Anyone see "The Crucible"?

NotforSale · #1 12-23-2009, 04:06 PM

O Christian Martyr Who for Truth could die
When all about thee Owned the hideous lie!
The world, redeemed from superstition's sway,
Is breathing freer for thy sake today.
--Words written by John Greenleaf Whittier and inscribed on a monument marking the grave of Rebecca Nurse, one of the condemned "witches" of Salem.

I know this movie has fictional attire, but is based upon true accounts. My wife and I found the story very interesting.

I must say, it does amaze me how right can turn so wrong. I hope this point in History will teach us all to avoid superstition concerning our love for God.

The link below gives some good detail about what happened in these "Witch Trials", where 19 people were hung, under the spell of righteous indignation.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...m/SAL_ACCT.HTM

(Below is a paragraph from the above link)

By the time the witchhunt ended, nineteen convicted witches were executed, at least four accused witches had died in prison, and one man, Giles Corey, had been pressed to death. About one to two hundred other persons were arrested and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. Two dogs were executed as suspected accomplices of witches.

Pro31:28 · #2 12-23-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotforSale

O Christian Martyr Who for Truth could die
When all about thee Owned the hideous lie!
The world, redeemed from superstition's sway,
Is breathing freer for thy sake today.
--Words written by John Greenleaf Whittier and inscribed on a monument marking the grave of Rebecca Nurse, one of the condemned "witches" of Salem.

I know this movie has fictional attire, but is based upon true accounts. My wife and I found the story very interesting.

I must say, it does amaze me how right can turn so wrong. I hope this point in History will teach us all to avoid superstition concerning our love for God.

The link below gives some good detail about what happened in these "Witch Trials", where 19 people were hung, under the spell of righteous indignation.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/proj...m/SAL_ACCT.HTM

(Below is a paragraph from the above link)

By the time the witchhunt ended, nineteen convicted witches were executed, at least four accused witches had died in prison, and one man, Giles Corey, had been pressed to death. About one to two hundred other persons were arrested and imprisoned on witchcraft charges. Two dogs were executed as suspected accomplices of witches.

my son had to read it for summer reading this year.

Its incredible what one small lie can become.

missourimary · #3 12-23-2009, 04:30 PM

Watched part of it, read several times, studied the trials to a large extent. The book and movie are just one interpretation, but any interpretation could teach us quite a bit about gossiping, lying, judging others, jealousy...

Try http://www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/

NotforSale · #4 12-23-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

my son had to read it for summer reading this year.

Its incredible what one small lie can become.

It's just amazing where an "Idea" can go. Everything can appear to be on the right track, and yet, the collision of total treachery befalls those who were trying to do God's will.

What I try to do in my own mind, is imagine living in this town and being subjected to this mass hysteria. It seemed to me to have the same fervor as when they condemned Jesus to death. We can get beside ourselves in being RIGHT.

Pro31:28 · #5 12-23-2009, 04:36 PM

Colonial Williamsburg has a phenomenal live interactive show called, "Cry Witch". You are a member of the jury in a trial where a woman has been accused of witchcraft. The sentence is death. We went twice, we have seen the jury reach two different verdicts...

http://family.go.com/travel/things-t...5-cry-witch-/#

missourimary · #6 12-23-2009, 04:42 PM

We still have witch hunts today... we just dress them up differently. When second generation Japanese in America can be sent to camps for the duration of WWII just for their heritage, when a certain ethnicity can be tried and found guilty without enough real evidence, when a government can place wiretaps because they believe there are spies lurking in the White House, when paparazzi are out looking for all the latest scandals... well, we haven't really come so far from the 1600s as we might like to think.

NotforSale · #7 12-23-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

Watched part of it, read several times, studied the trials to a large extent. The book and movie are just one interpretation, but any interpretation could teach us quite a bit about gossiping, lying, judging others, jealousy...

Try http://www.nationalgeographic.com/salem/

I had never really studied this part of history. Had heard much about it, but didn't realize to what extent how lies and superstition became a part of such a horrible time in our past on American soil.

I feel ignorance was an extreme weakness of these people, and also an over-indulgence in believing those in Authority.

I hate to admit this, but this is happening today in our Churches, just in a different form. We must be careful.

My son in law, who is Hispanic, the Organization he used to belong to was, and still is, plagued with superstitious principles. I’ve worked at great length to help him come out of this.

NotforSale · #8 12-23-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

We still have witch hunts today... we just dress them up differently. When second generation Japanese in America can be sent to camps for the duration of WWII just for their heritage, when a certain ethnicity can be tried and found guilty without enough real evidence, when a government can place wiretaps because they believe there are spies lurking in the White House, when paparazzi are out looking for all the latest scandals... well, we haven't really come so far from the 1600s as we might like to think.

So true! We just change the name, and put different clothes on it. We are weak, in that routine puts us in that comfort zone and we get lazy.

May the alarms ring loud, when Authority says to be quiet.

missourimary · #9 12-23-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotforSale

I had never really studied this part of history. Had heard much about it, but didn't realize to what extent how lies and superstition became a part of such a horrible time in our past on American soil.

I feel ignorance was an extreme weakness of these people, and also an over-indulgence in believing those in Authority.

I hate to admit this, but this is happening today in our Churches, just in a different form. We must be careful....

I've thought the same thing, myself.