Episode 200: The Long Arc of Witch Hunts—From Connecticut to a Global Crisis

The Thing About Witch Hunts: We mark episode 200 by tracing the full arc of witch hunts from ancient prosecutions to early modern demonology, colonial New England, and today’s escalating global violence. We begin with Connecticut’s executions—starting with Alice Young in 1647—and the 2023 resolution absolving the indicted victims, then widen out through England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Basque country, Sweden, and Salem, emphasizing how courts, texts, and laws shaped prosecutions and how “hysteria” does not accurately describe these bureaucratic trials. We connect historic concepts like the diabolical pact, the sabbath, and “crimen exceptum” to modern accusations, banishment, torture, and killings across at least sixty nations, citing UN-documented violence, Ghana’s Akua Denteh, and contradictory legal responses. We center survivors and the accused as people, invite action, and point listeners to endwitchhunts.org and World Day Against Witch Hunts (August 10).Thank you to the 175 guests who have appeared on the podcast and to all who have viewed or listened to The Thing About Witch Hunts. And we aren't stopping with 200 episodes. Subscribe today and watch the amazing episodes coming up.

00:00 Episode 200 Mission

02:53 Ancient Roots

05:14 Church Turns to Heresy

09:58 Malleus and Sexism

11:36 England Goes Secular

12:23 Pamphlets and Skeptics

18:12 Laws Across Colonies

25:02 Europe Scale and Stress

27:17 England Local Panics

31:02 Scotland Burning Regime

34:50 Wales and Healing Magic

37:25 Ireland Rare Trials

40:11 Basque Hunt Split Courts

43:16 Sweden Blockula to Salem

44:40 Connecticut Before Salem

46:20 Massachusetts and Salem

51:22 After Trials Vigilantes

53:45 Modern Global Crisis

58:59 Law Patchwork Today

01:01:07 Memorials and World Day

01:03:20 What You Can Do

01:05:22 Final Call to Action