A review by chapman
The History of Witchcraft by Lois Martin

3.0

An interesting quick read, giving an overview of the history of the idea of witchcraft in England and Western Europe. The development of how the ideas we have today on the subject, were gradually formed, from many disparate pieces of old folklore and pagan belief, as well as the Christian Church itself molding and changing many aspects of it themselves.

It's interesting how the Church, in many ways, created their own version of witchcraft to give themselves something to persecute.
It's often a brutal, ugly, terrible affair. Filled with centuries of horror, torment and brutality. It's hard understanding beliefs which many people and myself today find almost impossible to take seriously. I also see reflections of it in many different ways, in particular how people continue to twist things that are either harmless in themselves, or inconveniant facts for others into things they are not, to suit the purposes of organisations and individuals.

I can see how the thinking is still part of humanity.