Its important to know, when u think about goddess and pagan religions, the most pagan people, lived on a particular part of the land, they had ceremonies and traditions, goddesses and gods that were appropriate to them at certain time. They mad their rituals and their celebrations as things that were important parts of life experience. They helped the crops grow and the animals come in, they talked about the relationship of the moon and the stars...they had NOTHING to do with belief. They are based on action, experience, celebration, custom.
With arrived of Christianity, belief became way of life. Everywhere in Europe churches were built over pagan shrines, and goddesses were turned into saints.
Goddess Mary -spreads healing, queen of haven
Two types of religions: old religions and Christianity
By Joan’s time, the church has increasingly rigid, increasingly on the defensive. It got more and more doctrinaire, more and more concerned to quash dissent, to quash difference. It was threatened by the changes that were taking place in broader society. 哪有什么上帝，只有想要权利的人代表“上帝”消灭你.
The inquisition announced that no one did more harm to the catholic faith than midwives. They eased the pain of labour, god’s punishment for eve’s sin. They interfered with god’s will, through the use of birth control and abortion. New laws proclaimed that any woman who dared cure, w/o having studies, was a witch, and MUST DIE. Since most women were barred from university, the rise of the male medical profession was guaranteed. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:)
The witch burnings were a way to TAKE CONTROL of women’s powers reproduction, which of course includes sexuality, and women’s powers over reproduction, which could include midwifery, contraception, abortion, women’s control of women’s bodies and reproductive issues.(still a issue today:) FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:)
—anyone considered helpless, mysterious or aberrant was victimized, and punishments became public spectacles. Many suffered, but women suffered most of all. Those who spoke out wore the mask of shame. If they gathered in groups, they were plotting against men. Husband were advised from the pulpit to beat their wives. Not in rage, but out of charity for her soul. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:)
Black Plague: the priests said it was god’s punishment for sin, but sacraments did not ease the suffering. People turned to the wise woman, searching for help and comfort.
—female population started to increased more rapidly than the male population(possible extensive war saw the decimation of the male numbers). Some have argued that women were more immune to diseases, including the plague. To explain this disproportion within the population. The importance of that in a patriarchal society is that women begin to outlive men, and women, because of their excessive numbers, do not find husbands. They don’t marry, and become, willy nilly, independent in a patriarchal society. This is a difficult thing to come to grips with. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:)
By the 16th century, women’s rights to inherit and own property had been eroded. Many women became dependent on charity for survival. Those who held onto their property were objects of suspicion and envy. At a time when life expectancy was 40 years, being old was suspect. Widows, spinsters, and those who begs for living, were the most vulnerable to charges of witchcraft. They were easy scapegoats for communities plagued by war and disease. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:)
Emergence of capitalism-witch hunter became business and profitable. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY:) ohh, and the CAPITALISM:)
Handbook-malleus malificarum, the hammer against witches. Malleus singled out women as the primary source of witchcraft.
History is written by the winners.
“If i have the power to do something, it doesn’t mean you don’t.”
“You don’t affect things by going off to mediate, you have to act to bring about changes that you want, its a active political commitment.”
