Were the Salem witch trials caused by people's overzealous faith, or were they really witches?

Question

I know what I think, but I'm curious of others opinions on the matter.

Answer 1

How do you KNOW she is a witch? She looks like one....she turned me into a newt...I love that scene.....I think that they killed innocent women who perhaps practiced witchcraft (BFD!!!) in other words they were killed for their religious beliefs by people who came here for religious freedom....how ironic, eh?

Answer 2

I think there was a good amount of hysteria during those times. The Puritans in America lived in uneasy times,and were very untrusting., In Europe it was the church's response for people who did not integrate into their ways of life, or thinking. I think some of the women (and men) probably were herbalists or naturalists, and follwed a way of life that was a bit contradictory to those in their communities. The Salem witch trials were a good way to weed out the outcast that everyone thoughht were a little strange. I think that there could have been practicing wiccans, but they also nabbed outsiders. Its sad that all of that happened. I have been to the witch museum in Salem... pretty interesting.

Answer 3

Oh, Yes! They were really witches! We know because they were smart independent women who made medicine and took care of the sick! They were practicing magic!!
Anyone practicing any thing vaguely pagan, truth or otherwise is to be put on trial and killed.

And what better way to accuse a witch then to hear it second hand from a town gossip and liar who just happen not to like a person?

Answer 4

the people were scared because there were some strange occurrences going on according to the history books. the religious faith was also a factor for if a person had a birthmark, mole or other blemish they were suspect along with older people. in addition there was the political factor of ownership of land which certain community leaders wanted. the witches if they existed were ones who had the knowledge of herbs, plants and animals to heal the physically sick. don't overlook the theory that the people were also eating contaminated food.

Answer 5

Most Christians I talk to say that their religion forbids the belief in witchcraft. I don't know if this is true or not since I am not a Christian, but it seems weird that the same religion that spawned the witch trials denies the the existence of witches.

Answer 6

There really were no witches. It was just religious fanatics trying to "rid" their society of some "lower class" people. If someone spoke badly of how some minister was preaching, suddenly they were accused of being seen "dancing in the moonlight" just before someone died. The charges were trumped up on anyone who pissed off anyone! Just as it goes on today, the religious right tries to persecute and force their ideals on others that do not see things as they do.

Answer 7

Overzealous faith and lets not forget paranoia and fear.
Lets see: All it took was for a woman to have red hair, or maybe nymphs. BURN THE WITCH

Answer 8

Ergot poisoning which induced LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) like hallucinations led to the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Listen to doc Zoom-Zoom. He knows!

H

Answer 9

A little of both. Some may have actually practiced the "art" but mainly it was overzealous people. I think that a lot of women who were innocent of the charge were killed and those who did that will have to answer for that horrible thing.

Answer 10

The Witch trials were neither. Like many other things man does it was a distortion of the Word of God.

Answer 11

Of course they weren't witches in the sense of possessing magic powers. Christians have a long history of persecuting people different from themselves. In the US today, it's primarily the gay population, but some still have an axe to grind with the Jews and other religions.