Changes

The term describeds the investigative procedures used during witchunts of the [[Middle Ages]], during a time when investigators were earnestly hunting for witches. At the time it was believed that witches were blasphemers who worshipped Satan or other occult figures. It was further believe that through their occult practices witches brought hardship to the community at large and endangered the immortal souls of unwary Christians. The crime of [[witchcraft]] was punishable by death by fire. It was presumed at the time that witches were highly motivated to hide their true nature (not because of the penalty of the crime but because of the evilness of their practices). Therefore, certain investigators or inquistors, often acting under the authority of the church, would investigate and prosecute this crime when a web of witches was suspected.  

The term describeds the investigative procedures used during witchunts of the [[Middle Ages]], during a time when investigators were earnestly hunting for witches. At the time it was believed that witches were blasphemers who worshipped Satan or other occult figures. It was further believe that through their occult practices witches brought hardship to the community at large and endangered the immortal souls of unwary Christians. The crime of [[witchcraft]] was punishable by death by fire. It was presumed at the time that witches were highly motivated to hide their true nature (not because of the penalty of the crime but because of the evilness of their practices). Therefore, certain investigators or inquistors, often acting under the authority of the church, would investigate and prosecute this crime when a web of witches was suspected.  

An investigation would usually start after the identification of a problem which the community believed might have been caused by witchcraft. For example, a disappointing crop, a cow that did not give milk or a barren female were all prime causes for suspicion. The investigator had little to go on when trying to connect a cow to a witch, but he would often begin by questioning anyone who might know of any witches. If a member of the community or a child suspected witchcraft in a particular individual that individual would immediately be apprehended. Through a mixture of coercion and torture the witchhunter would not only extract a confession from the detainee, but also the names of associates who were allegedly similarly involved in blasphemous acts. In this way, the inquisitor could start with the flimiest of evidence and through this "investigative process" identify a conspiratorial web of witches and blasphemers. <ref>http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.salemwitchtrials.org/</ref><ref>The Dark Side of Christianity by Helen Ellerbe | http://www.thenazareneway.com/dark_side_of_christian_history.htm</ref>

An investigation would usually start after the identification of a problem which the community believed might have been caused by witchcraft. For example, a disappointing crop, a cow that did not give milk or a barren female were all prime causes for suspicion. The investigator had little to go on when trying to connect a cow to a witch, but he would often begin by questioning anyone who might know of any witches. If a member of the community or a child suspected witchcraft in a particular individual that individual would immediately be apprehended. Through a mixture of coercion and torture the witchhunter would not only extract a confession from the detainee, but also the names of associates who were allegedly similarly involved in blasphemous acts. In this way, the inquisitor could start with the flimiest of evidence and through this "investigative process" identify a conspiratorial web of witches and blasphemers. <ref>http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml</ref><ref>http://www.salemwitchtrials.org/</ref><ref>http://www.thenazareneway.com/dark_side_of_christian_history.htm</ref>

Modern witchhunts usually describe a situation where a prosecutor or special prosecutor begins deposing targets to uncover a web of defendants. Rather than investigating a specific occurence of a crime, a witchhunt investigates people who are targets of the investigation. Rarely such investigations are used to bring down real, but elusive criminals, such as [[Al Capone]]. More often witchhunts are political weapons which hope to ensnare victims in trumped-up perjury charges or perhaps trick victims into revealing crimes involving friends or relations.   

Modern witchhunts usually describe a situation where a prosecutor or special prosecutor begins deposing targets to uncover a web of defendants. Rather than investigating a specific occurence of a crime, a witchhunt investigates people who are targets of the investigation. Rarely such investigations are used to bring down real, but elusive criminals, such as [[Al Capone]]. More often witchhunts are political weapons which hope to ensnare victims in trumped-up perjury charges or perhaps trick victims into revealing crimes involving friends or relations.