Wiccans/Pagans: The "Burning Times"?

Question

I was looking at a question asked by someone earlier and she mentioned the "Burning Times". I ask, how many of you still believe that 9 million "witches" were "burned at the stake"? Why?

This is a myth. Many people have been killed because of religious prosecution, but the number of nine million is pure fancy.

No witches were burned at Salem either. They were hanged.

Please, if you're going to convert to a religion and claim a history, do some research.

http://wicca.timerift.net/burning.shtml
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_burn.htm

For those of you who already knew this, why do you think so many people still hang on to the myth of "nine million witches burned"?

Answer 1

Many of them still believe it because many high-ranking Wiccans still repeat that falsehood. Silver Ravenwolf is one of the more famous who uses it constantly (and it drives me crazy!!!!!)

It's something that can be used to finger point at Mainstream Christianity, is the only reason I can think of why anyone would still use this myth. It's wrong to do so and shows a lack in study of something they claim to hold dear. The # itself comes from one man who GUESSED at the deaths by taking the # of people (not just women, but men as well) killed during a short period of time in one of the most violent places, most well-known during that time for killing "heretics" and multiplying by the # of years he assumed the Inquisitions occurred. I believe it was town in Germany, one of the few places where almost an entire village was killed off due to a couple of women pointing fingers at others, along with several of the surrounding towns.

Thank you for pointing out that no witches were burned at Salem. I don't know how many times I've seen people claim this... not just Wiccans and Pagans, but Christians as well. All of them were hanged except one... a man (I forget his name) was crushed to death under large stones - in other words, he was stoned to death, just not in the "normal" Biblical fashion.

I agree, if you are going to be a part of a religion with such a strained history, at least be correct on the history. Research it without bias... and please don't just turn to a religion just because you're angry with Mainstream. That reflects poorly on those Wiccans and Pagans who do the research and try to remain true to the history... those who take their beliefs seriously and don't try to use them to get back at Mainstream.

Answer 2

I never did believe it. I thought it was possibly around a hundred and few of them where actually practicing pagans. I already knew that witches where hung in salem. I read a book specificly on the Salem witch trials. They hang onto it like any other rumour. Makes it more interesting and they use it to justify their persecution on Christians.

Edit:And the practicing pagans where killed in Europe not Salem.

Answer 3

The number is an exaggeration, why 9 million was chosen instead of 10 or 8 million or 5 people, is like many of myths to teach us a lesson. I think many hold on to it is to remind themselves and others just how cruel other folks can be.

Most of the folks who were hanged, burned or drowned were for the most part Christians and were murdered by fellow Christians, who were doing the "Will of God". Can someone please tell me why the Will of God is to kill his own followers, when one of his 10 Commandants is "Thou Shall Not Kill"?

The number of burned vs hanged, drowned etc is being focused on too much, but the fact that folks were and can be prosecuted for their beliefs are very real and will never go away and that is what the "burning times" mean to me. Blessed Be y'all!

Answer 4

I personally do not believe it to be that high by anymeans. But my coven at Samhain does honor those lives that have been lost due to religous persecution no matter what religion was involved as we feel everyone should be able to believe what they want to believe. I also hold a special place in my heart for those that died during the Salem Witch trials I am pretty sure none of them were witches but they died because they refused to lie and say they were and they refused to throw away thier belief system just to save thier own lives they and for that reason alone they deserve to be remembered.

Answer 5

Most pagans and Wiccans are very aware of this.
Honesty no witches in Salem were hanged either. They were scared Christians caught up in mass hysteria.
I get what your saying. I can't stand the "Burning Times" thing. It makes us all look like victims that we aren't.
Should we forget religious persecution? Hel no! But the whole "Burning Times" things drives me and a LOT of pagans nuts. It makes us all look bad.

Answer 6

People hang onto "Nine Million Witches burned" because it feeds their persecution complex. Nothing more.

The Burning Times never really happened, at least not in the way that it was claimed they did. And while I won't say I never believed they did, I know better now.

Answer 7

It is like anything else. It is a rumor and it sounds so horrific that newbies latch onto it. They never bother to read up on it and discover the truth. It is like them saying that Wicca is an ancient religion. That is what they have been told by the un-informed.

Answer 8

Of course it's a myth. But it lets people who enjoy feeling persecuted have a good reason to indulge those feelings. Also, it has a political purpose for some feminists.

Answer 9

I definitely am not buying that bull from Ravenwolf.

Luckily, I discovered Wicca For the Rest of Us early enough in my exploration of Wicca that I wasn't tempted by any of the books at Barnes and Noble. ^_^

Answer 10

"still believe it"?

Honey, I never believed it, not in 20+ years of being Wiccan. Not a one of my teachers ever claimed Wicca was ANYTHING but new.