Levack, for one, provides a clue to partially answering this, i.e., the "fear of rebellion." For at least in late-medieval or early-modern Europe, it was widely held that "Rebellion is the mother of witchcraft." And the fear was not groundless, for "the numerous calamities of the late fourteenth century, most especially the Black Death, may have encouraged intellectuals to assume greater demonic intervention in the world..." (9) Equally confusing is the decline of witchcraft beliefs and the
witch hunt. (10)
Prospects and pitfalls of a global history approach to the early-modern European witch hunt
To this reviewer, Waite is overly insistent about the connection between the motives and methods of Anabaptist persecution and the
witch hunt that occurred in the period after Anabaptist executions subsided.
Eradicating the Devil's Minions: Anabaptists and Witches in Reformation Europe, 1525-1600
Sebastian's Angels group accused the cardinal of conducting a "
witch hunt" against homosexually active priests, actually recommending that the future Pope Benedict be sodomized by some of them.
Are 'gay' priests the problem?
The author of the article was right when she referred to this as a
witch hunt.
Catholic guilt
The Norwegian Student Union (NSU) has reportedly rejected a proposal to ban the use of the Muslim hijab at colleges and universities, and called it a "
witch hunt".
Norwegian student union rejects proposal to ban the Muslim hijab - report
Speakers insisted such a commission would not be a
witch hunt, but would seek fairness.
Tutu commends Kenyans for confronting 'painful' past
Those who opposed the
witch hunt, mostly wealthy residents, feared arrest or economic ruin for protesting.
The Salem witchcraft trials: life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony grew very strange in January 1692. Were two young girls ill--or were they possesed by the devil?
The least gifted in speaking their own defense, whether mumbling in shock or invoking the constitutional right not to answer the senator's baiting questions, were ordered back for the big show: the open hearings where the senator conducted a thunderous
witch hunt that both mesmerized and polarized the nation in exploiting cold war fear."
McCarthy targeted--again. (Cover Story: History)
That is the purpose of the
witch hunt, and the Rosenberg case is the
witch hunt in its most extreme form.
Fifty years ago. (Monthly Review)
Charles Sharpe, founder of the school, said his employees have done nothing wrong and insisted that officials have launched a "
witch hunt" against Heartland.
`Faith-Based' facility In Missouri accused of abuse
A CONSERVATIVE Party review of links with rightwing groups will not become a "
witch hunt" to purge extremists, vice chairman Shailesh Vara has said.
Tory review 'will be no witch-hunt'
While this in itself is perhaps unremarkable, the extent to which
witch hunt studies, in other ways receptive to new currents in scholarship, have resisted the impact of women's history is surprising.
The witch 'she'/the historian 'he': Gender and the historiography of the European witch hunts
And soon they are emboldened to make all sorts of false accusations against anyone they dislike, and are egged on in this
witch hunt by a host of parents and clergy with their own mixed motives.
Don't make the devil the fall guy
"After two years of an expensive and comprehensive
Witch Hunt, the Democrats don't like the result and they want a DO OVER.
Trump alleges 'PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!' once again before Pelosi meeting
"Despite the disgusting, illegal and unwarranted
Witch Hunt, we have had the most successful first 17 month Administration in US history - by far!
Trump touts 'most successful' first months in office amid Russia probe