Witchcraft
From Solitary Witches Wiki
Belief in witchcraft is universal, but there is no universal definition of witchcraft, for the term has different meanings in different cultures and has had different meanings at different times in history. It has both negative and positive connotations. In a neutral sense, witchcraft is sorcery, the magical manipulation of supernormal forces through the casting of spells and the conjuring or invoking of spirits.
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Overview
Magic and sorcery have been used by mankind since prehistoric times in an effort to control the environment and enhance daily life. In most societies, however, witchcraft has been considered the harmful branch of sorcery. Anthropologists define witchcraft as an innate condition - the use of malevolent power by psychic means without need for ritual or charm. This definition applies to some tribal societies, but in Western witchcraft, the witch works magic through spells.
Evolution of Western Witchcraft
The Inquisition
The Christian Church's determined campaign to eradicate, beginning at the start of the 13th century, was turned on witches by the middle of the 15th century. For nearly 250 years, witches were hunted down and executed as heretics, accused of worshiping the Devil. Most of the witch-hunts in Europe were conducted by the Church, both Catholic and Protestant; in Britain, witchcraft was considered largely a civil crime, and witches were prosecuted by the secular arm.[1]
See Also
References
- ↑ Guiley, R. (1989) The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft, Facts on File, New York, New York
