Witch Cult in Western Europe

Witch Cult in Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology is a book written by Margaret Alice Murray, first published in 1921. The book explores the existence of a pre-Christian pagan religion that survived in secret in Western Europe until the early modern period, and which was suppressed by the Christian Church through the persecution of witches. Murray argues that this ""witch cult"" was a form of fertility religion, centered around the worship of a horned god and a triple goddess, and practiced by a secretive coven of witches who met in secret at night to perform rituals and spells. Drawing on historical records, folklore, and her own fieldwork, Murray provides a detailed account of the beliefs and practices of the witch cult, including its mythology, rituals, and magical techniques. She also traces the history of the witch trials and persecutions, arguing that they were part of a concerted effort by the Church to eradicate the remnants of the pagan religion and establish its own authority. The book was controversial when it was first published, and remains so today. Some scholars have criticized Murray's methodology and argued that her claims are not supported by the available evidence. Others have praised her for shedding light on a neglected aspect of European history and challenging the dominant narrative of the witch trials as a purely irrational and superstitious phenomenon. Regardless of one's stance on the book's thesis, it remains an important work in the history of witchcraft and paganism, and a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and practices of a secret religious tradition.1921. This is an intensive study of the witch cult in Great Britain. The author uses French and Flemish sources to obtain a clearer understanding of the ritual and beliefs, as the witch cult appears to be the same throughout western Europe. The sources from which the information used within are the judicial records and contemporary chroniclers. In the case of the chroniclers, the author studied their facts, not their opinions.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.