Reginald Scoot Witchcraft Analysis

Amidst the ongoing witch trials, Reginald Scot, a member of parliament, produced a book called The Discoverie of Witchcraft in 1584 denouncing the executions of witches and questioning their existence as a whole. Due to societal pressure he had to rely on biblical references in presenting his arguments to avoid being called a heretic or a witch himself. Hence, Scot argued that the belief in witches is an act of heresy itself because this belief suggests that another entity other than God has powers. He also claimed that the word ‘witch’ in the bible has been mistranslated and misinterpreted. This prompted King James I to produce his own book Daemonologie in 1597 to counteract the arguments of Scot. King James I was a firm believer in witches