• Salem (and other) Witch-Hunts Blamed On - "MSM"

    From 186283@ud0s4.net@21:1/5 to All on Fri Oct 18 22:30:14 2024
    XPost: talk.politics.misc, soc.culture, alt.history
    XPost: alt.politics.usa

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13975159/Scientists-discover-document-Salem-Witch-trials-Massachusetts.html

    Sinister source of the Salem Witch trials is revealed on the
    eve of Halloween

    A new study discovered that the invention of the printing press
    in the 15th century - which drastically increased the spread
    of information - led to the proliferation of a book that
    contained a detailed explanation of 'demonology.'

    The widely-printed book, Malleus Maleficarum - which translates
    to the Hammer of Evil-Doers - depicted witchcraft as a
    'conspiratorial activity against godly society' rather than
    benign 'mischief by village sorceresses, pagans, or ignorant
    peasants.'

    This book also served as the first printed guide printed
    guide for witch-hunters.

    . . .

    Probably some truth to this assertion. The printing
    press created the MSM v0.2 ... and the witch books
    spread the paranoia widely (and, being print, were
    trusted). First the intellectuals, then partially
    spread down to the (seriously) ignorant peasants.

    The efforts and edicts of King James VI also played
    their part - lent official govt recognition and
    sanction to 'witch' affairs.

    (MSM v0.1 was scrolls, clay tablets & carvings)

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