Talk:Coven
From Academic Kids
Just added ammended defination. Removed following paragraph since its irrelevant here.
During various witch hunts, however, those engaged in the prosecution (and/or persecution) of witches used the term in a sense close to that of the modern "criminal conspiracy." As these inquisitors regarded witchcraft as both a sin and a crime, an association of witches was therefore considered to be a pernicious threat to their religion and social order. Witches were considered by various Christian doctrines to be involved in Satanism. However, modern Wicca is wholly separate from modern Satanism, and considerable doubt exists as to whether there was ever a strong connection between practitioners of witchcraft and Satanism.
--Machenphile 12:57, 1 Jun 2004 (UTC)
Changed etymology, as coven from convoco, call together, seems far-fetched. Probably from convenire, to agree or assemble, and closer to Old French covenir (which makes sense because of Franco-Scots ties in early Renaissance) and thus cognate with covenant. Conjecture; I invite anyone with more authoritative view to change it back.
--AllanBz
