This presentation is going to be about the past—so we gain more understanding of the history we’re working with and what we mean when we say ‘magic’ and ‘witchcraft’. Also some of the dangers and problems in the history.
First a note: I’m going to use the words ‘spirituality’ and ‘religion’ interchangeably. Many people are averse to the word ‘religion’ because they associate with any number of oppressive institutions. But I feel spirituality is unnecessarily vague and also focuses on a spirit vs matter dualism.By religion I mean reverence for some kind of power beyond everyday human experience.
Not going to focus on witch-burnings or WITCH, but 19th and 20th c intellectual history leading up to modern witchcraft.
Also I'm going to focus mostly on England because that's where we are + what I know the most about.
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