The Age of the Witch Hunts coincided with the European Reformation and the beginnings of the Scientific Revolution. But what was the relationship between religion, magic, and science? Was it possible to believe both in the Church and the ability of cunning-folk to heal, read palms, find lost property, or cast horoscopes? Could change in the world be determined both by natural laws and the work of magicians with the ability to manipulate nature? This seminar will explore the relationship between magic, religion, and science in early modern Europe with an eye toward understanding how both educated and uneducated people may have understood their world.
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