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How Long Has Earth Based Spirituality Been Around?
This is another hard thing to pinpoint. The practice of "Witchcraft" has been around longer then Christianity.
Most of the time, "White Magick" (or magick to do healing and good) was tolerated and considered good for the town, where as "Black Magick" (or magick to do harm and evil) was considered a crime, and the witches were punished.
From about the 8th Century on...magick was more and more associated with evil..and thus deemed heresy. Around the 11th Century, heretics were sentanced and punished with death by burning.
And thus follows the well known dark period of time known as "The Inquisition".
Contrary to popular belief, the Inquisition was not a persecution of witches per se; but more so the persecution of enemies of the church (heretics, people who spoke out against policies of the church, etc.). Witchcraft became an effective "excuse" to accomplish what needed to be done.
The persecution of "witches" continued on for many years...in many countries....until the early 1700's.
The revival of Witchcraft came in the 1950's and has continued up through the years. There are still many misconceptions of what Witchcraft really is, but through those who are willing to speak out, hopefully many of the misconceptions will be banished.
Links For More Information:
The
Witches' League For Public Awareness
