The First Witch of Boston

Although it is never fully explained, the Protestant Reformation looms large over The First Witch of Boston and underpins much of its action. The Protestant Reformation was a Christian religious reform movement that began in Europe during the 16th century. It resulted in the creation of a new branch of Christianity, Protestantism, that sought to address the need for reform in the Catholic Church. Chief among its aims was the creation of a novel form of Christianity in which Christians could have a more direct relationship with God, unmediated by the Catholic Church’s clerical hierarchy. Doctrinally, both Catholics and Protestants believed that Christians are “saved” (given eternal life in Heaven after physical death) by God’s grace, but Protestants broke with Catholics over how that salvation is achieved. Catholics believe that there is an additional component, called “works” to salvation. Individuals must demonstrate their faith through actions such as good deeds and observation of spiritual customs such as confirmation and confession. Protestants, however, argue that it is through faith alone that individuals are saved. 

The Protestant Reformation is typically dated to the publication of Martin Luther’s “Ninety-Five Theses” in 1517. A scholar and a monk, Luther created a set of religious arguments that were controversial because many of them directly contradicted Catholic doctrine.