ABSTRACT
In 1398, the Faculty of Theology of the University of Paris condemned 28 articles pertaining to “magic arts”, “sorceries” and “similar superstitions”. The theologians left no doubt about the threat they felt such “nefarious, pestiferous, and monstrous abomination” presented to Christian society. They also stressed, however, that
it is not our intention in any way to disparage licit and true traditions, science, or arts, but we will try to uproot and extirpate, insofar as we are able, the insane and sacrilegious errors of the foolish and the deadly rites that harm, contaminate, and infect orthodox faith and Christian religion. 1
