The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England [Hardcover]

Richard Godbeer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 1992

Early New Englanders used magical techniques to divine the future, to heal the sick, to protect against harm and to inflict harm. Protestant ministers of the time claimed that religious faith and magical practice were incompatible, and yet, as Richard Godbeer shows, there were significant affinities between the two that enabled layfolk to switch from one to the other without any immediate sense of wrongdoing. Godbeer argues that the different perspectives on witchcraft engendered by magical tradition and Puritan doctrine often caused confusion and disagreement when New Englanders sought legal punishment of witches.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Godbeer shows us that popular belief in magic underlay most accusations of witchcraft, even in the Salem epidemic, and he also shows that popular belief did not necessarily ascribe the efficacy of magic, and by consequence of witchcraft, to the devil." The New York Review of Books

"This short, crisply written book makes a major contribution to our understanding of magic and witchcraft in the culture of seventeenth-century New England. Amidst a plethora of American witchcraft studies, this one stands out for both the usual topics included and for its provocative interpretations. More broadly, it provides another framework for considering the complex relationship between Puritanism and popular attitudes and conduct in orthodox New England...Nonetheless, this is a remarkably intelligent and intelligible book that should be carefully read and considered by anyone interested in the religious and cultural history of early America." The Catholic Historical Review

"The Devil's Dominion probes one of Puritanism's most terrifying anomalies: a fascination for supernatural belief that, ironically, drove distressing numbers of laypeople to practice magic and powerful ministers and magistrates to prosecute it. No book better explains how and why so many New Englanders lost their lives to witch prosecutions. The Devil's Dominion does not explain away the witchcraft charges, as is traditional, but probes their origins; it is intellectual and social history at its most arresting." Jon Butler, Yale University

"This strongly argued and well-documented book shows how certain themes in Puritanism's Calvinist spirituality ironically left people--even believers--hungry for alternatives, more immediately satisfying solutions to life crises. The Devil's Dominion takes its place on the shelf of significant studies of the dark side of colonial religion and society and deserves a wide readership." Charles Hambrick-Stowe, Lancaster Theological Seminary

"By exploring the tension between elite doctrine and folk tradition, Godbeer's intriguing study shows how supernaturalism could lead to the hangman's noose and why, after the Salem trials, the executions stopped." William and Mary Quarterly

"In this well-written and insightful book, Godbeer raises important enough questions to repay close study for years to come." H. Larry Ingle, The Historian

"...a penetrating study...based on careful research in court records and clerical writings...." Robert J. Wilson III, Historical Journal of Massachusetts

"His book deserves attention mostly for its sensitive and detailed rendering of the complicated religious world view that characterized 'Puritan' New England." Carol F. Karlsen, American Historical Review

"The Devil's Dominion propels the reader on a fascinating, well-documented journey into the occult world of the early New England colonists. Written in an engaging style that combines solid social history, anecdotal support, and theoretical insight, Godbeer explores an inherent ambiguity in Puritan teachings regarding human liability for sin....The Devil's Dominion is a must for anyone interested in probing the American religious imagination." John K. Simmons, Syzygy

"Godbeer has written an excellent survey of popular magic, witchcraft, and religion in seventeenth-century New England. It is especially notable for the degree to which it connects occult practices in early New England to the English folk tradition from which they originated....[F]or the clarity of its presentation and the scope of its argument, this is an important book....likely to become a standard survey of this subject in New England." Walter W. Woodward, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Book Description

Showing that there were significant affinities between religious faith and magical practices, this study of the use of folk magic by early New Englanders reveals that even church members sometimes turned to magic to divine the future, heal the sick, and protect against harm or inflict it.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 27, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521403294
• ISBN-13: 978-0521403290
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,742,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Devil's Dominion, May 4, 2000

By 

ggcon (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England (Paperback)

Godbeer argues that although Puritan clergy were vocally against the belief in magic and use of magical techniques, Puritan theology was ambiguous enough to allow even people who were considered to be "godly" church members to believe in and practice magical rituals without feeling as if they were going against their Puritan beliefs. Puritan theology blamed all human suffering on God's judgment of the people and taught that humans could do nothing to effect His plans. Folk magic, which was a strong part of English culture, however gave people the ability to try to alleviate their suffering, especially if they blamed the suffering on a witch or other "cunning person."

Puritan ministers encouraged people to believe that suffering was the result of outside forces, but they wanted people to believe the "outside force" was God punishing them for sins. Many lay people agreed that suffering was the result of an outside force, but preferred to believe it was the result of magic, which could be neutralized by using counter-magic.

The belief in magic was widespread, but not universal in Puritan New England. Although some "godly" church members practiced magic, others did not. Some people were so opposed to magic that they would take down horseshoes that had been put over doors. Even some ministers believed in magic, as evidenced by the ducking, or trial by water, conducted during the witchcraft trials.

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting, September 3, 2011

By 

A. mancebo (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England (Paperback)

When I read the first few pages I was not happy. All the authors' ideas appeared to be taken from a variety of texts found listed on the bottom of the page. A Summery? Not very inventive. But,as I had already sifted through pages and pages of potentially interesting books before deciding to buy this one, I thought I should at least finish it. It got much, Much better.
When he starts talking about the nuts and bolts of New England beliefs, there actions and attitudes, it all becomes so clear. Why did the clergy dislike what they called 'witchcraft'? why did laypeople continue to practice it? What would possess a church member to go to a fortuneteller, or a diviner? Why would the Clergy issue a 'not guilty' verdict for two women who failed the devils mark test, the ducking test, and had verbal and spectral evidence against them? Unusual? No.
It seems that most of what we are told about witchcraft and witch trials is a mixture of Europe and New England.-Mostly Europe as they are the more sensational of the two- When the two are separated it is evident they operate under different rules. So different, that what would be good enough to convict in Europe isn't enough to convict in New England. Both the later times and the Puritan religion play a major factor in this.
So if you are looking for a book to help you out debate an average witch-know-it-all. this is one you probably want to read.
It comes complete with statistics and conversations and, for those interested, it has some nice charts in the back listing all witch accusations for the 1640-1697, verdict included. A separate chart for the Salem/Andover witch trials, as you will find that this incident is was unique for a number of reasons thus deserves a separate explanation.