Maddy’s Reviews > How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women > Status Update

“the whole process was considered, thought out, and organized by two arms of society that should’ve been trying to keep people safe: the state and the church. we must do our best to understand that these laws and beliefs were seen as rational and approved by the king and god”

the power of authority is actually terrifying

“what was the reasoning behind the swimming test? no water will accept those who’ve rejected the sacred water of baptism so if you maintained your baptism, you would be accepted by the water—you’d sink, if you’d signed your soul to the devil & therefore renounce your baptism, the water would refuse you entry & you’d float” genuinely one of the most absurd pieces of religious reasoning I’ve ever heard

“women had no legal power or professional standing. what we think this led to is men (with power) being desperately scared that those without power (women) would try to grasp it by any means possible.”