Why are theologians now saying that more witches were burned at the stake than there were Christian martyrs?

Question

I've found many scholarly books and websites that show how most of the history of Christian martyrdom was simply made up!

Does this cast a bad light on Christianity?

If you're interested, it's an easy search on Google.

Answer 1

Well considering the extent of the crusades, and the small period of witch-hunts in Europe and Puritan New England, I'd say that there were more Christian "martyrs" than witch "martyrs".

However it would be different depending on who you included. If you consider the pagans around the time of Constantine to be witches (which is a less correct term), then we'd have to start calculating.

Answer 2

Thousands of Witches were either burned at the stake or hung during the Burning Times. I'm sure there were many Christians who were martyrs during early Christianity. My own studies of history indicate that there were more people killed during the centuries of the Burning Times than were killed during early Christianity, but the truth is, there will always be scholarly treatises that differ with each other on topics such as this.

I think that a good think to ponder in this discussion is whether it matters more who "won" in terms of which "side" got more deaths, or whether the better focus should be on the fact that people, innocent people, were slaughtered in all camps, and the needless and brutal killing of another person for religious intolerance is TERRIBLE, no matter who is the victim.

Wherever this type of gruesome violent murders were being carried out, the land is bloodied and whose blood it was doesn't matter to the dead.

my thoughts, such as they are

Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(
pagan Witch

Answer 3

During the Middle Ages if a person was caught talking to themselves, the authorities said that they were possessed by demons and they soon were toasted on an open fire. Martyrs were usually victims of religious persecution. More witches were toasted that martyrs but the witches never received notoriety. Numerous things written in religious texts have later been proven false.

Answer 4

Do you actually believe this, this is even in the history books, people can write anything, Don't you know what the Romans did to the Christians because they wouldn't turn against God, The colisium, where they sent them out with lions, etc, they burned them alive, this is as bad as them crazy people that are saying the holocaust never happened, people turn to evil, and what they have to get something started, would you renounce your faith in a God you knew was with you, and you were absolutely certain of the truth, I sure will not.

Answer 5

so we are supose to believe that? Besides even if it was true it was started by men to get rid of their wives so they could remarry younger women when the church didn't allow divorce.
All a man had to say was his wife was a witch and walla she was history and he got a new women.
So yes, there just might have been more of them then Christians. But they say the holocost isn't true? When we saw the pictures and know of ones who were there and in it.
so what they say and what is true is two different things.
To say they, do not lie is a joke.

Answer 6

Why are theologians now saying that more witches were burned at the stake than there were Christian martyrs?

ANSWER: Jealousy and Envy

Answer 7

Of course it puts it in a bad light. The things Christians have done in "Gods name" are heinous, but those mistakes are not as well published. It is what it is. People should take the time to research what they are being taught.

Answer 8

These plenty of books and websites saying the opposite.

Answer 9

Anti-assumption question: How do you know that those scholarly books and sites are truthful?

Answer 10

Really.

I've never heard anything of the sort.

If you're claiming that Christians have never been victimized because of their beliefs, then I think you are mistaken.