Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches: Origins of a Dark Legacy
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches is a phrase that evokes one of the darkest chapters in European history. This topic brings together two infamous figures. First, there is Pope Innocent VIII, the head of the Catholic Church during the late 15th century. Then, there is the “Hammer of the Witches,” also known as the Malleus Maleficarum. This notorious manual instructed people how to identify and prosecute alleged witches. Together, these two subjects shaped a legacy of fear and persecution.
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches: The Religious Evil
In this article, we explore who Pope Innocent VIII was and how he influenced religious and political events. Next, we look at the origins and impact of the Hammer of the Witches. By connecting Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches, we see how religious authority and fear combined to fuel centuries of witch hunts. Even today, the story of Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches remains chilling and relevant. Whether you are interested in church history or the roots of witchcraft hysteria, this story offers important lessons.
After this Perplexity’s informational intro, let me say that all atheists living today are very lucky. Finally, how fortunate we are to live in a time of freedom. Openly, we can critically think, speak, and write about the Christian Church’s violence, religious harm, and believers’ delusions.
Loud and clear: God does NOT exist
I wrote a new Book Series, “It’s Finally PROVEN! God Does NOT Exist The FIRST valid EVIDENCE in History”. I have discovered the breakthrough evidence that god does NOT exist because that is not possible.
Demonically, “How dare you, you damned heretic!”
“If I had lived hundreds of years ago, the maniacs of the Church would have killed me, not just killed, but brutally over-killed, which was their specialty. They would have hanged, drowned, burned, and torn me apart. Cursing me, they would have fervently thrown me onto the pyre to burn in the flames of a heretic’s hell.”
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches is a perfect example of the obsessive religious violence toward freethinkers. “Sinfully”, they are the “heretics” who “dare” to question irrational superstitious illusions turned to dogma of absurdity.
“Many persons of both sexes, heedless of their own salvation and forsaking the Catholic faith, give themselves over to devils male and female, and by their incantations, charms, and conjurings, and by other abominable superstitions and sortileges… afflict and torment men and women… with terrible and piteous pains and sore diseases, both internal and external; they hinder men from performing the sexual act and women from conceiving… they blasphemously renounce that Faith which is theirs by the Sacrament of Baptism.”
— Summis Desiderantes Affectibus, Pope Innocent VIII, 1484
This quote captures the Church’s official stance on witchcraft and the justification for the witch hunts that followed.
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches: From Individual Superstitions to Organized Religion
Throughout history, many individual and small cults began with irrational superstitions and personal beliefs. These groups often formed around charismatic leaders and unique rituals, existing on the fringes of society. Over time, some of these cults grew in size and influence. Slowly, through processes of social acceptance, adaptation, and institutionalization, they transformed into organized religions with formal doctrines and widespread followings. This transformation involved resolving tensions with mainstream culture and developing hierarchical structures that maintained group cohesion and authority.
Understanding this evolution helps us grasp how fear and power can shape religious movements. This context connects directly to the story of Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches. Harmfully, we can see how religious authority and superstition combined to justify persecution. The article that follows explores how this dark chapter in history emerged from such dynamics. Moreover, it illustrates the dangers when irrational fears become institutionalized under powerful ideological, political, or religious leadership.
This article was first published by the MythCrafts Team on November 6, 2018.
Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches
If you’re familiar with the late Medieval European witch-hunts, chances are you’ve heard of the Malleus Maleficarum (English: The Hammer of the Witches). This text, published in 1487, would have repercussions well into the 17th century. A how-to manual on how to find and convict/exterminate witches and sorceresses, it has been estimated that some 40,000-60,000 individuals, mostly women, suffered under the frenzy that this dark tome unleashed.
So how the Hell did this book come to be?
The first culprit is one Catholic clergyman by the name of Heinrich Kramer; it was the work of his fevered (and by some contemporary accounts, “senile and crazy”) brain.
His descriptions were graphic, lurid and sexually obsessive. His recommendations were extremely sadistic.
That’s often enough to sell a book.
However, then as now, endorsements matter…
Enter culprit number two:
Pope Innocent VIII.
[Note: I am omitting “co-author” Jacob Sprenger from this discussion; scholars debate his actual involvement with the book]
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“It has recently come to our ears, not without great pain to us, that in some parts of upper Germany…many persons of both sexes, heedless of their own salvation and forsaking the Catholic faith, give themselves over to devils male and female, and by their incantations, charms, and conjurings, and by other abominable superstitions and sortileges, offences, crimes, and misdeeds, ruin and cause to perish the offspring of women, the foal of animals, the products of the earth, the grapes of vines, and the fruits of trees, as well as men and women, cattle and flocks and herds and animals of every kind, vineyards also and orchards, meadows, pastures, harvests, grains and other fruits of the earth;”
Now, you might assume this is from the Malleus. It isn’t.
It’s from a Papal Bull called Summis Desiderantes Affectibus, issued by Pope Innocent VIII, at the request of the aforementioned Heinrich Kramer.
So, in essence, Kramer had a Papal seal of approval.
Now you might be tempted into thinking that Innocent was guileless, gullible, or merely a product of his times…
Let’s look at a small sampling of his record:
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Remember Tomás de Torquemada? He would be the man who brought us the Spanish Inquisition. He was also directly appointed by Innocent.
Torquemada oversaw the murder of some 3,000 – 5,000 individuals, primarily Jews and Muslims. He also put his full support behind the Alhambra Decree, which forced the expulsion of Jews from Spain – ironic given his own Jewish ancestry.
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While supporting the Malleus, Innocent was not so kindly towards every book. The 900 Thesis by Pico della Mirandola was one such text. Pico, who founded the tradition of Christian Kabbalah, composed his work as a defense of religion, philosophy, natural philosophy, and magic.
Innocent was not amused.
He decreed several of Pico’s arguments to be:
In part heretical, in part the flower of heresy; several are scandalous and offensive to pious ears; most do nothing but reproduce the errors of pagan philosophers… a number of them, finally, under the pretext of ‘natural philosophy’, favor [magic] arts that are enemies to the Catholic faith and to the human race.
The 900 Thesis was the first printed text to be universally banned by the Catholic Church.
Most copies were burned.
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Innocent also had no problems with slavery.
However, let it not be said that he was stingy.
In fact, when he received a gift of 100 Moorish slaves, he divvied them out among his favorite cardinals.
Now, that’s generosity of spirit.
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Given all of this, is Innocent’s Papal Bull concerning witchcraft, which was printed in the preface of the Malleus, really that surprising?
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The Malleus Maleficarum went on to become an international bestseller.
How big was it?
For almost 200 years, it had the second highest sales in the Europe, coming in only behind the Bible.
And much of its success lay in its apparent Papal approval, though the Church itself was quick to distance itself from it.
It spread like wildfire, and as it spread, so did the belief in witchcraft, and the need to purge society of it.
This would not just be a Catholic concern; Martin Luther, one of primary fathers of the Protestant Reformation, was every bit a believer in demons. Whatever exceptions he took with Catholic theology, witchcraft wasn’t one of them.
And so the witch hunts flourished.
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What’s the take-away?
I propose a new Pagan celebration:
Now I’m not one to ever endorse the burning of books,
But I suspect I could make an exception when it comes to this one…
On that note, the Malleus can be found online at http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/
For the love of the Goddess,
Or, at the very least, in the interest of decency,
Burn after reading
(while you’re at it, throw in a copy of King James’ Daemonologie to keep it company).
Indeed, an excellent article, what do you say?
Harmful Effects of Superstition and Religion in the Context of Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches
Historically, magic, superstition, and sorcery gradually transformed into organized religion. Superficially, they have just changed their look, but they are still very harmful.
“Since we desired with all our heart, as we still do, to bring you back to the Unity of the Holy Church and to remove this heretical depravity from your bowels, we employed our efforts to make you save your soul and escape the death of your body and that of your soul in Hell… but you, being given over to a reprehensible frame of mind through being simultaneously led and led astray by an evil spirit, preferred to be tortured with the savage and everlasting torments in Hell, and to be consumed in body by the flames here rather than to adopt saner counsel…”
— Christopher S. Mackay, The Hammer of Witches: A Complete Translation of the Malleus Maleficarum
This quote illustrates the intense religious zeal and fear that fueled the persecution of alleged witches.
The Dark Irony of Pope “Innocent”: A Name That Conceals His True Nature
The karmicons gave this pope criminal the name “Innocent,” which is their typical dark humor. Contrarily, the “Innocent” was anything but innocent; he was:
- Guilty: Referring to legal or moral wrongdoing.
- Corrupt: Describing him being morally compromised.
- Sinful: Related to his religious or ethical transgressions.
- Deceptive: Dishonest, manipulative, and lying.
Surely, here are the names he should use that reflect his true nature:
- Pope Guiltius Corruptus – A Latin-inspired twist that highlights both guilt and corruption.
- Pope Sinvictus Deceptus – Combining “Sinful” and “Deceptive” with a grand, authoritative ring.
- Pope Maledictus Fraudem – “Maledictus” (cursed) and “Fraudem” (fraud) emphasize deceit.
- Pope Deceptor Malus – Simple yet powerful, translating to “Evil Deceiver.”
Harmful Effects of Superstition
Superstition can negatively affect individuals and societies in various ways, often by fostering irrational fears and limiting progress:
- Increases anxiety, fear, and stress through irrational beliefs and avoidance behaviors.
- Encourages obsessive-compulsive tendencies and distorted thinking by attributing outcomes to luck or supernatural forces.
- Reinforces harmful social biases and gender stereotypes, perpetuating discrimination.
- Hinders scientific progress by promoting unproven rituals and beliefs.
- Fuel exploitation and harmful traditional practices, such as witch hunts, threaten vulnerable populations.
Overall, superstition’s harmful effects stem from fear and misinformation that obstruct rational decision-making and social well-being.
Harmful Effects of Religion
While religion can provide community and moral guidance, it can also cause harm when dogma and authority suppress freedom and justice:
- Justifies persecution and violence against those labeled heretics or outsiders.
- Suppresses dissenting ideas and scientific advancements that challenge established beliefs.
- Supports social injustices, including historical practices like slavery and discrimination.
- Promotes intolerance and social division through rigid enforcement of dogma.
- Maintains social hierarchies that limit individual freedoms and equality.
In sum, religion’s harmful effects often arise when power and fear override compassion, openness, and critical thinking.
Two evils with two different names. Or in other words, violent missionary, forced Christianization, slavery, inquisition, witch hunt, racism and KKK white supremacy, nationalism, homophobia, misogyny, religiophobia, hate toward immigrants, and mass sexual abuse of children.
A world without religion
Decisively, after the end of the planetary blockade, we will remove all political, military, and religious leaders and their networks. Furthermore, we will seize all of their properties, including the entire Vatican in the case of the Christian Church.
With fairness, these resources will be redistributed into a millionization fund. On the new planets, every person will receive one million euros upon turning 18. Some assets will go to auction, others will be preserved in museums, and the rest will be dematerialized.
At last, the new planets will be free from religion, war, crime, violence, and even death. Truly, the new leaders will govern with kindness, diligence, and full transparency for the well-being of all.
Fantastic future after the end of the Earth’s blockade
Read more about the work of the new Cosmic Administration, the end of all religions, and the awesome future of Earth after the end of the planetary blockade in my new Book Series:
“It’s finally PROVEN! God Does NOT Exist The FIRST valid EVIDENCE in History”.
After millennia of speculation, assumptions, and false beliefs, we now have irrefutable evidence: God Does NOT Exist because that is impossible.
The Biggest SECRET in Human History is Finally REVEALED. The truth will liberate atheists from religious and right-wing hatred, violence, and terror. It will help believers sober up, escape their religious delusions, and live in common sense.
You deserve to KNOW.
Explore More Papal and Vatican Insights:
- Papal Wealth Exposed:Richest Popes History: 10 Most Wealthy Pontiffs Including Pope FrancisDiscover the shocking fortunes amassed by the Church’s highest leaders
- Royal Ceremonies:Pope Francis Funeral Rituals: The Theatrical Spectacle for the KingRevealing the elaborate pageantry behind papal death ceremonies
- Final Resting Place:Pope Francis Burial St. Mary Major: A Marian TestamentExamining the controversial significance behind this papal decision
- Prophetic Succession:Who Will Be the New Pope: Trump, Incarnated Christ, and AntiChrist?Analyzing the apocalyptic predictions surrounding papal replacement
- Words vs. Reality:Pope Francis Quotes Debunked: 10 Famous Sayings UnveiledSeparating fact from fiction in the pontiff’s most notable statements
- Afterlife Questions:Where Is Pope Francis Now: In Heaven, Hell, or Nowhere?Examining theological contradictions about papal destination
- Clergy Contradictions:The Vatican Allows Homosexual Priests, If They Are Not Sexual (½)Part one of our analysis exposing the Church’s paradoxical policies
- Policy Paradox:The Vatican Allows Homosexual Priests, If They Are Not Sexual (2/2)Concluding our deep dive into ecclesiastical double standards
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- Vatican Money Controversies: Papal Financial Scandals: 10 Most Notorious CasesUncover the shocking financial misconduct that has shaped the Church’s history
- The new Pope Leo XIV Challenges: Pope Leo XIV Challenges: 10 Urgent Issues for the New Catholic LeaderDiscover the critical obstacles facing Pope Leo XIV as he navigates the future of the Church
- Witch Hunts and Papal Authority:Pope Innocent VIII and the Hammer of the Witches Discover how a papal bull and a notorious manual fueled one of Europe’s darkest witch-hunting eras
- Superstition and Black Magic in the Vatican: 10 Superstitious Popes: From Black Cats to Black Magic Discover how fear, occult practices, and bizarre rituals corrupted the papacy throughout history
- Shocking Secrets and Sins of the Papacy:Popes Sexual Scandals: Secrets, Sins, and the Vatican’s Dark SideUncover the hidden world of papal abuses and cover-ups—read now for the full exposé!
For those seeking profound inner transformation and personal growth beyond traditional belief systems, releasing the old Ego personality, creating a new and aware one, cultivating self-awareness, and awakening into Pure Awareness, visit my other site: https://www.letterstopalkies.com/.