salem witch trials
... for salvation, some are not. There is nothing one can do the change his status” Third, Limited Atonement “the extent to which one can please God with acts is limited.” Fourth, Irresistible grace “God showers one with a quality of grace, and one cannot resist it” And finally Perseverance “Once one has been saved, nothing he does will change that fact.” (religious movements) They also believed that the correct punishment for “sinners” was public humiliation and pain. Some of the prominent figures in the community were Magistrates John Hawthorn (SP) and Jonathan Corwin, Deputy Governor Tomas Danforth, Governor Sir William Phipps, and Reverend Samuel Parris. Most of the influential families-the Putnams, the Griggs, and the Walcotts- in the village supported Rev. Paris. These were also the families that most the “afflicted” girls came from. (Jefferson) Paris’s niece (Abigail) and daughter (Betty) were the two who started the chaos. According to Larry Gragg Paris made almost everyone vulnerable to the accusations by arguing that hypocrites were to be found in Christ's Church.(75) A issue in these trials was that none of the evidence presented was concrete. it was almost completely spectral. "The afflicted wretches were horribly distorted and convulsed; they were pinched black and blue: pins would be run every where in their flesh; they would be scalded until they had blisters raised on them; and a thousand other things before hundreds of witnesses were done unto them, evidently preternatural” (Wilkins) Spectral evidence was considered legitimate, even though the "spectre" was only visible to the accuser. Obviously, this is evidence which cannot be confirmed or denied. It is believed by some that the girls were doing this simply for entertainment and fame. When more than one person disbelieved them they dropped that accusation and went on to another.( pg.70,Bruno) There are many theory of what caused the people of Salem to act the way they did. One is that their mental conditions made them susceptible to believing in paranormal events. Another is that the climate, insecurities, and uncertainties escalated as the small secluded community became a commercial center. Lastly, the repressed anger of low substance farmers and tradesmen of Salem for wealthier merchants and other gentry of Salem made everyone suspicious of each other. Not all Puritans were happy with the Salem prosecutions for witch craft....