The Bible vs. Witch-Hunts
The most critical incident immediately before the era of Columbus and Martin Luther was intensification of witch-hunt movement, though witch hunts continued to the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries even in Protestant countries.
In 1484, in the Late Middle Ages, Pope Innocent VIII issued Summis desiderantes affectibus, a Papal bull authorizing the "correcting, imprisoning, punishing and chastising" of devil-worshippers who have "slain infants", among other crimes. He did so at the request of two inquisitors, Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, members of the Dominican Order, who had been refused permission by the local bishops in Germany to investigate.
(In 1487 Pope Innocent VIII endorsed the Malleus Maleficarum [the 'Hammer against the Witches']. It accused women of destroying men by planting bitter herbs throughout the field.)
In 1487, Kramer and Sprenger published the notorious Malleus Maleficarum (the 'Hammer against the Witches') which, because of the newly invented printing presses, enjoyed a wide readership. The book was soon banned by the Church in 1490, and Kramer and Sprenger censured, but it was nevertheless reprinted in 14 editions by 1520 and became unduly influential in the secular courts. In 1538 the Spanish Inquisition cautioned its members not to believe what the Malleus said, even when it presented apparently firm evidence.[25]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt
The reason why witch hunts ceased to be exercised in Europe around the 17th century is not clear. No Popes, no kings, or no revolutionary leaders in Europe delivered a strong request or order to stop witch hunting, but it gradually vanished from the European society.
Probably, it must have been wider circulation of the printed Bibles. With the invention of letterpress printing machine, many copies of the Bibles were made available in Europe since Gutenberg printed the New and Old Testaments in 1455.
Probably, it must have been wider circulation of the printed Bibles. With the invention of letterpress printing machine, many copies of the Bibles were made available in Europe since Gutenberg printed the New and Old Testaments in 1455.
The Bible defeated Satan who drove people to witch hunts, eventually.
Then, what did the Koran defeat?
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Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
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Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?