Balthazar Bekker, a Witchy Wednesday article.
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| Balthasar Bekker by J. Hilarides (1691) |
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| Balthasar Bekker. The World Bewitch’d. London, 1695. This weeks Witchy Wednesday is about Balthazar Bekker. I found some rather interesting links and information online which I hope you will also enjoy. Balthazar Bekker was a Dutch Theologian pastor in Amsterdam where, as “an enthusiastic disciple of Descartes, he wrote several works of philosophy and theology, which by their freedom of thought aroused considerable hostility. His best known work was Die Betooverde Wereld (1691), or The World Bewitched (1695, one volume of an English translation from a French copy), in which he examined critically the phenomena generally ascribed to spiritual agency, and attacked the belief in sorcery and ‘possession’ by the devil, whose very existence he questioned” (Britannica). Bekker’s bold denunciation of superstitions about witchcraft proved such a formidable attack on official State and Church practices that he was ultimately forced from the ministry. “Though it called forth a host of writings in opposition, The World Bewitch’d did much to shake the prevalent belief in witchcraft and kindred superstitions”. The first edition in Dutch published in four books in 1691; this first edition in English translated from a 1694 French edition, with Bekker’s authorization, containing his Dedication, Preface, a comprehensive abridgement to the complete work and the entire first book. Graesse, 323. Wing 1781. Information sourced from Bauman Rate Books https://reader.library.cornell.edu/docviewer/digital |
Additional reading
https://ldr.lafayette.edu/concern/publications/j96020909
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| Balthasar Bekker and Christian Scriver sieve diseases from devils. Engraving, 1731. Please join me next week for another Witchy Wednesday Kat 😊 |
