Witch hunts were never about witches. They were about fear looking for a body. When societies face instability such as economic strain, environmental disruption, or political unrest, they search for meaning quickly. And when meaning is rushed, it becomes myth. When myth is repeated enough, it becomes doctrine. When doctrine is enforced, it becomes control. That pattern did not die with the gallows.

Religious persecution is not just a historical event. It is a recurring response to difference. Understanding this history matters because it helps us recognize when fear is being recycled and when ancient anxieties are dressed up as modern concern. It reminds us that resilience often looks quiet, ordinary, and adaptive rather than defiant.