History classics : Religion and the Decline of Magic Keith Thomas

Difference between magic and religion The basic mechanism of magical practices is the spell, a spoken or written formula which is used in conjunction with a particular set of ingredients. If a spell is properly executed and fails to work, then the spell is a fraud. However, in most instances, the failure of a spell to bring about the desired effect is attributed to the failure of the person executing the spell to follow the magic formula to the letter.

Belief in magic or religion? -Reincarnation -Spending £500 to buy a T shirt which Rihanna really wore on stage, -Swearing on the Bible in a court of law -Refusing to walk under a ladder -Praying for a friend who is ill -Keeping relics of a saint in a church to be worshipped -Believing in Karma « What goes around comes around » -Homeopathy and the memory of water -Believing that faith in God is essential for your life after death. -Believing that good behaviour will win you rewards after death.

When religion and magic came into conflict: the hunting of witches in the 16th and 17th centuries …

1484: Pope Innocent VIII issued a papal bull "Summis desiderantes" on DEC-5 which promoted the tracking down, torturing and executing of Satan worshippers : Institoris (Heinrich Kraemer) and Jacob Sprenger published the Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches' Hammer). It describes the activities of Witches, the methods of extracting confessions. It was later abandoned by the Church, but became the "bible" of those secular courts which tried Witches. 1500: During the 14th century, there had been known 38 trials against Witches and sorcerers in England, 95 in France and 80 in Germany. 4 The witch hunts accelerated. "By choosing to give their souls over to the devil witches had committed crimes against man and against God. The gravity of this double crime classified witchcraft as crimen exceptum, and allowed for the suspension of normal rules of evidence in order to punish the guilty." 7 Children's testimony was accepted. Essentially unlimited torture was applied to obtain confessions. The flimsiest circumstantial evidence was accepted as proof of guilt.

1517: Martin Luther’s 95 theses triggered the Protestant Reformation. In Roman Catholic countries, the courts continue to burn witches. In Protestant lands, they were mainly hung. Some Protestant countries did not allow torture. In England, this lack of torture led to a low conviction rate of only 19% : Reginald Scot published a book that was ahead of its time. In Discoverie of Witchcraft, he claimed that supernatural powers did not exist. Thus, there were no Witches. 1684: The last accused Witch was executed in England.

 starter activity What do you think is happening in this picture. Read the account of events and compare your version.  Was Mother Sutton a witch? Why were women often suspected of witchcraft in the Early Modern era?

Reasons for witch-hunting craze Religion – religious views e.g. Puritanism saw witchcraft as an explanation for illness & the unknown Religion – religious views e.g. Puritanism saw witchcraft as an explanation for illness & the unknown Governments – new laws, e.g Witchcraft Law & interest by leaders, Governments – new laws, e.g Witchcraft Law & interest by leaders, e.g. James I wrote ‘Daemonologie’ in 1597 e.g. James I wrote ‘Daemonologie’ in 1597 Attitudes – tensions caused by Reformation & Civil War led to score settling in communities Attitudes – tensions caused by Reformation & Civil War led to score settling in communities

Daemonologie — in full Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogie, Divided into three Bookes. By James Rx — was written and published in 1597 [1] by King James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England). The book endorses the practice of witch hunting. James begins the book: [1]King James VI of ScotlandJames I of Englandwitch hunting The fearefull aboundinge at this time in this countrie, of these detestable slaves of the Devil, the Witches or enchaunters, hath moved me (beloved reader) to dispatch in post, this following treatise of mine (...) to resolve the doubting (...) both that such assaults of Satan are most certainly practised, and that the instrument thereof merits most severely to be punished.the Devil Satan The work is in the form of a dialogue between characters called "Philomathes" and "Epistemon". In writing the book, King James was influenced by his personal involvement in the North Berwick witch trials (1590).North Berwick witch trials From wikipedia

Reasons for witch-hunting (2) Poverty – economic hardship caused tensions leading to people being made scapegoats Poverty – economic hardship caused tensions leading to people being made scapegoats lack of scientific understanding of natural world, e.g. natural disasters blamed on witchcraft lack of scientific understanding of natural world, e.g. natural disasters blamed on witchcraft Financial gain – witch finders paid for uncovering witchcraft; authors & printers sold pamphlets & books Financial gain – witch finders paid for uncovering witchcraft; authors & printers sold pamphlets & books

Signs of witchcraft ‘Familiars’ or imps – e.g. animals present when witchcraft occurred ‘Familiars’ or imps – e.g. animals present when witchcraft occurred Devil’s marks – e.g. scars, boils or spots Devil’s marks – e.g. scars, boils or spots Failing the swimming test – guilty if floated Failing the swimming test – guilty if floated Third nipple or teat on victim’s body Third nipple or teat on victim’s body Making images of victims, e.g. puppets or pictures Making images of victims, e.g. puppets or pictures Refusal to attend church Refusal to attend church Inability to recite prayers or sections from the Bible Inability to recite prayers or sections from the Bible Often elderly or ‘outsiders’ Often elderly or ‘outsiders’ Uses an alias, e.g. a nickname Uses an alias, e.g. a nickname Mumbling spells or curses Mumbling spells or curses

But Thomas is not interested only in witches but in the much wider role of magic in early modern England…

For an English man or woman in 1500, witchcraft, spirits, and spells were an important and integral part of daily life. But by 1700, these deeply held beliefs were nowhere near as widespread. Why? Thomas concludes that magical thought had traditionally helped people understand and cope with everyday problems. Yet the emergence of the more rational Protestant Church and advances in science eroded its hold.

Watch the intoductory video and then we will be looking at book reviews.