Christians, do you feel remorse for the 1692 Salem Witch Trials?

Question

At least 25 innocent people were killed because of Christian hysteria. Could it happen again?

Exodus 22:18 "Suffer not a witch to live."

Deuteronomy 18:10 "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch."

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials

National Geographic - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/

Landover Baptist Church - http://www.landoverbaptist.org/sermons/witches.html

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. (George Santayana)

Answer 1

The reason the Salem Witch Trials are so well documented is because the Puritans themselves felt a great deal of remorse over the matter. After the mania had settled down and the religious and civil authorities realized what had happened, they made great effort to uncover the facts of the matter and chronicle them in history to make sure that such an atrocity never again occurred in their community. On the first anniversary of the first execution of the trils, the leaders called for a day of fasting and penitince. It didn't bring back the people who died during the trials, but the community was made to feel accountable, and they have preserved the memory of the trials for posterity. This does, in my opinion, reflect somewhat positively on the character of the Puritan community, especially considering the far greater atrocities that have been committed and subsequently swept under the rug in nearly every year of human history.

Answer 2

Remorse? No, I cannot, and should not, feel remorse for actions I personally was not involved in committing. That would be false guilt.

However, there is a lot of supposed "christian" history that makes me sad, sometimes even a little angry. How could people do this in the name of God? Such attitudes appall me!

Could it happen again? Unfortunately, yes! It is still happening all over the world today. Right now the push to eliminate "infidels" comes from extremist Islamic believers (who are not Christians), but the tide can turn at any time. Doctrine is not the problem. The zealous human desire for controlling other human beings is the problem! Religion is just an excuse for such actions.

Answer 3

Dont blame christians blame old ignorant worldy wannabe christians true christians would never do what Jesus is supposed to do and that is lay down judgement thats only gods job know one else. remember man will always be man(ignorant arrogant power lusting ape) but a holy man(someone who is not controlled by ignorance and insecurity wouldnt assume someone is a witch B CUZ HE IS FILLED WITH GODS LOVE) will be with god. but think about this ok what probally really happend back then was that one idiot saw that theres was something diffrent about that person he labled a witch and what ppl dont know and assume is diffrent they fear so what I think happend was that alot of ppl were not intrested in burning anybody but if they didnt join in they would automatically be labled a witch for not willing to agree to burn someone but technicaly that still happends today someone who is diffrent will always be labled something like that take for instance back in school when I wore black nail polish and wore black clothes I was labeld a satanist by my nieghbors and my teachers I wasnt burned but I was harassed even threatend just for bieng diffrent just goes to show how to this day ppl are still ignorant like that and right now I feel you have anger against christians but I think thats just the devil trying to make u hate christians one day youll understand what I mean God bless.

Answer 4

No, because it had nothing to do with me. It wasn't even my ancestors because they didn't migrate here until the 1800's. And really isn't my religion....Puritan's (and apparently the quacks at Landover) have a completely different theology than most Chrisitans...so no, I feel no remorse.

Am I sorry it happened? Yes. But neither I nor Christianity are responsible for it.

Answer 5

No. I am sorry they were falsely killed, just as I am sorry for the Holocaust and the Inquisition.
But I do not live in the past, what happened last year, 200 years or 500 years ago, I can not change.

Answer 6

I had nothing to do with it. So my answer is no. That would be like asking Germans if thaty have remorse for the holocaust. Why would they? Today's germans had nothing to do with it either, and that was just 55 years ago!

Answer 7

I suppose everyone has their own opion about such action. Don't give excuses for others in their own actions. If your going to do anything, just take care of yourself, and let God take care of those false things. DOn't go quoting biblical exserpts or passages from some bible. That's hippocritic and our nieve nature to give excuses.

Answer 8

once read the satanic bible where this issue was discussed. and the author proudly announced that there were witches in the community and they were the girls that were doing the accusing. so they would point out rightous people and watched them be killed.

Answer 9

Yes, the puritans were rather cookoo.
They hung people for adultery, minor theft, and having seizures (which were said to be the devil's work).

Answer 10

The responses are hilarious to me. I'm a Jew and people have asked me, "Why did to kill Jesus?" However, I do agree that today's Christians had nothing to do with the witch trials.