Dear Tina,
In reply to your letter:
>I'm sure you are already aware of this particular path of investigation
>but there are quite a few books written about "women-oriented" religions
>that encompassed the use of natural forces, natural plants, etc. such as
>the Druids, witches, and many others, who were extremely supressed, even
>persecuted by mostly male-dominated societal leaders.
>
>I believe the men in power, especially during the middle ages, were afraid
>of the results (healing, etc.) of the women practising these religions and
>didn't want the knowledge passed on because it would have detracted from
>their own leadership abilities.
>
>Two books that come to mind are "The Crucible" (even more detailed is a
>specific book I read about Tituba, the Jamaican slave who was using herbs
>for healing and was the first woman accused of being a witch in Salem) and
>another book I don't have right at hand but I believe it's called "The
>History of Feminine Consiousness."
>
>Good luck on your paper. There are a lot of resources. Keep in mind that
>many Native American tribes were/are Matriarchal in composition, as well.
> As we destroyed the land, we also destroyed the people who used the land.
>
Although I don't deny anything you have said, I do not know if there is
proof that the men in power in the middle ages specifically persecuted these
women because they were women. One simply has to look at the way members of
all other religions were persecuted during the middle ages to understand
that there was a basic xenophobia that existed during that time and anyone
who was different was considered satanic. The case of the Jews is typical in
that the Jews were persecuted for differing reasons, often as a scapegoat
for the terrible conditions that people lived under at that time, rather
than being a specific threat to the leaders of the time. It would seem that
if men had been practising the same nature-oriented religions as these women
they too would have persecuted because they were different.
Thanks,
Ben.
