unit 2: how did religious change contribute to the witch hunts?

Question 1

picture: william tyndale burnt at the stake in 1563 woodcut

Answer 1

> accused of heresy - strangled and burnt at the stake
killed in brussels although an englishmen - burning wasn’t a punishment in england
responsible for the publication of first english translation
henry vlll was fuming with him for challenging his annulment to catherine of aragon
last words: ‘lord, open the king of england’s eyes’

Question 2

religious change

Answer 2

> catholic took lead in prosecution
reformation and counter had similar effects

Question 3

hellen ellerbe - historian

Answer 3

> the dark side of christian history book
reformation and counter reformation occurred between 1520 - 1650
direct casual link
quote: ‘the social turmoil created by the reformation intensified witch-hunting’

Question 4

fear of the devil

Answer 4

> reformation increased european’s fear of the devil
luther and calvin stressed the devil’s presence on earth, in the world
calvinist theologies perceived the witches’ pact as being the direct opposite of calvin’s covenment with god
encouraged many to take action against his agents- witches
zealous commitment to purify the world by declaring war against satan and witches

Question 5

attack on superstition and magic

Answer 5

> protestant reformers tried to purify the faith by eradicating catholic superstitious beliefs and practices
eliminating vestiges of paganism and suppressing magic - holy water, charms, amulets

Question 6

the godly state

Answer 6

> reformation - determination to create a godly state
sodomy, fornication, prostitution and adultery came under attack
catholics rulers persued the same ideal
some intense witch-hunts took place in german principalities governed by catholic prince bishops. purify society and promote own image

Question 7

the bible and witchcraft

Answer 7

> reformation established the bible as sole source of religious truth for most protestants
exodus 22:18 declared - ‘thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’ used by preachers and judges to justify campaigns against witchcraft

Question 8

religious conflict

Answer 8

> domestic and international warfare
correlation between intensity of the witchcraft prosecutions and extent of religious divisions
most popular witch-hunts in large religious minorities lived in boundaries of a state - germany, switzerland, france, poland and scotland