You are here

Home

Hyperobjective entanglement: sacredness, wickedness and the witch meme


Reimagining Guernica to Engage the Antitheses of a Cancel Culture (Part #7)

[Parts: First | Prev | Next | Last | All] [Links: To-K | Refs ]

Sacred values: It is perhaps curious that a global society preoccupied with truth and trustworthiness should be characterized by the extremes of secularism and religious belief -- with all the contradictions these may together imply. Within that context an extraordinary recourse is notably made to one of the compilations of writings deemed sacred, namely the Bible. This is a central feature of oath-taking seen as a guarantee of truth and integrity. This is especially evident with respect to any oath-of-office pledged by the leadership of countries in taking up that function. Â As indicated by the Encyclopedia of the Bible, an oath is recognized as a solemn appeal to God in attestation of the truth of a statement or the binding character of a promise. It may therefore feature in judicial proceedings as a prerequisite for the presentation of evidence.

Although it may be simply indicated as the "Bible", it is a highly complex compilation of writings which takes many forms -- including and excluding particular writings and subject to many translations (whether in the past or currently underway). Few would claim comprehension of this complexity or appreciate its many nuances without reservation. In this sense it could be argued that the "Bible" merits recognition as a hyperobject. The Bible, or portions of it, is sacred to a number of faiths highlighting as a "mystery" the cognitive challenge it poses -- especially given its contradictions and the conflicts these may engender.

Within that context, the King James Version (KJV, is an English translation of the Christian Bible. It was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by sponsorship of King James VI and I. Known as the Authorized Version, this has been variously called the most influential version of the most influential book in the world, in what is now its most influential language, and the most important book in English religion and culture, and the most celebrated book in the English-speaking world. Although that version is widely accepted, alternatives are proposed in different contexts -- whether or not this is recognized by the wider public faced with its use for oath-taking. Noted for its "majesty of style", it has been described as one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world.

A point to be emphasized is the extraordinary extent of how intimately -- and formally -- the "Bible" is associated with what are deemed to be the highest values of a society subject to Christian influence -- particularly in processes with a requirement for oath-taking of some form. It could be understood as constituting a form of "gold standard" in that respect -- especially with regard to truth and trustworthiness.

Underside of Biblical significance? The centuries in which the Bible has been deemed as the unquestionable standard of Christian value have of course been witness to horrific events. These were often instigated by those acting in the name of Christianity -- even armed with the Bible in seeking oaths of allegiance to those values, by force if necessary. The period with which King James was associated was especially significant in its treatment of those whose allegiance was held to be questionable. Not to be forgotten is that the bombing of Guernica was carried out by Christians, some of whom -- in the case of the Germans had belt buckles with the slogan Gott Mit Uns.

It is therefore somewhat extraordinary to note the failure to recognize the potential influence of the thinking embodied in a work authored by King James prior to his sponsorship of the translation of the Bible. The earlier work was titled Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, Divided into three Books: By the High and Mighty Prince, James... (1597). It is a philosophical dissertation on the various methods of ancient black magic. It was reprinted again in 1603 when James took the throne of England. (Brett R Warren (Ed.), Daemonologie [of King James]: A Critical Edition, Expanded In Modern English with Notes, 2016).

As a study of demonology it clarified the methods by which people could be troubled by demons. It was designed as a political yet theological statement to educate a misinformed populace on the history, practices and implications of sorcery and the reasons for persecuting a witch in a Christian society under the rule of canonical law. This book is believed to be one of the main sources used by William Shakespeare in the production of Macbeth.

As noted by Wikipedia, Daemonologie assisted in the creation of witchcraft reform, heavily inspiring Richard Bernard in writing a manual on witch-finding in 1629 titled A Guide to Grand-Jury Men, which advised judicial trial procedure to take a stronger investigative approach to acquiring and analyzing evidence and obtaining witnesses to be present during witch-craft trials. There was also an influence on Matthew Hopkins in his work as a witch-finder between 1644 and 1646 in which an estimated 300 witches were tried and executed. In the year of Hopkins' death, 1647, he published The Discovery of Witches which directly cited Daemonologie as a source for creating methods in discovering a witch.

Such guides followed the earlier publication of the Malleus Maleficarum (1486) recognized as the best known treatise on witchcraft and demonology of the 15th century from a Catholic perspective (Christopher Mackay, The Hammer of Witches: a complete translation of the Malleus Maleficarum, 2009).

Recognition of those currently embodying evil intent: Arguably the preoccupation of King James with demonic embodiment is matched in the present period by the recognition of recent presidents of the USA:

  • George W. Bush: Referring to three countries engaged in terrorism, indicated that: States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. (2002 State of the Union Address). He further stated that: We've come to know truths that we will never question: evil is real, and it must be opposed. and We are a people dedicated to the triumph of freedom and democracy over evil and tyranny (Patriot Day, 2002). George Bush famously declared that he "wanted to rid the world of evil".

Such assertions of the not-too-distant past have been echoed from an Australian perspective (China and Russia an 'Unholy Alliance': Australian Defence Minister, Lead Right News, 10 February 2022), immediately following a meeting in Melbourne of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific region.

More to the point, the challenge is the recognition of individuals embodying evil and the need for any modern equivalent of a "Hammer of the Witches". Following on the procedures of the era of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the  House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), it is to be expected that these would be found in processes for the detection of radicalisation, extremism and terrorism possibly deployed in so-called black sites.. More controversial is the adaptation of these processes to those resistant to mainstream narrative, for example to those opposed to vaccination. How indeed to detect the unvaccinated and to isolate them appropriately -- if they are not to be eradicated?

A major difficulty is the extent to which those in authority (recognizing the evil embodied by others) are in turn themselves held to embody it ((Framing by others of claimants of evil as evil, 2016).

Especially problematic has been the manner in which women have been associated with evil down the centuries and in many cultural contexts currently (George Lakoff, Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: -- what categories reveal about the mind, 1987; Elise M. Boulding, The Underside of History: A View of Women through Time, 1976; Cultures of Peace: The Hidden Side of History, 2000).

If the biblical narrative is in any way to be compared with the current mainstream narrative of Christian society regarding the unvaccinated, is there an "underside" characterized by demons which is inadequately recognized?

Propaganda: ***** Morelli

Continuing relevance of the witch meme: Despite widespread deprecation of reference to the demonic and demons, any recognition of evil tends to encourage related usage -- if only in common parlance. Somewhat ironically this contrasts with the appreciation accorded to angelic and angels.

Of far greater relevance to this argument is the surprising use of "witch-hunt" by individual leaders as a means of framing the manner in which perceived misdemeanours are subject to aggressive investigation by their critics (Annalisa Quinn, How Did 'Witch Hunt' Become the Complaint of the Powerful? The New York Times Magazine, 6 June 2017). The most striking example is use of the term by Donald Trump who has been noted to have tweeted the term nearly 300 times since becoming president (What Trump Really Means When He Cries 'Witch Hunt' (The Nation, 28 October 2019), as variously discussed (Tony Fels, The Return of the 'Witch Hunt' Analogy (Quillette, 27 October 2019)

Other examples include:

Typically seen as obstruction of justice probes by the powerful, they tend to culminate in impunity regarding the claimed misdemeanours.

Pardoning the "witches" of the past: An estimated 50,000 people were condemned to death for witchcraft across Europe between 1580 and 1630, around 80% of whom were women. Over 100 European historians have signed a manifesto entitled They weren't witches, they were women. In a series of extraordinary initiatives that historical persecution of "witches", has been variously addressed in Norway, Switzerland,  Scotland, the Spanish region of Navarre, and Catalonia. A precedent was set by the Massachusetts House of Representatives which proclaimed the "witches" condemned in the Salem witch trials to be innocent:

Scotland:  Naira Davlashyan: Scotland could soon pardon thousands of women executed for witchcraft centuries ago (Euronews, 21 December 2021); , Patrick Reilly: Scotland may pardon thousands of 'witches' it executed hundreds of years ago (New York Post, 7 January 2022); David Cowan: Witch apology would 'send powerful signal' (BBC Scotland, 7 January 2022). Between the 16th and 18th century 3,873 people were accused of witchcraft. Of those accused, 2,600 were convicted and executed. They were typically strangled and burnt at the stake after they were subjected to torture (Paul English, Scotland prepares pardon for the 'witches' it executed, The Times, 19 December 2021).

Catalonia: Catalonia pardons women executed for witchcraft (BBC News, 28 January 2022);  Hannah Brown, Catalan campaign inspired by Witches of Scotland achieves pardon for women executed for Witchcraft (The Scotsman, 27 January 2022); Catalonia's parliament pardons hundreds of women executed for 'witchcraft' (Euronews, 26 January 2022); Stephen Burgen, Catalonia to pardon up to 1,000 people accused of witchcraft (The Guardian, 27 January 2022)

Norway: Jill Beatty: The evil north: VardÃø's witch trials (Norwegian American, 28 December 2016)

Switzerland: Garry Littman: Where witch trials began and where the last European woman was executed for witchcraft (Le Temps, 23 October 2020); Isabelle Eichenberger, No one tortured witches like the Swiss (Swissinfo, 14 September 2009) noting that cantons are in process of rehabilitating some of those they executed in past centuries - with the last case as recent as 1782.

For a country currently seeking membership of the EU, such initiatives contrast strangely with the recent witch-hunt accusation against Australia by the President of Serbia regarding the treatment of Djokovic (Serbian President says Djokovic was the focus of a witch hunt, ABC News, 17 January 2022). The unusual degree of superstition in Serbia is however renowned, notably regarding witchcraft (Slavic Folklore â-- Vila's, Witchcraft and Mythical Creatures, Meet the Slavs, 29 October 2013; The "witches" of eastern Serbia, 3 June 2021).

Systemic pattern? There is a case for comparing in systemic terms the remedial processes purportedly offered by demons (via witches) with those offered with the blessing of religion (including vaccination at this time). The issue is exemplified by reference to "snake oil", as descriptive of  deceptive marketing, especially as  health care fraud. Historically this has been most strikingly evident in the sale of indulgences  by the Catholic Church as a means of reducing the amount of punishment an individual has to undergo in the afterlife for sins,

The widespread abuse of this process by "pardoners" was a major factor in the Protestant Reformation. Any presentation of vaccination as a moral obligation therefore calls for careful and explicit distinction from such past practices (Vaccination is 'moral obligation', Pope Francis insists, The Nation, 11 January 2022; Douglas Farrow, Whether there is a moral obligation to be vaccinated, The Catholic World Report, 9 April 2021). It could be considered ironic that many countries are now witness to "protests" against the perceived abuses associated with mandatory vaccination -- in anticipation of a "reformation".

[Parts: First | Prev | Next | Last | All] [Links: To-K | Refs ]

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

For further updates on this site, subscribe here