During sixteenth and seventeenth century early modern Europe, demonic possession was a common occurrence, explained predominantly through religion and psychiatry. Demonic spirits were known to inflict the mind and cause an individual to act out of the ordinary. Although possession is more commonly associated with mental illness in today’s world, it can still be seen in modern religion and psychiatry. However, emphasis on the church was much more popular in early modern Europe, as it was believed that any individual who was possessed was in dire need of an exorcism from a priest. This alludes to the importance and authority of the church during this time period. Furthermore, a gender bias existed in regard to demonic possession and exorcisms, as it was far more likely for a woman to be declared possessed than a man. This study looks at the concept of demonic possession in early modern Europe and argues that during the Reformation Era, both Catholics and Protestants utilized the concept of demonic possession to legitimize their religion to society and their respective followers. Religious conflict during the sixteenth and seventeenth century helped to cement the …show more content…
According to Kramer and Sprenger, the social status of women in society made it easier for them to be manipulated by the devil, as most of those affected were young, poor, and had little to no education. This study notes that there is a hierarchy that shows the general and expected settings of a society, whereby the most vulnerable are exposed to even worse treatment than the “strong” or more powerful in the community. The treatment of women in early modern Europe also reflects the place of women in religion, and affirms the depiction of women as represented in the Bible, such as Eve who lured Adam to sin or Rahab, the