unit 2: how did doctrine affect people's beliefs about witches? Flashcards
what is heresy?
a belief contrary to the authorised teaching of the catholic church
threat of heresy
> perceived threats emerged from the 1200s, (cathards/lollards)
inquisition was launched to protect the church was heresy
moved away from tolerance to persecution
minorities targeted
threat to destroy christianity
1326 - authorised targeting of witchcraft inquisitions
the devil’s pact
> european witchcraft trials were prosecution for maleficium - rarely executed
trials took place in france, switzerland and italy whixh they were suspected of holding large meetings where they worshipped the devil - material rewarded
devil imprinted a mark on the body - concealed place
demonological experts said that witches gathered to perform rituals at sabbat - sacrifice children, feast on bodies, sex with the devil
could fly on broomsticks - explains how they were able to get out miles from home at midnight gatherings without been seen
picture: 17th century engraving by matthaus merian the elder
> called the witches sabbat - midnight meetings
flying on goats - explains why and how they were out of their home
fire - explosive. rebellious behaviour
nudity - sexualised
result
> witches seen as members of a heretical set, a mence to christianity
needed to be hunted down and destroyed, this led to
- inquisitors were dispatched
- witches were burnt at the stake
- december 1484: pope innocent vlll issued a papal bull in which he declared witchcraft to be a ‘crimean exceptum’ removing all legal limits on the application of torture in cases where evidence was difficult to find
