Witch

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A witch is someone who practices witchcraft. The name can be used for either male or female practitioners.

Definition

Witchcraft is a loose group of beliefs, practices, or rituals that can be variously adopted by almost anyone of any faith. Witchcraft isn't strictly a religion although it is generally practiced by people with religious beliefs. Witchcraft does not have any staple beliefs but instead consists of many different beliefs drawn from many different places. The practice of natural medicine, folk medicine, spiritual healing, divination, and shamanism can also be applied under the umbrella term of witchcraft. More modern practices such as the practice of alternative medicine as well as New Age healing techniques (such as Crystal healing, herbalism, Reiki, and aromatherapy) can also technically fall under the witchcraft umbrella. Some practices (such as certain herbal remedies) go far back into human history although it is virtually impossible to distinguish exactly the lineage of many of the practices considered witchcraft.

The Difference Between Wicca and Witchcraft

Wicca can technically be considered a witchcraft tradition, however because Wicca is more codified and has more defined traditions and practices as well as a large adherent population, Wicca is generally considered its own belief system.

Europe

In Europe--both Catholic and Protestant areas-- from 1350 to 1650 several hundred thousand witches were executed--often by burning--after legal proceedings. One-quarter of those executed for witchcraft were men. In Exodus 22:18 the Old Testament specifically bans witchcraft under penalty of death. A famous British case was the Pendle Witch trials of 1612 AD.

Many of those executed were targeted less for spiritual reasons and more for earthly concerns; the accuser and the administrator of punishment often shared the spoils when the belongings and wealth of a person executed for witchcraft. The hysteria also gave a perfect opportunity for people to get rid of people they disliked for personal reasons or people who didn't fit the idea the community had of an ideal member.

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 the belief in witches was widespread in colonial America. In Virginia supernatural beliefs played a major role in interpreting the unknown and establishing social order. The supernatural world of the early settlers was comprised of belief in benevolent and demonic forces, divine judgment, omens, magic, witchcraft, combat with the devil, and other ideas transported from England. This complex supernatural world functioned to explain the unknown, sanction colonization, demonize the native population, control the colonists, and provide a defense against internal and external enemies.[1]

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.

Indians

Most of the American Indian tribes believed in witchcraft and practised magic. Many Native Americans have converted to Christianity, however the old traditions of many of the tribes are still practiced and kept alive today.

Modern Usage

The term witchhunt is also used to denote a political crusade against a particular group.

Witchcraft remains prevalent in Africa as well as Haiti. In many African countries, there is great fear and often paranoia about witchcraft and it's effects. People are often attacked or even killed because they are suspected of being a witch by their neighbors.

See also

Further reading

Colonial America

  • Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft (1974)
  • Breslaw, Elaine G., ed. Witches of the Atlantic World: A Historical Reader and Primary Sourcebook (2000). 561 pp.
  • Demos, John. Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England (1982)
  • Godbeer, Richard. The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England. (1992). 253 pp.
  • Hall, David D. "Witchcraft and the Limits of Interpretation," New England Quarterly 1985 58(2): 253-281. in JSTOR

Europe

  • Ankarloo, Bengt and Henningsen, Gustav, eds. Early Modern European Witchcraft. Centres and Peripheries. (1990). 477 pp.
  • Barstow, Anne Llewellyn. Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts. (1994). 255 pp.
  • Ben-Yehuda, Nachman. "The European Witch Craze of the 14th to 17th Centuries: A Sociologist's Perspective," American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 86, No. 1 (Jul., 1980), pp. 1-31 in JSTOR
  • Breslaw, Elaine G., ed. Witches of the Atlantic World: A Historical Reader and Primary Sourcebook (2000). 561 pp.
  • Levack, Brian P. The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe. (1987). 267 pp.
  • Macfarlane, Alan. Witchcraft in Tudor and Stuart England (1970)
  • Thomas, Keith. Religion and the Decline of Magic (1971) in Britain and Europe
  • Williams, Gerhild Scholz. Defining Dominion: The Discourses of Magic and Witchcraft in Early Modern France and Germany. (1995). 234 pp.

Witchcraft today

  • Ashforth, Adam. "Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in the New South Africa," Cahiers d'Études Africaines, Vol. 38, in JSTOR
  • Ciekawy, Diane, and Peter Geschiere. "Containing Witchcraft: Conflicting Scenarios in Postcolonial Africa," African Studies Review, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Dec., 1998), pp. 1-14 in JSTOR
  • Lewis, James R., ed. Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft (1996). 423 pp.
  • Reis, Elizabeth, ed. Spellbound: Women and Witchcraft in America (1998). 282pp. on Wicca


References

  • Edward L. Bond, "Source of Knowledge, Source of Power: the Supernatural World of English Virginia, 1607-1624," Virginia Magazine of History and Biographywicc 2000 108(2): 105-138. 0042-6636