Old Middle-Ages Assumptions

[Rhoderick]

There are many views and assumptions that were prevalent in the Middle-Ages, mainly in Europe, that we find both amusing and absurd today.

Like seeing a full moon and fearing a curse. Seeing a black cat lurking in a house and thinking it's a sign of a murder occuring. Noticing three black crows on a branch implying bad luck.

All the silly supersticious viewpoints, many encorouged by the Roman Catholic Church, that gripped us with fear about the world we live in that had very resonable explanations, are both interesting and a helpful explanation of the sceptascism we felt in those days.

The craze of witch hunting and burning is another, or the Black-Death.

[Polychrome]

"Witch Hunting" as many people think of it, is a farce, with the exception of occasional situations such as Salem. "Witch Hunting" had little to do with the church and much to do with politics. It was a quick excuse to dispose of a political problem. (Joan of Arc) Midwives would often accuse competing businesswomen of being witches. (And in our day, all we deal with is crazed advertising!) It was also a way for a government to justify seizing property from a wealthy widow.

Let's not go Christian bashing.

[Rhoderick]

Hear, hear. It was simply a craze, used by ordinary individuals for self-advantage and govt's of the day for persuing political persecution. The Chirch did administrate it alot though. Call that 'Christian bashing' if you wish, but the truth should not be kept quiet.

[Morgan]

None the less, the truth of the 17th century witch burnings in Europe is that they were endoresed by a church that was highly involved in current politics. The curch was very quick to listen to any accusastions of witchcraft and often used very young children as witnesses. And they did condone and even preform the hideous tests and questionings that would "condemn" a woman to death for witchcraft. Those responsible may not have been "good christians" but these actions were preformed in the name of Christ. And the church does carry a huge part of the responsibility.

[Polychrome]

I'm not claiming that the church was completely uninvolved. They endorsed "witch hunting", but were involved in very little of the process. Which gave the governments free reign on who to pick on.

If you must blame the church for anything, blame them for stupidly giving power to people who would abuse it, and then not paying attention to what those people were doing.

[Mundungus Fletc]

Morgan wrote
None the less, the truth of the 17th century witch burnings in Europe is that they were endoresed by a church that was highly involved in current politics.

I think you mean churches - many denominations supported witch burning

[Morgan]

I think you mean churches - many denominations supported witch burning

During the 17th century there was really only two churches in Europe, the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church. Jews, Muslims and smaller fractions of Christianity were the ones being persecuted by Catholics and Lutheran.

[Mundungus Fletc]

I was thinking of England where it is my understanding the CofE (not Lutheran) did their bit as did the Calvinists during the Civil war.

[Rhoderick]

The Church, both Lutheren and Catholic, ran the courts in Britain, even after the Church of England was formed.

There was a major and delivberate involvement. And it wasn't about stupidity, but agenda.