Episode · Stuff They Don't Want You To Know · 2023-10-25
Books mentioned on How Witch Hunts *Actually* Worked
Nowadays people talking about "witch hunts" are usually referring to something in the realm of politics -- but not too long ago, church and state authorities really did hunt down, torture, and execute people suspected of trafficking with infernal powers.
Ben Bowlin recommended The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol F. Karlsen and Sinners in the hands of an angry God. by Jonathan Edwards, and discussed The Discovery of Witches by Matthew Hopkins. Also mentioned: In the Devil's Snare by Mary Beth Norton.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Devil in the Shape of a Woman
The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol F.
Recommended“check out a fantastic book by Dr. Carol F. Karlsen, which is called The Devil in the Shape of a Woman. This thing was published in 1987, but take our word for it, folks. It's a banger. Because Karlsen is one of the first academics, the first researchers to do a serious, intense interrogation of Puritan history in the early”
Where to get it
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In the Devil's Snare
In the Devil's Snare by Mary Beth Norton is a comprehensive historical account examining the Salem witchcraft crisis of 1692.
Recommended“I would just recommend in the devil's snare the Salem witch craft crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton another amazing historian that like will kind of break down like say yes that is true in these like certain instances and then there's this other weird thing that was happening over here.”
Where to get it
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Sinners in the hands of an angry God.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards is a famous, fire-and-brimstone sermon that epitomizes the terrifying, strict religious atmosphere and Calvinist theology of historical Protestantism in New England.
Recommended“Another book recommendation you want to see the mentality of where a lot of these folks were coming from not just in Salem but in New England overall check out sinners in the hands of an angry God. That is man the way it's written still I totally disagree by the way and I I hope if you're hearing this”
Where to get it
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The Discovery of Witches
Discussed“You can read his book, by the way. He wrote a book in 1646. It's titled The Discovery of Witches in Answer to Several Queries Lately And he calls himself Matthew Hopkins, Witch Finder. Yes, Witch Finder, too.”
Where to get it
