Whereas the burning of  witches was presented to the populace as a
means of liberating the people from the claws of evil, and accepted
by "the people" as such, if one looks at it in a context of power,
politics, scientific/medical knowledge, the true reasons for the
burnings may have been quite different. Jeanne d'Arc was not a witch,
but when she became inconvenient and was no longer needed by those
in power, she too was burned at the stake.


> I am reminded of James Burke's the Day the Universe Changed, when he
> discussed the trials and burning of witches. If we view the buring of
> witches from out present day views, it would seem that was a
> reprehensible and silly series of brutal acts; but viewed from within
> the context the burnings were seen as a means of liberating the people
> from the claws of evil. Times and contexts do change as does perceptions
> about right/wrong.
>
Pia Ellen
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