The Salem witch trials were over 300 years ago, but the legacy of those accused lives on. Rebecca Nurse, who was known as a pious Christian woman, was one of the nineteen people hanged in Salem in 1692. Read on to learn about Rebecca, and why she was such an unlikely candidate for accusation: Who Was Rebecca Nurse?
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Such sad and gruesome times but the saddest thing is that many parts of the world are still like that. Like the various people in Africa and Papua New Guinea to name only a couple hot spots. Interesting anniversary also because today a ferry ran in a Scottish town for the first time on a Sunday against the protests of fundamentalists crying (yes, literally) about keeping the sabbath holy etc.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8157570.stm
I wish people could get over themselves and see that though we have different means, most of us hold very similar values. As their own Book says – By their FRUITS they shall be known. Not their fertilizer, soil, water, hoeing, or other methods but by results.
A very interesting article which illustrates a good point; while Pagans and Wiccans like to say “never again the burning times” the truth is, the “burning times” were less about witchcraft and more about colonial politics. Did your neighbor piss you off? No problem, just call them a witch and voila, they’ll be hanged and out of your hair. Of course, this only worked for those who had enough clout to strong arm others into having “fits” in the courtroom to “prove” that the accused was casting spells. But you get the idea.
Actually I would say she was an entirely likely candidate for accusation. Most of the women accused of witchcraft in the “new world” were usually involved in some kind of land dispute or were single women who had inherited land. It wasn’t looked on kindly when a woman tried to own land without a man.