39: The Salem Witch Trials with Ken Minkema

This special Halloween episode focuses on the Salem witch trials with a focus on what church leaders can learn from this period of history. Dr. Kenneth Minkema—Executive Editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards and of the Jonathan Edwards Center & Online Archive at Yale University—teaches us about the witch trials in New England, highlighting their religious and social contexts, the dynamics of fear and accusation, and the lasting impact on American culture. The episode explores the complexities of Puritan beliefs, the role of fear and control in the witch hunts, and reflections on how these historical events relate to contemporary issues that church leaders face daily of fear, control, and othering.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Ken Minkema

Production: Goodchild Media

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast