What Role Did Religion Play In The Salem Witch Trials

The debate continues on which causes contributed to mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts. After reviewing different sides of the debate regarding leading factors to the Salem Witch Trials, the obvious and logic answer is that religion played a huge role. One must first acknowledge that the Salem society was largely influenced by the strict Puritan lifestyle. Also one must understand that the issue involves Salem people’s belief in the presence of the Devil. Then, one can understand that the town ministers conspired against the community with the witch scare.

The primary reason religion played a huge role in the Salem mass hysteria is that the Salem society was greatly influenced by the strict Puritan lifestyle. The Puritan lifestyle dealt

Puritans believed that the Devil was as existent as God. They believed that Satan selected the weakest, such as women and children, to perform his sinful deeds as witches. “The first three women that were charged with witchcraft in The Salem Witch Trials were: Tituba-a slave; Sarah Good-a homeless beggar; and Sarah Osborne-a sickly woman who married her slave” (Salem Witch Trial: Salem Massachusetts). The church teaching was based on the fact that God loved his people and kept them safe from evil and harm. Therefore, “when difficulties in the community began to arise, the blame was easily placed on the Devil and witches that were carrying out his work for him” (Religious

The overall purpose of the ministers’ actions was to bring back the faith of people in the Church. While there were some people who followed the town ministers in obedience, others stood against them. In response to such, Parris would state “There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning” (The Crucible; Act One; pg 28). By this, the failure of Salem people to remain strong in faith caused Church ministers, specifically Parris, to relate their disobedience to punishment by God. One particular Church minister, Reverend Samuel Parris, encouraged strange behavior to increase their influence over people and how they can get rid of the those afflicted by evil such as witches. “The children were commanded to declare who their tormentors were, and Mr. Parris compelled Elizabeth, to an accusation…Tituba afterwards declared that Mr. Parris had whipped her until he forced a confession from her!” (Reverend Samuel Parris: Was He to Blame for the Salem Witch Trials?). Rev. Parris’ actions were signs of entertainment for himself to promote a revival of religious faith in his parish. If he made efforts to find out whether or not the accusations were right instead encouraging the accusations, mass hysteria in Salem and possibly the witch trials would not have