Trephining
Individual who were having illusions or were delusional had a hole drilled in their skull in order to get rid of the spirits. If that person was still alive, the procedure was successful Witchcraft
Correlated with ‘The Crucible’ where Tituba, Sarah Good & Sarah Osborne are accused of witchcraft in Salem, 1692
What to do with the witches?!
Exodus 22:18- Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live
Leviticus 20:27- A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Assumptions of Demonology
Secularization: a systematic and general attempt to explain something
The world is a battlefield between supernatural forces of good and bad
Deviance = sin
Cause and cure of deviant behaviour in the realm of the supernatural
Deviance has cosmic consequences
1. Harmful to victims
2. God
3. The entire cosmos
Two paths to Demonic Deviance
Temptation Model: Individuals are tempted and persuaded by the devil
Path of position (possession): Individuals lacks choice, not responsible for actions. The solution to this possession is exorcism
How to diagnose the Handiwork of the Devil
Trial by ordeal: accused would carry hot iron or walk on hot coals then they would wrap their wound, if the wounds weren't infected, God had intervened and if they were infected he hadn't
Trial by cold water: accused would have their hands and feet tied. if they sank, they were innocent; if they floated they were not
5 types of evidence to convict
Trial by clever test: individual would have to say the Lord’s Prayer. Those that were guilty would say it backwards or make a mistake
Individual testimony: one person's word against another
Physical marks of the devil: based on physical appearance and if there’s an abnormality, they’re working with the devil (wart, mole, skin tag, birthmark…)
Spectral evidence: someone would claim to see a