, [[India]] and [[Papua New Guinea]].
==Europe==
==Colonial America==
The most famous episode was the [[Salem Witch Trials]] of 1692 in Massachusetts, in which 19 accused witches were hanged (none were burned). Salem was typical in that it reflected the public concern abour unabated witchcraft in colonial America. Many witches arrived in the New World with the early settlers.<ref>Edward L. Bond, "Source of Knowledge, Source of Power: the Supernatural World of English Virginia, 1607-1624," ''Virginia Magazine of History and Biography''wicc 2000 108(2): 105-138. 0042-6636</ref> Most of the [[American Indian]] tribes believe in witchcraft and practised magic. The tribes have all become Christian, but reports of witchcraft still abound.<ref> See Martha Royce Blaine, "They Say He Was Witched." American Indian Quarterly 2000 24(4): 615-634. 0095-182x; Ekkehart Malotki, ''Hopi Stories of Witchcraft, Shamanism, and Magic '' (2001). 290 pp.</ref>
==Romantics==
In 19th century romanticism, witches and the occult became popular figures of novels and fairy-tales. Most of the times they were of evil and dangerous character, but there are also examples of benevolent character. At about the same time they became popular [[carnival]] figures.
==Modern Usage==
