### The Burning Times: A Call for Truth and Accountability
Greetings, dear friends and seekers of wisdom. It’s time we gather around our proverbial hearth and have a candid conversation about something that has long troubled our community: the Burning Times. For years, we’ve held onto a narrative, a story passed down through our circles, that frames this tragic period as a concerted effort by the Catholic Church to stamp out our spiritual ancestors—wise women, healers, and practitioners of the old ways. We’ve mourned the supposed millions of lives lost, predominantly women, who were allegedly persecuted for preserving a pre-Christian, pagan religion. But what if I told you that much of what we believe about the Burning Times doesn’t hold up under scrutiny?
### The Myth We’ve Embraced
Let’s start by acknowledging the story we’ve come to accept as truth. According to this narrative, the Burning Times saw the systematic extermination of up to nine million women, predominantly by the Catholic Church, in an attempt to suppress the Divine Feminine and eradicate a surviving pagan religion. This version of history is emotionally charged, and it has, understandably, shaped our collective identity as NeoPagans. It frames us as the spiritual descendants of those who suffered and died for their beliefs, giving us a powerful sense of continuity and purpose.
But here’s the rub: this narrative, while compelling, is not historically accurate. And as much as it pains me to say it, we must confront the truth.
### The Reality of the Burning Times
Historical records show that the actual number of people executed for witchcraft during the Burning Times is estimated to be between 40,000 and 60,000—still a horrendous figure, but nowhere near the nine million we’ve been led to believe. To put this in perspective, consider that Europe’s population in the 16th and 17th centuries ranged between 70 to 100 million people. If nine million women had been executed, it would have meant the loss of nearly 15% of the entire population, and almost 30% of the female population. Such a catastrophic event would have left a massive demographic impact, one that simply isn’t reflected in historical records. This exaggeration, though rooted in the desire to honor those who suffered, has inadvertently distorted the truth.
Moreover, the Catholic Church, while culpable in many ways for various atrocities throughout history, was not the primary driver of these executions. The Church—especially through its Inquisitions—often acted as a moderating force, skeptical of the more extreme claims of witchcraft and more likely to demand evidence before convicting someone. The Roman and Spanish Inquisitions, in particular, were often more cautious than the secular courts, which were responsible for the vast majority of the mass executions.
### Protestant and Secular Courts: The Greater Culpability
It is vital to understand that the Protestant churches and secular courts bear far more culpability for the witch hunts and executions that characterized the Burning Times. In regions where Protestantism had taken hold, such as parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Scotland, the intensity of the witch hunts reached horrific levels. These areas, lacking a centralized religious authority like the Catholic Inquisition, often saw local secular courts and Protestant leaders take the reins, leading to some of the most aggressive and deadly persecutions.
For instance, in the Holy Roman Empire—a region that included much of modern-day Germany—secular courts were responsible for some of the largest witch hunts in history. The Bamberg and Würzburg witch trials, both conducted by secular authorities in the early 17th century, resulted in approximately 900 and 600 executions, respectively. In total, estimates suggest that up to 25,000 people were executed for witchcraft in the German-speaking regions alone. This represents nearly half of the total estimated executions across Europe.
The Protestant churches played a significant role in promoting these witch hunts. Protestant leaders, including figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, were vocal in their belief in the reality of witchcraft and the need to eradicate it. Their theological views, which often lacked the tempering influence of a centralized ecclesiastical body, contributed to a fervor that saw accusations spiral into mass hysteria. In Scotland, for example, where Protestantism was deeply entrenched, over 3,000 people were executed for witchcraft—again, mostly by secular courts acting under the influence of religious leaders.
In contrast, the Catholic Inquisitions, particularly in Spain and Italy, were far more restrained. The Spanish Inquisition, for example, during the infamous Basque witch trials of 1609-1614, reviewed over 7,000 cases but ultimately executed only 11 individuals. The Inquisition’s methodical approach often involved investigating the validity of witchcraft accusations and dismissing those that were deemed to be based on superstition or local vendettas.
### The England Exception: Legal Execution by Hanging
Here’s a fact that might surprise many in our community: In England, witches were not legally burned at the stake. While burning was a common punishment for heresy and treason in England, those convicted of witchcraft were typically executed by hanging. This was the standard form of capital punishment in England, and it was consistently applied in witchcraft cases. The infamous trials at places like Pendle in 1612 resulted in the accused being hanged, not burned.
It’s important to emphasize the word “legally” here, because, as we know, history is rarely so clean-cut. While there may have been unlawful, extrajudicial cases where mobs took matters into their own hands, these were not sanctioned by the legal system and are not representative of how the English courts dealt with those accused of witchcraft. This distinction is crucial because it shows how varied and regionally specific the responses to witchcraft were across Europe.
### The Danger of a Simplified Narrative
By clinging to the idea that the Catholic Church alone was responsible for the Burning Times, we not only distort history but also miss the opportunity to understand the true complexity of this dark chapter. The witch hunts were not a simple case of religious persecution; they were fueled by a toxic mix of fear, superstition, misogyny, and the desire for social control. And while the Church was certainly involved, it was far from the only—or even the primary—culprit.
When we oversimplify the narrative, we risk perpetuating a cycle of blame and anger that blinds us to the broader lessons we might learn. We rail against the Church, casting it as the sole villain in this tragedy, when in reality, the situation was far more nuanced. By understanding the roles of Protestant churches and secular authorities, we gain a fuller picture of the witch hunts and can approach the topic with a more balanced perspective.
### Honoring the True Victims
We must honor the memory of those who suffered during the Burning Times—men and women who were accused, tortured, and executed often based on nothing more than fear and hysteria. But to truly honor them, we must also honor the truth. By acknowledging the real history, we can better understand the complexities of the past and avoid repeating the mistakes that led to such needless suffering.
We must also be careful not to let this painful history define us or become a source of unwarranted division. Yes, the Church has much to answer for, and yes, we have every right to reclaim our spiritual heritage. But let us do so with clarity, with an eye toward truth, and with the understanding that the past is a tangled web of human frailty, fear, and misunderstanding—not a simple story of good versus evil.
### Moving Forward with Integrity
As NeoPagans, we are seekers of truth, and we are guardians of wisdom. Let us apply those principles to our understanding of history. By moving away from exaggerated and inaccurate narratives, we can build a more honest and resilient spiritual community—one that honors the past without being enslaved by it.
So, my dear friends, Let’s remember the Burning Times, but let’s remember them as they truly were—a terrible, tragic period in human history where the innocent suffered at the hands of many, not just one institution. Let us hold those who were lost in our hearts, but let us also seek to understand the full scope of the forces at play. In doing so, we not only honor the dead but also ensure that their memory helps guide us toward a more just and compassionate future.
In truth and wisdom,
Papa Onyx
