When you think of witchcraft you typically think of an ugly, old, grotesque woman. Someone who perhaps brews potions with otherworldly matter in a cauldron or someone who casts spells with a wand. The media shows us that these witches can talk to animals, especially cats and wolves. They also describe them as evildoers who collaborate with the Devil, steal children, and kill others. While having such beings capable of creating such magical feats would be amazing, they are largely false rumors created by the Catholic Church to promote Christianity and punish those who hold to beliefs not in line with the church. The history of witchcraft, the implausible and impossible feats associated with witches, and modern witchcraft practices reflect a lie that caused a huge tragedy, destroying thousands and thousands of lives around the world because of a foolish hoax. Witchcraft has been practiced for centuries and centuries, having been traced back to the dawn of humanity, where it was seen as a religious practice that instilled magical rights in those who used it (witchcraft). Prehistoric art is an example of this, with inscriptions describing magical rites used to ensure successful hunting (Wiccan One's Universe). Witches were common throughout the world with different stigmas and stereotypes associated with them by each respectful culture that contained them. Belief in magic predates Christianity, Judaism, and recorded history, and over time magic has been primarily associated with one group: witches (Erzulie). This may be due to the fading of many other ancient religions, as well as the growing popularity that witchcraft has gained by incorporating man... middle of paper... d without fear. Works Cited "A Brief History of Witchcraft." The Wiccan One universe. Np, nd Web November 14, 2011Cline, Austin. "Witches, women and witchcraft". About.com Agnosticism/atheism. About.com, 2011. Web. 25 November 2011The authentic Voudou of Erzulie in honor of the great Voudou goddess of passion, pleasure and prosperity. Ezrulie's Inc, 2011. Web. November 25, 2011Halsall, Paul. Witchcraft documents. Medieval Sourcebook, March 1996. Web. 25 November 2011. "History of Witchcraft - Early Modern." Witchcraft A guide for the misunderstood and maligned. Np, nd Web. November 17, 2011Lovelace, Wicasta. Introduction to the Malleus Maleficarum. Alpha Fiend & Windhaven Network, LLC, November 2007. Web. November 15, 2011Witchcraft. Thames and Hudson Ltd. Np, nd Web. November 14, 2011WitchCraft World of Wicca. Np, nd Web. November 15. 2011