Summary:
Witchcraft derived from the many past pagen religions but was soon altered by the introduction of Christianity with its biblical Devil. Throughout the centuries, these alleged witches were blamed for all sorts of ills that could not otherwise be explained and people believed that plagues, murders, storms and failing crops were to be blamed on the witches and their curses.

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The Beliefs of Witchcraft

Witchcraft is distantly derived from the many pagan religions of long ago, and was then altered by the introduction of Christianity and its biblical Devil. Witchcraft is sort of a meeting ground between religion, folk medicine, and also the curiosity and fear of the unexplained. It takes many forms and is often intended to be beneficial. The Satanic variety has developed the many protective charms that superstition recommends.

The witchcraft hysteria was at it´s height from the late Middle Ages up until the eighteenth century. At this time many people suspected of being witches were tortured or put to death on flimsy evidence. The evolution of witchcraft has created a complex and detailed mythology. For example, no witch would be complete without her familiars (the supernatural spirit agent of a witch or sorcerer) by her side. These familiars often came in the form of a cat, owl or toad. Her broomstick, black hat, cauldron and book of spells completes the witch´s persona.

In popular thought and imagination, the typical embodiment of a witch is an old hag who is devoted to evil doings and takes pleasure from inflicting pain and misfortune up others in the name of her evil master. In the seventeenth century elderly women that were living on their own and were generally disliked or mistrusted by the community were often singled out by the witch hunters. If the unfortunate woman had ´Devils marks´ such as warts or scars on her body, the witch hunters were convinced that she was a witch and proceeded according to the customs of the time.

Throughout the centuries, these alleged witches were blamed for all sorts of ills that could not otherwise be explained. Superstitious people believed that plagues, murders, storms and failing crops were to be blamed on the witches and their curses. Even horses that were losing their health and cows failing to produce milk were blamed on witches.

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