In fact, many people believe that evil comes from nowhere but mental suggestion. We believe in it, and as long as we do, it seems to manifest itself in our experience. If, as a result of childhood experiences, we believe ourselves to be evil, then we do evil deeds. The prisons are full of people who see themselves this way. .

             Besides fear of witches and what they could do, in 1730 when a person was angry with his or her neighbor, a convenient way to get even was to denounce that person as a witch or sorcerer. Franklin does not report what the accusers' motivations may have been for accusing their neighbors, only that they did make accusations that their sheep were made to act strangely and their hogs to speak and "sing Psalms" (Franklin 814). One wonders why the accusers agreed to be tested themselves. Was it to show their innocence? Or were they afraid of losing face? Did the accusers really believe they would exonerate themselves while they proved their neighbors guilty? Or did they simply enjoy the notoriety? Certainly, it was a show. There was drama in erecting the scales on the gallows, for example, and nobody wanted to miss it-including the "ladies" too delicate to be in the crowd "without coming amongst the Mob" (814).

             Recent events have shown that people are not quite ready to do away with accusing their neighbors. During the 1950s, for example, witch-hunts were conducted against people accused of being communists. There was fear of being accused, because it meant one's job would be lost and reputation ruined. Nowadays, the "witches" being hunted are terrorist suspects who are arrested and confined without being charged, tortured for information and confessions, and denied due process under the law. Like the spectators in 1730 who "were of the opinion, that any Person so bound and plac'd in the Water (unless they were mere Skin and Bones) would swim till their Breath was gone, and their Lungs fill'd with Water" (815), there are people in the United States today who point out that information obtained by torture is unreliable because a person will say anything to escape from torture.