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550
550 BC
Around 550 BC, Contributors to the Old Testament and Law of Moses call for the execution of witches by stoning.. The idea of witches was passed along through Bible. Below are a few verses. *Leviticus 20:27 "A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads. " *Exodus 22:18 "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." *Isaiah 47:12 (NIV) "Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorcerie -
Aug 17, 1326
1326
The Church authorized the Inquisition to investigate Witchcraft. The Church also authorized the development of “Demonology”. The idea behind this was to link Witchcraft with diabolical forces. -
Aug 17, 1330
1330
The popular concept of Witches as evil sorcerers is expanded to include beliefs that they swore allegiance to Satan, had sexual relations with the Devil,and kidnapped and ate children. -
Aug 17, 1430
1430
Christian theologians started to write and publish books and articles that "proved" the existence of Witches. -
Aug 17, 1450
1450
The first major witch hunts began in European countries. The Roman Catholic Church used the idea of demonology along with old stereotypes. Religious leaders felt that they had to strengthen the concepts of both an omnipotent and an all-loving God. So they invented Witches and demons in order to explain the existence of evil in the world. -
Aug 17, 1484
1484
Pope Innocent VIII announces that satanists in Germany are meeting with the devil and casting spells, causing crops to fail and infants to abort. He requests the assistance of two friars, Heinich Kramer (a papal inquisitor of sorcerers) from Innsbruck and Joseph Sprenger to write and publish a report of the alleged witchcraft. What they produce is the infamous Malleus Maleficarum, "Hammer of Witches." The Malleus Maleficarum,completed in two years, sets forth a ne -
Aug 17, 1500
1500
During the 14th century, there were 38 known trials against Witches and sorcerers in England, 95 in France and 80 in Germany. By choosing to give their souls to the Devil, Witches committed a crime against God and man. This means that normal law no longer applied and they could be punished as the courts saw fit. -
Period: Aug 17, 1550 to
Burning times
Between 50,000 and 80,000 accused witches were executed in Europe. 80% of those executed were women. The execution rates varied by country, with Germany being the highest at 20,000 and England the lowest with 1,000 during this period. -
1550 to 1650
The Witch hunts reached a peak during this time, called the "burning times." Mainly in Europe, Witch persecutions often happened where there were religious wars. Most often Witches were tried in a secular court, rarely by church authorities. -
1684
The last accused Witch was executed in England. -
1690
The Salem Witch Trials took place during this time. Many died in jails, some were tortured to death, and five were hanged. Many factors played into the craze. A large part was land ownership, some was the Indian Wars, and some is thought to be caused be diseased rye that was baked into bread causing LSD reactions. The state later formally apologized to the victim’s family. -
1745
France stopped the execution of Witches. -
1775
Germany ceased the execution of Witches. -
1782
Switzerland ceased the execution of Witches. -
1792
Poland executed the last person in Europe who had been tried and convicted of Witchcraft. -
1830
The church stopped the execution of Witches in South America. -
Period: to
Witch panic
Tens of thousands of adults, victimized by Recovered Memory Therapy, developed false memories of having been abused during childhood. In about 17% of the cases, these memories escalated to recollections of Satanic Ritual Abuse. Hundreds of parents were charged with criminal acts. Most were innocent. Most of the charges involved acts that never actually happened. -
1990
Some conservative Christian pastors continue to preach the imaginary religion of Satan-worshiping Witches promoted by the Church during the Renaissance. In fact , Wicca and other Neopagan religions are nature-based faiths and do not recognize the existence of the Christian devil. -
Period: to
1991-2001
South American Executions
1991 and 2001, a total of 22,000 to 23,000 Africans were lynched to death, by fearful neighbors, as witches. -
1980-1995
Two types of trials were held in North America, which repeated many of the same features of early Witch trials. Staff at some pre-schools, day care facilities, and Sunday schools was accused of ritual abuse of children. Evidence was based on faulty medical diagnoses and memories of non-existent abuse implanted in the minds of very young children. Tens of thousands of adults, victimized by Recovered Memory Therapy, developed false memories of having been abused during childhood. -
1999
Conservative Christian pastors occasionally call for a renewal of the burning time. Misinformation and hatred of Witches continues in modern times. In 1999, Rev. Jack Harvey, pastor of Tabernacle Independent Baptist Church, arranged for at least one member of his church to carry a handgun during services, "in case a warlock tries to grab one of our kids”. -
1991-2001
Thousands of people were accused of witchcraft in South Africa, and were lynched by frightened mobs. -
975 CE:
Penalties for Witchcraft and the use of healing magic were mild. It was said: "If a woman works witchcraft and enchantment and [uses] magical philters, she shall fast for twelve months...If she kills anyone by her philters, she shall fast for seven years." The word philters means potions or charms and fasting in this case means only having bread and water. -
906 CE
Regino of Prum, the Abbot of Treves, wrote the Canon Episcopi. This backed up the belief that witchcraft did not exist. It states that the Canon should be made public. It states Witches have lost their faith, not believing in God, but in the devil. This act is punishable by excommunication. It suggested that confused and disturbed women thought that they flew with the Pagan Goddess Diana.
