Witches

[Brad Pardee]

On Wed, 15 Jan 1997, Kirk Wattles wrote:

> ... which brings up an essential point.  Who today believes that
> the Devil did walk in Salem, and that any of those who confessed
> to practicing witchcraft had actually exerted some sort of
> supernatural forces?

This may be hair-splitting, but as a theological point, I would contend
that anywhere you find murder, racism, adultery, domestic abuse, suicide,
or anything else that qualifies as sin, there you will find the father of
lies walking among the people as chief tempter.  If there were human
beings in Salem, there was sin, and if there was sin, you can bet the
Devil was there.  However, the kind of active witchcraft that was alleged
is another story.  I would say I do believe he was there as much as he is
anywhere else, but not in the manner alleged at the time.