A Brief History of Paganism, Witchcraft, and the Phenomenon of the Witch Trials

Abstract

This paper is about the history of Paganism, different types of witchcraft, including Wicca and Santeria, and the social issues that brought on senseless acts of discrimination and violence toward practitioners of these beliefs. What was, at one point, a belief system that was thought to be more of a plague than a legitimate religion has become almost as widely accepted in current times as mainstream religious practices such as Christianity and Judaism. With women at the forefront of their influence, Neo-Paganism and Wicca have taken on momentum as beacons of freedom for women socially and politically. These beliefs are perhaps more crucial now than ever, given that they condone positive and respectful relationships with the environment and women regarding body autonomy and personal freedom. The findings of this paper will highlight the fact that religious, literary, and political influence can cause harmful ideology to spread and how this culminates in adverse effects on vulnerable demographic groups.

Year Manuscript Completed

Fall 2022

Senior Project Advisor

Dr. Tricia Jordan

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Agricultural Studies

Document Type

Thesis

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