Pardon the Witches !

With Halloween coming up, this seems an appropriate thread.

The last time a woman was convicted as a witch in Britain was 1944.
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Group-calling-for-39witch39-to.3645599.jp

The last time a woman was burned as a witch was a local aberration in 1895 in South Tipperary, although a woman was "officially"burned at the stake on Stephens Green in the early 18th century.

The Scottish, British and US governments have all in the last few years turned down campaigns to grant formal pardons to women and men burnt at the stake for witchcraft.

news/2008/09/18/campaign-to-pardon-witches-thrown-out-87085-21842200/

http://www.breakingnews.ie/World/mhidkfidojey/

Is it not time that we granted formal pardon to "witches" or more to the point, declare them innocent ?

The Brigid Cleary story has always fascinated me - mob culture in a different era.

Are all witches innocent? - Brigid might have been, but there are a few who proudly wear their witchery on their sleeves, and not just the white ones, Wicca lite.

cactus flower wrote:

Is it not time that we granted formal pardon to "witches" or more to the point, declare them innocent ?

Shouldn't take a second to come to that conclusion unless they actually believe in the supernatural, now that would be alarming.

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

zakalwe wrote:

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

I agree that many witches were practitioners of herbalism and tradtional practices. Paganism was alive and well on the European mainland up to the 17th century.

At later stages there is some interesting evidence that some of the waves of witch burning were associated with patterns of wet weather that caused a toxic fungus to grow on rye, the main staple grain for bread. This brought on delirium and sickness that was mistaken for possession. A false accusation was an easy way of getting rid of people in the way and taking their property. The Church burned 5 million women to death over 300 years.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/02/01/witch_craze/index.html

Sometimes it is difficult to prove

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/614381/is_she_really_a_witch_strange_but_funny/

cactus flower wrote:

zakalwe wrote:

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

I agree that many witches were practitioners of herbalism and tradtional practices. Paganism was alive and well on the European mainland up to the 17th century.

At later stages there is some interesting evidence that some of the waves of witch burning were associated with patterns of wet weather that caused a toxic fungus to grow on rye, the main staple grain for bread. This brought on delirium and sickness that was mistaken for possession. A false accusation was an easy way of getting rid of people in the way and taking their property. The Church burned 5 million women to death over 300 years.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/02/01/witch_craze/index.html

The figure is hugely exaggerated, and entirely without a source. More probable estimates by historians (as opposed, apparently to Andrea Dworkin) are around the 100,000 mark.

ibis wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

zakalwe wrote:

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

I agree that many witches were practitioners of herbalism and tradtional practices. Paganism was alive and well on the European mainland up to the 17th century.

At later stages there is some interesting evidence that some of the waves of witch burning were associated with patterns of wet weather that caused a toxic fungus to grow on rye, the main staple grain for bread. This brought on delirium and sickness that was mistaken for possession. A false accusation was an easy way of getting rid of people in the way and taking their property. The Church burned 5 million women to death over 300 years.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/02/01/witch_craze/index.html

The figure is hugely exaggerated, and entirely without a source. More probable estimates by historians (as opposed, apparently to Andrea Dworkin) are around the 100,000 mark.

Well, that's all right then

cactus flower wrote:

ibis wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

zakalwe wrote:

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

I agree that many witches were practitioners of herbalism and tradtional practices. Paganism was alive and well on the European mainland up to the 17th century.

At later stages there is some interesting evidence that some of the waves of witch burning were associated with patterns of wet weather that caused a toxic fungus to grow on rye, the main staple grain for bread. This brought on delirium and sickness that was mistaken for possession. A false accusation was an easy way of getting rid of people in the way and taking their property. The Church burned 5 million women to death over 300 years.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/02/01/witch_craze/index.html

The figure is hugely exaggerated, and entirely without a source. More probable estimates by historians (as opposed, apparently to Andrea Dworkin) are around the 100,000 mark.

Well, that's all right then

It's not alright, but at least it's not ridiculous!

ibis wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

ibis wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

zakalwe wrote:

well depends if they're foxy witches like bewithed and charmed or ugly ones like on the simpsons.

burning witches and wizards was intitially used by the church to stamp out paganism through the killing of pagan priests/priestesses/druids etc. the populace and authorities latched on to it as a way to rid themselves of awkward people such as joan of arc etc.

I agree that many witches were practitioners of herbalism and tradtional practices. Paganism was alive and well on the European mainland up to the 17th century.

At later stages there is some interesting evidence that some of the waves of witch burning were associated with patterns of wet weather that caused a toxic fungus to grow on rye, the main staple grain for bread. This brought on delirium and sickness that was mistaken for possession. A false accusation was an easy way of getting rid of people in the way and taking their property. The Church burned 5 million women to death over 300 years.

http://dir.salon.com/story/books/review/2005/02/01/witch_craze/index.html

The figure is hugely exaggerated, and entirely without a source. More probable estimates by historians (as opposed, apparently to Andrea Dworkin) are around the 100,000 mark.

Well, that's all right then

It's not alright, but at least it's not ridiculous!

Fair enough.

Burn the pagan scum, burn them all!

I like witches. Leave them alone.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

You can't burn me at a religious event. You'll have to spin it somehow

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

It is, so therefore all our activities are tax-deductible. Isn't the second of your sentences a bit of a contradiction, especially with the capital G indicating a reverence for Our Father?

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

It is, so therefore all our activities are tax-deductible. Isn't the second of your sentences a bit of a contradiction, especially with the capital G indicating a reverence for Our Father?

Thank the flying spaghetti monster I'm not an atheist.

Which witch is which? If I write am I right? The mail was sent by male but he threw it through the window.

No question, this language is cursed.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

It is, so therefore all our activities are tax-deductible. Isn't the second of your sentences a bit of a contradiction, especially with the capital G indicating a reverence for Our Father?

Just a proper respect for quoloquial tradition.

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

It is, so therefore all our activities are tax-deductible. Isn't the second of your sentences a bit of a contradiction, especially with the capital G indicating a reverence for Our Father?

Just a proper respect for quoloquial tradition.

I see. I think God'll let you into Heaven in any case. I believe it's part of His new Affirmative Action Programme. Apparently a theistic-only Paradise was discriminatory.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like witches. Leave them alone.

Then you shall join them you scurrilous sympathiser!

If I can afford it. Does the departure tax include broomstick travel ?

I meant on the burning stakes.

Now subject to carbon tax.

This is a religious event so I'm liable for nothing - praise the Lord!

Religious! Thank God I'm an atheist

It is, so therefore all our activities are tax-deductible. Isn't the second of your sentences a bit of a contradiction, especially with the capital G indicating a reverence for Our Father?

Just a proper respect for quoloquial tradition.

I see. I think God'll let you into Heaven in any case. I believe it's part of His new Affirmative Action Programme. Apparently a theistic-only Paradise was discriminatory.

So I get a pyre instead of heaven because I like witches ? I thought you were all for social justice.