Have the Christians ever apologized for killing innocent women during the Salem Witch Hunts ?

Answer 1

There are a lot of cold answers here, but this is what i think (go figure!)

I think the concept that people should apologize for what their predecessors did is a little shaky. I had nothing to do with the witch trials whatsoever. I am apauled that people who say that they were followers of Christ could bring themselves to do such things (quite frankly, it makes me doubt the authenticity of their claim).

I think that this question might spawn from a somewhat misdirected stereotype: Not all Christians are condemning, nor are all of them legalistic or dogmatic. This is an important precept for the rest of my statement.

It was dogmatic, legalistic 'Christians' who killed the witches in Salem, not Christians in general. An analogy (or two?): It was Nazi's who performed the atrocity of the Holocaust, not Germans in general. It was many Zealous and materialistic residents who were responsible for the desicration (sp?) of Native American tribes and land, not all Americans in General. It was cruel and malicious slave owners who abused and mistreated those who served them, not ALL slave owners, certainly not all whites.

Any of these statements can be taken as a statement to two different sides of this debate.

1. you can't blame an entire people group for the sins of its particular members

2. those particular members need to make things right in order that such stereotypes should not exist.

I can't justify apologizing for those trials; i like to think that i wouldn't be involved. I can apologize to those people that i have misrepresented Christ to. Thanks for the motivation.

Answer 2

Yes--well, sorta. The government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts did.

"In 1992, The Danvers Tercentennial Committee persuaded the Massachusetts House of Representatives to issue a resolution honoring those who had died. After much convincing and hard work by Salem school teacher Paula Keene, Representatives J. Michael Ruane and Paul Tirone and a few others, the names of all those not previously listed were added to this resolution. When it was finally signed on October 31, 2001, by Governor Jane Swift, more than 300 years later, all were finally proclaimed innocent." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials

It wasn't exactly an "apology," but I think it went a long way toward saying "This should never have happened, and we will not allow it to happen again."

"On May 9, 1992, the Salem Village Witchcraft Victims' Memorial of Danvers was dedicated before an audience of over 3,000 people. It was the first such Memorial to honor all of the 1692 witchcraft victims, and is located across the street from the site of the original Salem Village Meeting House where many of the witch examinations took place. The Memorial serves as a reminder that each generation must confront intolerance and 'witch hunts' with integrity, clear vision and courage." http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Commemoration.html

Read the "Closure" subsection under the Wikipedia entry for "Salem Witch Trials" for more information.

As for Christianity apologizing. While I don't think Pope John Paul II ever specifically apologized for what some pagans call the "pagan Holocaust," he did apologize for the Inquisition in general.

Answer 3

I never hunted or killed a witch or suspected witch. My sister is getting married to a wiccan and she herself is a shaman. I am a Christian but I feel no reason to apologize for what people I did not know did to other people I did not know. I feel saddened for the persecution of those who were innocent. And I also feel sorry for the fact that a great deal of wiccans and witches still feel like they have to hide their faith from everyone rather than face a ration of undue crap. I hope they can one day be as open as the Christians. There is a lot to be learned from them. My sister does a lot of good for my family with holistic medicine as I do not like going to the doctor every other day for simple illnesses. I will go if I cannot get rid of the simple sickness myself.

Answer 4

Where do you get that it was Christians that hung the witches ? You better do some research, for the whole town of Danvers (old Salem) was involved. The trials were court trials with a judge and jury that made the decision.

Answer 5

Look all those Christians then were pretty stupid! I'm A Christian myself. there are so many types of Christianity anyway! I never burned anyone at that time or any other time. So why should a Apologize for something I NEVER did! Thats almost like waiting for the Government to Apologize to Black Americans for Slavery! It ain't gonna happen!

Answer 6

Ahhhhhh----------come on! They never even apologized for the Crusades and the Inquisition. Why would they bother on such a small amount of killing in Salem?

Answer 7

It is a proven fact that more people have been killed in religious wars and panic's (such as the witch hunts), than all the wars in time....Christians dont apologize, they just hide behind their bibles for justification......

Answer 8

well being that I wasn't alive at that time, nor have I ever burned anyone at the stake, or even killed anyone for that matter, then no I have not appologized and nor will I. That is like saying I should appologize for every wrong thing Germany did since my ancestors were German, or maybe I should appologize for slavery since I am an American. Even though I never had a slave or even was alive during that time period. Get real

Answer 9

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I just wanted to say this is a very good question. I'm curious as to what would suffice for a genuine apology in this day and age.

Answer 10

Many call themselves "Christians", but are not true Christians. True Christians would never do that, nor would they get involved in any worldly political affairs, like wars.