Halloween is almost upon us, and I’ve been writing about demons, jinn, dybbuks, and witches! It’s been interesting to think beyond simple history in order to explore some of the socio-cultural underpinnings of these phenomena.

Spirit Possession and the Salem Witch Trials

Spirit possession is a great example of our relationship to forces beyond the human world. Three common examples are jinns in Islam, Dybbuks in Jewish mythology, and demon possession in Christianity. All three speak to our desire to understand evil in the world, and socio-cultural forces still in play today. Join us as we look at the history of spirit possession, exorcisms, and their place in culture and society today. Click here to read more. 

The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. In one year, more than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft, and 20 were executed. Was it the work of the devil? Or, was it an example of superstition and mass hysteria? There have been many explanations for the witch trials, but they may speak to a lot more than superstition and fear. Moral panics reflect concerns deeply rooted in the gendered, historical, cultural and political environment of colonial Massachusetts. Click here to read more.