Norway hosts witchcraft experts

6th

Not sure how relevant it is to the forum but just thought I'd share:

More than 60 experts on witchcraft from across the world are gathering in a tiny Arctic town in northern Norway.

For three days in Vardo they will have discussions, lectures and the odd film show on ancient and modern sorcery.

The International Midnight Sun Witchcraft Conference is organised by Scandinavian and US universities.

Organisers say persecution is a thing of the past in Europe, but in parts of Africa and Asia men, women and children are still accused of witchcraft.

As in the past, experts say, victims are often singled out by their communities and made scapegoats for outbreaks of disease, bad weather or other misfortunes.

As well as touching on these issues, the Norwegian conference will also discuss Shamanism - a practice that centres on communication with the spiritual world, mostly through animal spirits.

Some experts claim that Shamanism predates all other organised religions.

But beyond the scholars and believers attending this week's conference, witchcraft has recently gained a new and rather younger circle of enthusiasts, following the publication of the best-selling Harry Potter books - and films - one of which has its worldwide premiere today.

During a 17th-Century witch-hunt in Vardo, about 80 women were burnt at the stake.

Reports from the time indicated they were accused of meeting with the devil at the nearby "witch mountain".

During the 16th and 17th centuries it is estimated that up to 50,000 people were executed for alleged sorcery across Europe.

Article HERE

Nevyn

The line up is certainly intresting.

The Midnight Sun Witchcraft Conference

TAMPERE, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One of the most extensive witch-hunts took place in the 17th century Vardø, on the shores of the gloomy Arctic Ocean. This summer (June 28th – July 1st) many well known names of the witchcraft research gather to Vardø, as the international Midnight Sun Witchcraft Conference will take place. Conference is organized by several universities, including the University of Tromsø (Norway), the University of Texas at Austin (USA) and the University of Tampere (Finland).

The witch-hunts in Europe are not only a piece of history of witchcraft but, indeed, the history of persecutions. Therefore, the question about human rights – yesterday and today – is also raised to the focus. Human rights and torture also combine the present persecutions with the persecutions in history. Other current issues are ethnicity, nationality, religion, shamanism and gender. Special attention is given to the question of the sex of the witch. There were female as well as male witches. What was the difference?

The conference is not only for the scholars. Popular sessions, excursions, theatre and movie shows are also organised for the wider public. Full programme and registration, please, click on http://www.heksekonferansen.no/.

Keynote speakers: Brian P. Levack, Ronald Hutton, Diane Purkiss, Juha Pentikäinen, Rita Voltmer, Stuart Clark, Randi Rønning Balsvik, Marianna G. Muravyeva, Charles Zika, and others.
The conference is organized by:
University of Tromso, Dept. of History, Norway
University of Texas at Austin, USA
University of Tampere, Dept. of History, Finland
University Library of Tromso, Norway
University Library of Trondheim, Norway
University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Dept. of History and Classical Studies, Norway
University of Oslo, Dept. of Archaeology, Conservation and Historical Studies, Norway
Norden--The Nordic Culture Fund
Heksekonferansen nuf, Norway

The President of the Conference Board
Professor Brian P. Levack, Dept. of History, University of Texas at Austin, USA

The Chairman of the Executive Board
Professor Marko Nenonen, Dept. of History, University of Tampere, Finland

joseph dawton

It's nice to see someone point out for a change that witch hunting is one of many diabolical acts carried out over the course of history - a rare admission I find in pagan circles, especially among newbies.

I find it rather daft when people get 'up in arms' over it as if they were personally affected or their known ancestors where murdered. It was horrific and unjust and I feel it should be remembered but not obsessed over.