Ferrum College - The Ferrum Newsstand

For decades the voice of psychology has claimed that the slaughter of thousands of “witches” by the church in medieval times was actually the murder of the mentally ill. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches have maintained that religious groups cared for the mentally ill with kindness and sensitivity, discounting the claims that the Church encouraged the purging of society.

Suzanne Phillips, an associate professor of psychology at Gordon College (Wenham, MA), argues for the Church on this topic on Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Ferrum College’s Garber Hall. The presentation is free and open to the public.

For immediate release:	Released by: Diane Hailey
October 31, 2001	(540) 365-4302/ dhailey@ferrum.edu
Dr. Suzanne Phillips	For decades the voice of psychology has claimed that the slaughter of thousands of “witches” by the church in medieval times was actually the murder of the mentally ill. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches have maintained that religious groups cared for the mentally ill with kindness and sensitivity, discounting the claims that the Church encouraged the purging of society. Suzanne Phillips, an associate professor of psychology at Gordon College (Wenham, MA), argues for the Church on this topic on Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. in Ferrum College’s Garber Hall. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Phillips, who holds a Ph.D. in Clinical/Community Psychology, will address the questions surrounding the executions in late medieval and early Renaissance periods in Europe. Her research reveals the true identity of medieval witches and the role that demon possession played in witchcraft and in mental illness. Phillips also addresses the reasons that psychology clings to the idea that the church executed the mentally ill, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. To learn more about the College, call 1-800-868-9797 or visit www.ferrum.edu. # # #