I've noticed how absurd the 'logic' of the witch trials have been, and so started looking into what went on in those times. Although not quite as many 'witches' were burnt as one would believe from modern reference, I still feel it an outrageous tragedy that those who did perish did so due to outrageous accusations, most under unfair trials by bigots. After the Catholic church sanctioned witch hunts, it was actually the secular judiciary that went into witch craze mode, primarily to drum-up business, as the income of the jailors, interrogators, judges, etc. depended on a supply of accused persons for their income, as the accused footed the bill for the judicial process. Folk medicine was widely practiced as a common part of life at the time, and is generally (but incorrectly) attributed as the practice of witchcraft, with modern authors selectively quoting the more dramatic accounts of history, most of which have long had their credibility successfully challenged by revelation of the author's agenda (often political) and shonky references. the shonky referencing is already well documented for anyone wishing to have this exposed to them. Anyway, this new so-called 'witch craze' situation opened the doors for embittered rivals to trump-up charges against those they had a grudge against, with the records of the time showing that the accusations were absurd and obviously due to revenge through the courts by embittered rivals. The judicial records of the time show that many men were subject to these accusations, and most women accused of witchcraft were in fact accused by another women, usually a neighbour with a quarrel, or as a revenge over losses due to the accused. No doubt the ignorance and superstition of the times only lended momentum to this craze, in great contrast to the attitude of the modern westerner, who typically has little practicing faith in the supernatural, and sticks to what they perceive as scientific facts. not that we've learnt from history, so much as we've found new and modern ways to fool and serve ourselves and our selfish interests using the means available in the times.