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Biblical order:

‘’Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,” (Exodus 22 : 18) has probably been responsible for the death ofmore persons than any other eight words in history. W.F. Poole in his book, SaUnaWik:1Ieraft. ‘believes that hundreds of thousands of people were ~uted for this “crime” during the 16th and 17th centuries. Witchcraft executions continued into the 18th century.’ The Protestants were no less superstitious and

cruel. than the Catholics. Both leaders of the Protestant Reformation-Martin Luther and John Calvin _. were firm believers in the witchcraft tnania. John

Calvin. actually presided over the executions in Geneva

of many victims accused of this “crime.”

In the light of these appalling historical facts, it

was only inevitable that more and more intense hatred and rebellion against the clergy was kindled in the

hearts of the people and leading intellectuals condemned

the Church and by analogy, all religion, as superstition and fanaticism, equating secularism with “enlightenment”. The most vehement, cynical and brilliant of these philosophers was

Voltaire, who

flourished at the time just bef\<?re the French Revolu-

tion. Accordingly, Western historians laud this period

as “The Age of Enlightenment.”

But soon it grew

apparent for intelligent and thoughtful persons that “scientific” rationalism was no solution for human ailments.

After the destruction of the power and authority of the Church, a lesser evil was merely replaced by worse harms.

Regarding· himself as absolutely free to act as his reason and circumstances dictated and feeling accountable to n~thing and 3.Ibid., pp. 55-59 •