Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Allen Putnam reinterprets the Salem witch trials through the lens of nineteenth-century Spiritualism, arguing that the afflicted girls were mediums controlled by invisible forces rather than victims of fraud. This text explores the psychological and paranormal phenomena of the era, challenging historical skepticism and offering a compassionate view of the accused.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Witchcraft of New England Explained by Modern Spiritualism,' Allen Putnam offers a radical reinterpretation of the Salem witch trials, arguing that the events were not merely the result of fraud, malice, or Puritan credulity, but manifestations of genuine spiritual forces. Putnam contends that prevailing historical theories, which dismiss the trials as hoaxes driven by notoriety or diabolical deception, fail to account for the involuntary, preternatural nature of symptoms recorded in contemporary accounts, such as convulsions, levitation, and the ability to identify distant afflictions. Drawing on early American religious history and the burgeoning field of Spiritualism, Putnam suggests that the Puritan belief system catastrophically misunderstood natural psychological and occult forces. He highlights the role of 'psychological force' or mesmerism, noting that strong-willed individuals could control the movements of susceptible subjects without their conscious consent. Putnam examines specific cases like Tituba, Sarah Good, and the accusers, suggesting they were channels for spirits rather than malicious conspirators. Furthermore, the text addresses the role of Native Americans, correcting the colonial misconception that their spiritual practices were inherently devil-worship. Putnam asserts that Indigenous powows involved communing with ancestral spirits, a practice misunderstood by Puritans who projected their own fears of the 'Evil One' onto these rituals. By analyzing church records, diaries, and the testimonies of figures like Cotton Mather and Deodat Lawson, Putnam reconstructs the events to show a complex interplay of spiritual agency and human susceptibility. The work serves as both a historical correction and a plea for a more nuanced understanding of the supernatural forces that may have influenced early American history, urging readers to honor the dead without dismissing their experiences as mere imposture.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/allen-putnam_witchcraft-of-new-england.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-c13c6111c72c0278.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-01 00:33 UTC

Categories

• History
• Witchcraft