The Enemy Within: 2,000 Years of Witch-Hunting in the Western World

Subscribe to Jon’s Book Reviews by Email

Author: John Demos

Genre: Nonfiction, History

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Summary:

John Demos is a professor and scholar of history.  The Enemy Within is “the end product of an almost half-century engagement with witchcraft study” dating back to a term paper he wrote as a grad student in 1960.  Demos observes that “witch hunt” is a widely used metaphor in today’s world, and sets out to compare and contrast modern metaphorical witch hunts with the literal witch hunts of the past.  He begins with the Roman persecution of Christians in the 2nd century A.D., continuing up to the Salem witch trials in 17th century Massachusetts. Demos notes consistent patterns in events leading to accusations, people who were accused, and how witch-hunts sometimes spiral out of control as the accused name others in attempts to save their own lives.

After Salem, Demos focuses on several more modern incidents, including attacks on Freemasons, Mormons and Catholics; various “Red scares”; the McCarthy hearings of the 1950′s; and the child sex abuse/satanism accusations of the 1980′s, showing similarities and differences in the ways each progressed.  One common thread is the suspension of rights normally accorded to the accused, leading to the conviction of people who later turn out to be innocent or at least harmless.

My Thoughts:

The best historians make their subject relevant to modern society.  John Demos accomplishes that admirably.  As I read about the persecutions of past centuries, and the spurious evidences that often led to conviction, I wondered how people could be so gullible.  Then I read about the nationwide flurry of accusations alleging satanic sex rings operating out of child-care centers, the spurious evidences and unconscionable violations of due process and normal legal procedures that led to convictions of innocent people, and I began to understand.

People in every age have something they are afraid of, whether it be witches, communists, child molesters, or terrorists.  When enough people feel enough fear, it is terrifyingly easy to start a witch hunt, whether by intentional manipulation, or by hysterical overreaction.

Witch hunts are ultimately about people becoming hysterical and attacking a perceived threat.  The more insight we have into the factors that lead to witch-hunts, the better we will recognize when we are contributing to the problem, and hopefully avoid the needless destruction of human lives.  I think that is the real value of this book.

Potentially Offensive Content:

The Enemy Within is an intense book due to the nature of its subject matter.  It discusses some of the ugliest aspects of human nature.  That said, I don’t think anything in it is offensive when taken in context.

Have you read this book?  Share your opinion by commenting.

books