Wutchcraft is a Pagan religion. Paganism existed long before Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Witchcraft arose from Shamanism, the practice of ritualistic magic and the first religion.
When Christianity became the offical religion throughout most of Europe Pagan and magical practices were outlawed. The church created an imaginary wicked religion.
All pre-Christian gods or spirits were considered false gods and evil. Practioners of Pagan religions were considered to be in league with the devil. The church accused witches of flying, sacrificing and eating babies, killing with magic, having sex with the devil and attending secret devilish meetings. These accusations led to what is known as "The Burning Times."
The Burning Times lasted for more than three centuries. More than three hundred thousand people in Europe were executed as witches. Most of these people were innocent victims clinging to their folk traditions. many were women, healers, folk magicians, the mentally ill, social outcats or political enemies of the church or government. A small minority may have been devil worshippers.
Special witch hunters were paid to find "witches." They used speacial tests to discover a witch. All witches were said to have a mark on their bodies insensitive to pain. This was called the devil's mark. One test was done by pricking the accused to find this mark. Another test was the water test. The accused was thrown into a pool of water. If they floated they were found guilty and executed. If they sank they were innocent.
In Germany, the ruling prince-bishop built a special witch prison with torture chambers. Confessions were made by the accused witches after "light" torture such as whipping. Many were burned with hot irons (sometimes internally), had their bones smashed, were stretched on the rack or burned at the stake. Anyone who interferred was also tortured and burned. About 900 alleged witches were tortured and executed, including more then 300 children between the ages of three and four.
It is believed that these witch hunts came about for a few reasons. The most common one is that the Catholic Church was trying to get rid of other religions and their "enemies." Other reasons are misogyny and because witches were considered a threat to trained doctors. The witch hunts ended in 1792.