Why was witchcraft a serious crime in the Europe and America?

Answer 1

Witchcraft was not illegal for much of the middle ages. In fact, some laws during the time made it illegal to burn witches because to do so was to kill someone based on superstition.

As the Renaissance raised its head, it showed both an more enlightened side and a less enlightened side. Laws against witched increased, witch prosecutions increased, and witch hunts came into being. During the early period of Colonial America, the remnants of these beliefs were still around.

There is a link below to an article that gives more information.

Answer 2

In some areas, witchcraft is against the dominant religion. In others, it could be justified that some applications of witchcraft would be against the rights of another person, and hence illegal by that definition.

Answer 3

This is a rather complex question. In all the world, in every culture, there has been some type of witchcraft. The most basic answer to you question would be that authority is uneasy with the egalitarian streak the is inevitably a part of the craft. Anyone anywhere can cast a spell if they choose to. This removes the power play evident in many conservative cultures. It levels the playing field for those who have been robbed of their authority over themselves or their daily lives.

Take divination for example. Would Nero have wanted anyone to know he was going to sit atop the highest tower and play the lyre while Rome burned before it actually happened?

Witchcraft is not reserved for the rich and powerful. It makes them uneasy, because they don't need it to accomplish their goals. Why would one complete a spell that takes energy and cooperation with the divine when they can just fork over some cash and buy whatever or whoever they want? This is why many magical traditions stress secrecy, not because its bad or wrong, but because those who hold power will inevitably strive to crush any kind of rebellion that may occur.

In our history books, magicians, shamans, etc., are often painted as blocks against progress. this is because those who had written history were inevitably the winners. The Native American shamans were at the forefront of the resistance against white encroachment. they warned their tribes against the white men, knowing they would inevitably take their land and their freedom. Yet they are shown in our texts as people causing strife against the pacts (which were almost always disregarded later, take a look at Oklahoma's history) made between whites and natives. They were seen a s common trouble makers and were forced to abandon their former cultures and submit to the strict dogma of Christianity, better to keep them in line with the majority power.

Answer 4

Because people saw witchcraft as working with the devil in a way and back then if you weren't seen as following god you were imprisoned or even worse, killed...