DECLINE CAUSES - Sceptical Publications Flashcards

1
Q

Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft

When was Discoverie of Witchcraft published?

A

1584

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2
Q

Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584

Scot was an English ______ thinker, _____ of ________. He was _______ by ________’s work ‘_____________’ published ___ years _____.

A

a) rational
b) critical
c) witchcraft
d) Johan Weyer
e) ‘On the Illusion of Demons’
f) 21
g) earlier

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3
Q

Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584

Scot = _________ whether there was any ______ ____/________ for __________.

A

a) questioned
b) biblical basis/foundation
c) witch-hunting

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4
Q

Reginald Scot’s Discoverie of Witchcraft 1584

What evidence does Scot use?
2

A

Philosophy & rational thinking to say what witches confessed to was impossible.

There’s no biblical evidence.

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5
Q

Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599

Background/influence of Harsnett:
___ on ______ that investigated ______ (______).
Strong ________.
________ to an _________ in _______.

A

a) sat, council, Darrel (Boy of B)
b) protestant
c) chaplain, Anglican Bishop, London

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6
Q

Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599

Harsnett = highly ______ of _______ & ______ of _______ that led to its use.
Almost _____ ________ completely - felt there was _______ explanations for ‘_____________’.

A

a) critical, exorcisms, reliability, evidence

b) denies witchcraft, natural, ‘magical phenomenon’

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7
Q

Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599

What evidence does Harsnett use?

A

Nothing concrete - uses his interpretation and perspective of religious practices.

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8
Q

Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel 1599

What was the pamphlet war?

A

Immediate impact of Harsnett’s work, prompting wider discussion about witchcraft and possession.

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9
Q

Thomas Ady’s ‘Candle in the Dark’ (1656)

Background/influence of Ady:
_______ at the _______ of ___________ occuring.
Respected _____ from _____ & _____ with events in ________.

A

a) appalled, number, wrongful executions

b) doctor, essex, familiar, East Anglia

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10
Q

Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark 1656

Ady’s = _______ have no ________ & things _________ with ______ aren’t _______ in the ______.
______ of ______ who ______ to understand ______ & ______ them on _______.

A

a) witch hunts, biblical basis, associated, witches, evident, Bible
b) critical, physicians, failed, illness, blame, witchcraft

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11
Q

Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark 1656

What evidence does Ady use?

A

Only the Bible (refers to Scot as direct influence) - the same used by witchfinders to justify persecutions.

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12
Q

John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677

Background/influence of Webster = ______ of _______ and ________ who ________ witchcraft as ______.
Influenced by _____.
Worked as a ______ before _______ as a ________.

A

a) critical, Glanvill, Casaubon, defended, genuine
b) Ady
c) doctor, preaching, nonconformist

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13
Q

John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677

Webster’s = ______ with ____ that _____ not in the _____ should be ________.
______ existed but couldn’t command ____________ and had no ________ from _______.

A

a) agreed, Ady, beliefs, Bible, rejected

b) witches, supernatural powers, assistance, the Devil

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14
Q

John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft 1677

What evidence does Webster use?

A

Visited places were wrongful trials had been held like Edmund Robinson from the Pendle Swindle.

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15
Q

Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World

When was The Enchanted World published?

A

1691

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16
Q

John Webster’s Supposed Witchcraft

When was Supposed Witchcraft published?

17
Q

Thomas Ady’s Candle in the Dark

When was Candle in the Dark published?

18
Q

Samuel Harsnett’s Practices of John Darrel

When was the Practices of John Darrel published?

19
Q

Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691

Summarise the background and influence of Bekker.
3

A

Dutch clergyman, who wrote about philosophy, theology and witchcraft.

Influenced by Calvinist tradition and later became a minister.

Heavily influenced by Scot and Ady.

20
Q

Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691

Summarise Bekker’s argument.
2

A

Witchcraft didn’t exist.

Unless the Devil has a body, it would be impossible for him to possess and influence people on Earth - he is permanently in hell.

21
Q

Balthasar Bekker’s The Enchanted World 1691

What evidence does Bekker use?

A

The Bible as the main source but approached it rationally & unbiased.

Shows awareness that there was lots about nature & rational thinking he didn’t know.

22
Q

Briefly explain how sceptical publications impacted decline in witchcraft belief. (2)

A

Inspired thinkers & theologians to look for different explanations of unnatural phenomena.

Weakened people’s faith & belief in biblical justification of witchunts & witchcraft.

23
Q

Reginald Scot ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ (1584) - how did it change witchcraft belief?
(threatened, first)
What is the significance of the impact?
(defensive, prominent)

A

People felt threatened - James I burnt all copies of his books & wrote Daemonologie in response.

Seen as 1st major English sceptic work & influenced sceptics - Ady & Bekker didn’t go beyond his ideas.

SIGNIFICANCE:
Reveals the strength of idea - people internally repressed witchcraft suspicions but used it as a scapegoat for problems so were defensive when people were openly sceptic.

Resonated - helped his argument remain prominent for decades.

24
Q

Reginald Scot ‘The Discoverie of Witchcraft’ (1584) - how DIDN’T it change witchcraft belief?
(ferocious)
What is the significance of the impact?
(attention)

A

Preceded most ferocious hunting period in England - 1604 Act was most severe yet + North Berwick, Pendle & East Anglia hunts.

SIGNIFICANCE
Changed limited number of people’s way of thinking - didn’t gain enough attention to influence a large number of regular people immediately.

25
Samuel Harsnett ‘Fraudulent Practices’ (1599) - how did it change witchcraft belief? (2) (discussion, possessions) What is the significance of the impact? (2) (religious, ideas)
Discussion via pamphlet war - John Deacon & John Walker were 2 ministers supportive of Harsnett in forcing Darrell to prove he could do exorcisms. Put forward idea of fake possessions - witches thought responsible of demonic possession, undermining accusations of bewitchment. SIGNIFICANCE: Resonated - support from religious people helped influence his ideas. Reveals the strength of idea - changing ideas of religion & led to more sceptical ideas.
26
Samuel Harsnett ‘Fraudulent Practices’ (1599) - how DIDN'T it change witchcraft belief? (accusations, Christian) What is the significance of the impact? (questioned, dismissed)
Despite accusations, Darrell was supported & sceptic views were minority & pamphlet war was about exorcism so didn't challenge witchcraft belief. Case of Christian disputes - Harsnett was CofE conformist & suggested exorcism was fake & Darrell was Puritan & saw prayer/fasting as acceptable exorcism. SIGNIFICANCE: Didn’t lead to development of ideas - only religion was slightly questioned through exorcism debate. Changed limited people’s way of thinking - people quickly dismissed ideas that weren't from their religion.
27
Thomas Ady ‘A Candle in the Dark’ (1656) - how did it change witchcraft belief? (biblical, phenomenons) What is the significance of the impact? (influenced, questioned)
Challenged biblical foundations (using Scot) & suggested those accused of maleficium are innocent - decline in hunts after. Exposed magic as fake & separated it from reality so people saw phenomenons can be explained with logic. SIGNIFICANCE: Resonated - influenced people. Revealed strength of an idea - people questioned religion & influence of God/Satan in their lives.
28
Thomas Ady ‘A Candle in the Dark’ (1656) - how DIDN'T it change witchcraft belief? (experiences) What is the significance of the impact? (development)
Followed most intense hunting - supports idea that decline in trials was due to negative experiences of the witch-craze. SIGNIFICANCE: Didn’t lead to clear development of ideas.
29
John Webster ‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’ (1677) - CHANGED witchcraft belief: Influenced _____ scepticism - supported by ________ & individuals like ________. ________ lent ______ & _______ him from other _______, reflects changing ________ to evidence. SIGNIFICANCE: Harder for _____ to occur - influencing _____ may have led to growth in ___________. Reveals _______ of an ____ - people more _____ to ______.
a) elite, Royal Society, Seth Ward b) evidence, credibility, separates, sceptics, attitudes c) trails, elite, judicial scepticism d) strength, idea, open, change
30
John Webster ‘The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft’ (1677) - DIDN'T change witchcraft belief: Not ______ - repeats ____ & ____ so didn't __________ challenge _____. SIGNIFICANCE: Changed _______ number of people’s way of _______ - these ______ were already _________.
a) radical, Ady & Scot, fundamentally, belief | b) limited, thinking, beliefs, emerging
31
Balthasar Bekker ‘The Enchanted World’ (1691) - changed witchcraft belief: Cut through _______ attitude to ______ - ______ _______ written in response & put on ____ for ________ & ________, challenging the ______. Explained _________ connection to witchcraft - challenged idea that _____ could enter _______ world; people ________ the _______ of witches. Influenced ________ - _____ copies sold in _______ in first ______, but his impact was arguably _______ to the ___________. SIGNIFICANCE: Reveals ______ of ideas - people felt _________ by his position on _____, showing they were still extremely _______. Reveals ______ of ideas - theories of _________ gained speed so people __________ _______. Changed people’s way of _______ - but could've influenced _____.
a) society's, magic, critical pamphlets, trial, blasphemy & atheism, Church b) materialism's, Devil, material, questioned, existence c) attitudes, 4000, Holland, 2 months, limited, Dutch language d) strength, threatened, religion, religious e) strength, materialism, reevaluated religion f) thinking, more
32
Balthasar Bekker ‘The Enchanted World’ (1691) - DIDN'T change belief: ________ were already ________ in ______ - the last ________ was _________ in 16__. SIGNIFICANCE: Didn’t _____ to any ______ ____________ of _____.
a) witch trials, declining, England, execution, Alice Molland, 1685 b) lead, clear development, ideas
33
What was the name of Reginald Scot's book and when was it published?
The Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584
34
What was the name of Samuel Harsnett's book and when was it published?
The Fraudulent Practices of John Darrel in 1599
35
What was the name of Thomas Ady's book and when was it published?
A Candle in the Dark in 1656
36
What was the name of John Webster's book and when was it published?
The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft in 1677
37
What was the name of Balthasar Bekker's book and when was it published?
The Enchanted World in 1691