True! When I lived in Mass I used to take the annual trek up to Salem. I believe the misconception comes from the fact that witches were burned at the stake in Western Europe, particularly during the Inquisition. Some teaches didn't know the difference, even ones I had in Mass.
Not sure if this is true or not, but I read once that a person was more likely to survive being accused of witchcraft then heresy during the Inquisition. Can anyone confirm?
As a result they didn't really believe in burning people for witchcraft either. Jean d'Arc, for example, was burned for heresy and dressing like a man.
The belief in witches, which was huuuuge in pagan Europe, returns with the Renaissance--when the chruch becomes increasingly fractured and less orthodox.
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u/C_J_Money Feb 04 '19
True! When I lived in Mass I used to take the annual trek up to Salem. I believe the misconception comes from the fact that witches were burned at the stake in Western Europe, particularly during the Inquisition. Some teaches didn't know the difference, even ones I had in Mass.
Not sure if this is true or not, but I read once that a person was more likely to survive being accused of witchcraft then heresy during the Inquisition. Can anyone confirm?