Showing results for "Possessed" in History

We are possessed by our pasts. Yesterday's ideas haunt us today, exerting a powerful influence on us, shaping how we think about and engage with the world. This podcast critically investigates the histories that possess us—and their afterlives. Our hosts (and occasional exorcists) are a minister, an atheist, and a Jew, who are also researchers in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and History. Between Andrew’s historical expertise, Matt’s philosophical dexterity, and Mary’s training in theology and ethics, we so enjoy chopping it up and sharing what we’ve learned with you.

Tormented girls writhing in agony, stern judges meting out harsh verdicts, 19 bodies swinging on Gallows Hill. The stark immediacy of what happened in 1692 has obscured the complex web of human passion which climaxed in the Salem witch trials. From rich and varied sources - many neglected and unknown - Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum give us a picture of the people and events more intricate and more fascinating than any other in the massive literature. It is a story of powerful and deeply divided families and of a community determined to establish an independent identity.