PaganSquare


PaganSquare is a community blog space where Pagans can discuss topics relevant to the life and spiritual practice of all Pagans.

  • Home
    Home This is where you can find all the blog posts throughout the site.
  • Tags
    Tags Displays a list of tags that have been used in the blog.
  • Bloggers
    Bloggers Search for your favorite blogger from this site.
  • Login
    Login Login form
Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in witch hunts
Church, Inquisition Actually Protected 'Witches,' Says Hutton

Goddess bless Ronald Hutton.

We all know the stereotypes: the Catholic Church, with its enforcer the Inquisition, burned witches, right?

Turns out that the Inquisition actually protected many people accused of witchcraft.

For some 300 years, between the 15th and 17th centuries, Christian Europe, both North and South, went wild with a massive witch-panic. One puzzling aspect of the Great European Witch-Hunt, however, has always been the huge disproportion between northern and southern Europe when it comes to executions.

The vast majority of people executed as witches in Europe during this period were executed in Northern—Protestant—Europe. Far, far fewer people were put to death as witches in the Catholic South.

In 1588, a teenaged girl brought before the Spanish Inquisition confessed to having had sex with the Devil. The previous year, a Sicilian woman confessed to having flown through the air on a billy-goat to a sabbat at which (interestingly) she worshiped a King and Queen who presided over a feast and an orgy (Hutton 200-1).

In England, such confessions would likely have merited the noose; in Germany, the stake. But the girl from Valencia, after receiving a beating, was sentenced to undergo religious instruction, and the goat-riding Siciliana was acquitted.

Why?

Last modified on
Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch says #
    When it comes to the distinction between mythic history and historic history--surely we need both--I'm strictly a Weatherwaxite:
  • Murphy Pizza
    Murphy Pizza says #
    Well said!! (And a fantastic metaphor). And to think there are still folks in our community who believe he "destroyed" Paganism..

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Witch's Teats

Hey you: witch.

How many nipples do you have?

Back in the Bad Old Days, the received wisdom was that witches have more than two. That's so we can suckle our imps.

Those of us with a Classical education, of course, think immediately of Diana of Ephesus, goddess of witches, with her ample endowments (polymasteia: the state of having many breasts). Of course, Many-breasted Earth feeds us all to this very day.

But I highly doubt that that's what the witch-finders had in mind. Humans have two nipples, animals have many. It's a comment on the witch's intrinsically bestial nature.

Last modified on
Recent comment in this post - Show all comments
  • Tasha Halpert
    Tasha Halpert says #
    Giggle, giggle!
Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, July 26

Family accused of killing a witch in South Africa are sentenced to 102 years in prison. The controversial new President of the Philippines agrees to a ceasefire with communist militants. And religious conservatives declare that "God might not want a woman for President." It's Fiery Tuesday, our weekly segment on political and societal news from around the world! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, April 26

Refugees face increasing legal challenges in Europe. An Indian woman turns the tables on the country's witch hunters. And the Palestinian president makes his case to the European public for his nation. It's Fiery Tuesday, our weekly segment on political and societal news from around the world! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Faithful Friday, February 12

Women in Africa are segregated as accused witches. The reign of terror of a Russo-German to Buddhism is remembered. And the relationship between the divine, artificial intelligence, and the ego is examined. It's Faithful Friday, our weekly segment on faiths and religious communities from around the world. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Fiery Tuesday, January 26

A dentist's employees complain of religious harassment. Women in rural India are hunted as "witches." And Taiwanese relations with mainland China become uncertain with the election of a new, pro-sovereignty president. It's Fiery Tuesday, our weekly segment on societal and political news from around the globe. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Watery Wednesday, September 30

A Neopagan leader calls on her students to teach others as she taught them. The misogyny behind Africa's witch hunts is exposed and examined. And a list details 10 of the most famous real-life magicians in history. It's Watery Wednesday, our weekly take on news about the Pagan and magical communities! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on

Additional information