The Bewitchment The Bewitchment Explained?Explained?

There are a number of possible There are a number of possible explanations for Christian Shaw’s explanations for Christian Shaw’s

bewitchment bewitchment

Which do you think is most likely?Which do you think is most likely?

Christian Shaw was a wicked Christian Shaw was a wicked child?child?

Perhaps it was all an act, Perhaps it was all an act, pretending to hear and pretending to hear and speak to invisible beings. speak to invisible beings. Could an 11 year old girl Could an 11 year old girl really convince several really convince several adults that she was adults that she was possessed? Would she possessed? Would she really have voluntarily really have voluntarily placed items such as placed items such as dung in her mouth to dung in her mouth to make a point? Would make a point? Would you?you?

Was she a ‘stooge’ of adult Was she a ‘stooge’ of adult manipulators?manipulators?

If she was being made to If she was being made to do it by adults could she do it by adults could she have kept pretending have kept pretending when having pins in her when having pins in her mouth – wouldn’t this mouth – wouldn’t this hurt? How could she give hurt? How could she give have the strength to have the strength to need 4 strong men to need 4 strong men to hold her back from hold her back from jumping into the fire? jumping into the fire? How could she appear to How could she appear to fly through the air?fly through the air?

Physical or Mental Illness?Physical or Mental Illness?

If the Christian Shaw case happened If the Christian Shaw case happened now she may be diagnosed as a case now she may be diagnosed as a case for psychotherapy. Psychiatrists for psychotherapy. Psychiatrists believe she may have suffered from believe she may have suffered from ‘dissociative disorder’, ‘trance disorder’ ‘dissociative disorder’, ‘trance disorder’ or ‘transient psychotic disorder’ and or ‘transient psychotic disorder’ and ‘epilepsy’. ‘epilepsy’.

But what then about the levitation? How But what then about the levitation? How could she appear to fly through the air?could she appear to fly through the air?

Untrue account of the events Untrue account of the events from 1696 & 1697from 1696 & 1697

Perhaps some of the events described are Perhaps some of the events described are fantasies – they did not occur at all! fantasies – they did not occur at all!

It is likely that Rev. Turner and Rev. It is likely that Rev. Turner and Rev. Brisbane, Ministers in Erskine and Brisbane, Ministers in Erskine and Kilmacolm, were important in writing the Kilmacolm, were important in writing the information of the bewitchment – would information of the bewitchment – would they have any reason to exaggerate or they have any reason to exaggerate or make up stories about the Devil? make up stories about the Devil?

Many people feared being called a witch Many people feared being called a witch for fear of execution.for fear of execution.

Stories of other bewitchments in Stories of other bewitchments in other placesother places

Christian Shaws case, is very similar to that Christian Shaws case, is very similar to that of the Salem, America. A record was of the Salem, America. A record was published in 1696 to show the ‘powers of published in 1696 to show the ‘powers of darkness’ that operate on mankind. It darkness’ that operate on mankind. It reports ‘Abigail Williams 12 years old had a reports ‘Abigail Williams 12 years old had a fit; she was hurried with violence to and fro fit; she was hurried with violence to and fro in the room sometimes making as though in the room sometimes making as though she would fly…’. Could it be that someone she would fly…’. Could it be that someone in Renfrewshire read this story? Would it be in Renfrewshire read this story? Would it be of interest to Ministers also trying to show of interest to Ministers also trying to show the ‘powers of darkness’?the ‘powers of darkness’?

OROR

Perhaps she was actually POSSESSED!!Perhaps she was actually POSSESSED!!

It seems unlikely!It seems unlikely!

TaskTask

Rearrange the ‘reasons for Christians Rearrange the ‘reasons for Christians bewitchment’ into order of most bewitchment’ into order of most likely and least likely.likely and least likely.

TaskTask

Tell your partner which one you Tell your partner which one you chose as most likely and explain chose as most likely and explain why. Say why you thought the others why. Say why you thought the others less likely.less likely.