Witch

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A witch is a person, usually a woman, who practices witchcraft. A man that practices witchcraft is often called a warlock. However this is a misconseption. A male witch is a witch and a warlock is a "oath betrayer." Witches have often been seen outside accepted cultures and faith. People often made them feel unwanted in their societies.

In the Bible the punishment for witchcraft is death[citation needed]. In Europe in the early modern period persecution of witches (witchhunts, witchcraft trials) took place. About sixty thousand people were executed. Mosted were hanged, but some were burned at the stake. Convicted witches were tied to a long pole, and burned alive. Especially in the early modern period this punishment was often applied.

Among those punished in that way were people who did not live peacefully with their rulers, like Joan of Arc. In USA they are were executed also.

There were some men who protested against torture and against chase of witches like Johann Weyer, Friedrich Spee and Anton Praetorius.

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