|
|
|
|
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam > Blaise Pascal Instituut > Girard Studiekring > COV&R 2007 > Abstracts Papers
Ineke van Wetering
Bonno Thoden van Velzen
The persecution of alleged witches as a romantic fallacy: violence in the name of cultural tradition
Email - Profile - Subtheme # 1 - Paper
ABSTRACT
Witch
hunts, relics of a remote and bigot past in western eyes, are presently
revamped as manifestations of indigenous culture. In
In a
globalising world, the witchfinders have access to modern means of communication
to promote a movement based on popular support. So far, the number of victims of
this venture, presented as an effort to cleanse the community and eradicate Evil,
has remained restricted. Yet, the search for scapegoats, propelled by
invented tradition, is not at an end.
----------------------------------