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Witchcraft

Witchcraft. Across cultures. Witchcraft. A social construct History and practice of witchcraft in many small cultures The meaning associated with the European practice in the middle ages. Witchcraft. Associated with evil force bringing misfortune to members in a community

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Witchcraft

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  1. Witchcraft Across cultures

  2. Witchcraft • A social construct • History and practice of witchcraft in many small cultures • The meaning associated with the European practice in the middle ages

  3. Witchcraft • Associated with evil force bringing misfortune to members in a community • The power of a witch is called supernatural • Immoral, antisocial and called evil • Witchcraft reflects human culture

  4. Witchcraft among Azande • Mangu, a physical substance associated with the body is inherited ( passed down from father to son, or mother to daughter) • Mangu is not innately evil • All sorts of misfortune are attributed to witchcraft not clearly explainable by any other factor • It is a social, cultural and emotional issue and the remedy lies in the ritual of divination.

  5. Witchcraft among the Navahos • Is an act of initiation • Who becomes a witch? Generally people mistreated in their role and position become witches – outside the norm • Is associated with immoral and antisocial behavior such as greed, vengeance and envy • An explanation for the issues beyond human control.

  6. Euro- American witchcraft beliefs • To do with the evil spirit known as devil. • In Greek as Diabolos, Hebrew it is called Satan, the adversary. • Witches are the individuals who made a pact with the devil • Sorcery also hostile to God. • Sorcery, witchcraft as magic calling upon the servants of Satan. • Magic, witchcraft as heresy – crimes against God.

  7. Witchcraft in Europe: Middle ages • As pagan, the work of the devil • Heresy • Revival of Roman law: fast conviction based on accusation • Inquisition: Investigation by the Bishops • The papal Bull Ad Extirpanda 1252, extorting the witches • Both Catholics and Protestants engaged in conviction and execution of witches

  8. The Witchcraze in Europe 1450 - 1650 • The use of Printing Press • The book Malleus Maleficarum also known as • Hammer Against Witches published by Catholic Church in 1487 • Defined who is a witch (mainly women) and their actions • Period of war, Reformation, Religious conflict

  9. The witchcraze in UK and USA • Witch hunt in UK in 1600s was social rather than religious, more hanging than burning • Salem trial in 1692 In USA • Women as victims: midwives, single destitute women • Cause of social stress, upheaval, political, economic tension and rapid change in the society.

  10. Functions of witchcraft beliefs • Christianity as the legitimate religion: power, control and authority of the church • Way to deal with social conflict • Women as witches: Malleus says women are weaker and vulnerable and evil • 17th century, women as base, body/mind divide • More single women because of migration • Midwives as accused vs. doctors

  11. The evil eye • The power of the evil eye like witches lies in the body of the individual. • Widely practiced in India, Near East, Europe and Mexico • A charm or a formula is used to ward off the evil eye • To avoid is not to show off one’s good fortune. • The concept is associated with envy, jealousy

  12. Modern day Witch Hunts • Mc Carthy era in the 1950s • Arthur Miller’s The Crucible , used the Salem Trial as an allegory for Mac Carthysm. • Child sex abuse crisis in 1980s • Harry Potter book series • The rise of neo pagan religions like Wicca

  13. The rise of goddess focus • Robert Graves: The White Goddess (1948)Margaret Murry: The Witch-Cult in Western Europe (1921) God of the Witches (1933) Gerald Gardner( 1884 – 1964) Coined the term Wicca and popularized contemporary Paganism Doreen Valiente (1922 – 1999) promoted and Gardner as his close associate Raymond Buckland( 1934 -) brought Gardnerian tradition to the USA

  14. Modern movements in the USA Margot Adler: Drawing Down the Moon Starhawk: The spiral Dance

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