The Encyclopedia of World Religions

witchcraft S 477

or ward off enemies. Such practices are like the well-known burning of candles of different auspi cious colors by some people today, or the use of “love potions.” Performed independently of the official religion by ordinary people or by local spe cialists like a village “wise woman,” these prac tices are sometimes called witchcraft. In primal societies, disasters also are often blamed on the work of malevolent witches, known or unknown, and their EVIL spells can be countered by other spe cialists, sometimes called witch doctors. In Europe, with the rise of C HRISTIANITY , such practices continued, but at a fairly low level. Often they were regarded tolerantly by the Chris tian church. But around the 15th century, in an atmosphere of anxiety engendered by the rise of

witchcraft The use of MAGIC or sorcery by per sons or groups outside the mainstream of society. But the term “witchcraft,” like “witch,” has been used in different ways in different times and places. Witchcraft has often been regarded with suspicion by the social mainstream. But in modern times, it has also referred to a religious movement. Here the topic will be discussed in three parts: witchcraft in primal and ancient religion ( see PRIMAL RELIGION ), alleged witchcraft and the witch persecutions in medieval and early modern Europe, and witchcraft today. In early, ancient and peasant societies every where, there is much use of simple magic and sor cery, such as charms and humble offerings to pro duce rain or fertility, assure successful childbirth,

This German woodcut, dated 1533, shows the execution of an arsonist witch by burning at the stake. (Foto Marburg/ Art Resource, N.Y.)