What do you think of the Burning Times (the Witch hunts in the Middle Ages)?

Question

Some of the torture methods were barbic and uncivilized (and this was coming from people who kept saying that they were civilized people, yeah right). Some of the trials would have been laugh out of a courthouse today. Some of the victims were killed on the words of another person who was making the stories up.

And to the ones who say that the burning time should be brought back, why? Are they willing to bring back this time of terror and fear.

Any female who attended a birth was branded a Witch for she knew which herbs to use to kill the pain and which ones could be used for birth control. If a woman miscarried for any reason including a beating from her husband, the church considered her guilty of murder, which carried the death penalty. In the clergys mind, all women were guilty of something evil until they were dead. Accused women were often raped by there torturers and their assistants. All the women were gagged on their way to execution to keep them from revealing this crime.

Answer 1

Like any horrible time in human history in any country on the planet.. people can sometimes go overboard.

Oh..and if any Christians are using this board today.. remember that Jesus said condemn not and be not condemned. Love thy neighbor the way you want GOD to love YOU! With mercy and with love.

Answer 2

The church accused many people of witchcraft because it was a good little money-earner --- a guilty verdict meant all of the accused's property was handed over to the church.

Yes, fanatical Christians would be quite willing to embark on yet another Inquisition --- and if they ever regain political power we are in big trouble. (Imagine Fred Phelps as the President.)

Answer 3

There was only one burning of a witch in the UK. There were definetly hangings, the ducking stool ect ect. There was a witchfinder called Matthew Hopkins who would turn up, point the finger at someone declaring them a witch and then charge the village for his services. I think he got killed.

Answer 4

life was held very cheap in the middle ages - especially the life of poor people. (in fact this was broadly true until well into the eighteenth century).

people could be hanged for stealing a loaf of bread, or a handkerchief, for chopping down a tree which belonged to the king, or for trapping deer on a nobleman's park.

and the use of torture was commonplace for all sorts of reasons, it was not especially reserved for witches.

the 'burning times' is a modern idea, and i don't believe that there ever were any 'burning times' any more than i believe that iraq is aswarm with wmds. 'witches' were burned in large numbers during the middle ages and high renaissance, but so were albigensians, knights templar, and joan of arc.

religious belief was at its zenith, so people were ignorant and nasty. they were not specifically focused on witches: christianity is an equal opportunity oppressor.

Answer 5

As someone who comes from a long family line of witches, I'd have to say; the 'Burning Times' are mostly fiction.
There were witch-hunts inn Europe in the Middle Ages, and there was the Inquisition (whose task was to root out heresy, not witchcraft), but to suggest that it was a massive, co-ordinated effort to stamp out witches, or that entire communities lived in fear, is laughable.

Answer 6

Even before reading your additional information I would have said that it was appalling and barbaric. As you correctly state, those accused of witch-craft were often those called upon to assist in labours, or in times of need through illness, or injuries. These women, would in fact, have been early day doctors or midwives.

Answer 7

All free thinking women were burnt under the guise of witches, the truth is they figured out that the church was oppressing them and did not allow women their rights, the church decides to get rid of their views by getting rid of them...

Answer 8

Middle Ages could be brought back only concerning the books of magic.About the tortures, it is a real same for hummanity and mostly RELIGION and CHURCH who did these atrocities.

Answer 9

Just people using religion as a tool for power, control. Gives religion a bad name, even though it can be used for good also. Many become theists with the hope of becoming a better person, myself included.

Answer 10

All fads by perverted theists go out of style eventually. They found a way to satisfy their sexual sadistic desires without sex, by burning young women at the stake.That made them closer to their god, in their minds. Today they do different but similar things.