Misconceptions Within Neo-Paganism
By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake
The term the "Burning Times" was invented by Mary Daly and is listed as being
one of her "new words". In her book, "Gyn/Ecology: The Meta-Ethics of Radical
Feminism" Daly defines the term as:
|
"A Crone-logical term which refers not only to the period of the European
witch craze (the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) but to the
perpetual witch craze which is the entire period of patriarchal rule." |
Mary Daly further explains that this term can be used to refer to any time that the
patriarchal world discriminates or persecutes women, and thus is not
limited to the medieval period. The term, the burning times was
introduced into the Neo-Pagan culture by
Starhawk in her book entitled, "The Spiral Dance," and continued to
subsequently be referenced by numerous Neo-Pagan authors who were
unaware of the original intended use of the term.
Resources
Daly, Mary. "Gyn/Ecology: The Meta-Ethics of Radical Feminism." (Boston: Becaon
Press, 1978).
Starhawk. "The Spiral Dance." (San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row, 1979).
