1.  0-300 C.E., Pre-Christian Roman empire:  Sorcery as involving the manipulation of evil spirits  “miracles” of Jesus may have been taken as a form of sorcery  273-337 C.E. Constantine I converts to Christianity, which officially ended the persecution of Christians made famous under the previous emperor Diocletian.  313 C.E. Edict of Milan, a decree from the emperors Constantine and Licinius that proclaimed religious tolerance in the Roman Empire.  With Christianity now sanctioned by, and slowly becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire, those who performed “magic” outside of that performed by Jesus or his followers were termed heretics and said to practice… ▪ Heresy: Crimes against God  All other forms of magic now labeled “sorcery” and the work of the Devil. Other, non-Christian groups “Pagans” were thought of as worshippers of Satan – the embodiment of everything amoral and indecent.  Middle Ages (5 th -13 th centuries) Roman Law: Crimes against God punishable by death  Unrepenting heretics and witches were burned. Heretics were brought to attention of authorities only if an accusation was made against them.  13 th Century Europe: Inquisitions: Formal investigations whereby a unit of the Roman Catholic Church would convene to judge cases of heresy.  1227-1235: Establishment of the Papal Inquisition: Official regulation of Inquisition activities by Roman Catholicism and the Pope. ▪ 1252 the papal bull Ad Extirpanda is introduced by Pope Innocent IV authorizing the imprisonment, torture, execution and property seizure of heretics.  Most areas in Continental Europe contained Inquisitors (mostly of the Franciscan and Dominican order)  At first punishment was mild (wear a crucifix or go on a pilgrimage). The goal was to get heretics/witches back on the Christian track.  Execution only reserved for those who steadfastly would not repent.

3.  ~1450-1650: Witchcraze in Continental Europe  In which many people (anywhere from 1,000 to many millions of people) were accused, convicted, and executed as witches ▪ 1486: Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer against Witches). A book put out by the Catholic Church that classified witches as: ▪ Those who renounced the Catholic faith and devoted themselves, body and soul to the service of evil. ▪ Engaging in orgies that included the Devil. ▪ Shape-shifters that could fly and make magical ointments. ▪ Mostly women, due to their weaker, stupider, more superstitious and sensual nature.  1640s-early 1700s: Witchcraze in England  On the outskirts of the Roman Empire, England had no Roman Law, no Inquisitors, no English translation of the Malleus Maleficarum until modern times, and a weak tradition of heresy. ▪ Witches seen not so much as heretics, but instead as those who harmed livestock, caused diseases and hurt infants and children. ▪ If found, they were tried under a Civil, not Religious authority. That is, until… ▪ 1640s King James I (Scotland) was a big proponent of the Continental European Witchcraze and opened the door for its occurrence in the British Isles.  1640s-early 1700s: Witchcraze in the United States  1692 Salem: A farming society at the edge of the settled world where accusations of witchcraft erupted resulting in the jailing of over 100 people and the execution of 19. ▪ 2 young girls (ages 9, 11) experimenting w/ divination techniques, apparently scared themselves and started acting strangely… ▪ Trashing around, contorting themselves in odd ways, constantly jumpy/nervous ▪ Other girls and women began acting the same. ▪ All medical explanations were ruled out, so… ▪ Witchcraft was suspected ▪ Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba (a West Indian Slave) were accused  All were individuals living on the fringe of society.  Once accusations were made, screaming howling, visions and mysterious tooth marks appeared on those afflicted. ▪ Why? Boredom? Attention? Divination did not work/things don’t go our way so someone must be to blame?

4.  Similar concept to Witchcraft  Found primarily in India, the Near East, parts of Europe and Mexico, the belief that a person is able to cause illness or some other type of misfortune simply by looking at or praising something or someone.  Power of the Evil Eye, like that of witchcraft, lies within the body of the individual. No spells, sorcery, chants, etc. are necessary to gain this power. It is innate.  If someone with the Evil Eye is jealous, the individual who is the object of that jealously may encounter misfortune, so…  In some cultures it is recommended not to show off one’s wealth/happiness in public for fear of this very occurrence.

5.  Worship the concept of Satan/Lucifer (not the Devil of Christianity) who represents power, virility and sexuality. Do not believe in Heaven/Hell/Angels/Demons/Human Sacrifice, etc. Everyone responsible for their own actions. Lust, greed, selfishness are things to be embraced as the normal state of a human being.  Church of Satan Founded in 1966 by Anton Szandor La Vey based on the principle that:  “human beings are inherently selfish, violent creatures.”  from the forward to the The Satanic Bible (1969). The Church of Satan is a form of hedonism ▪ The pursuit of or devotion to pleasure as a matter of principle ▪ Believe in indulgence over abstinence, vengeance over forgiveness, love only to those who deserve it. ▪ Catholic “sin” as virtuous, but within Satanism, “sin” still exists in the form of: ▪ Stupidity, pretentiousness, self-deceit, conformity  Magic used to help friends and family, but also to destroy the enemy.  Sigil of Baphoment: Symbol for the church of Satan