So I take it you think that Spud is a mad loon?
1: I don't read Spud as advocating witch burning.
2: I don't read Spud as saying burning witches as part and parcel of the New testament.
3: I believe Spud is talking about Old Testament accounts, in which case I think we are reading politico-religious works in which a group of people involved in whatever the Hebrew word we translate as witchcraft are seen as a national threat. The Isrealites had a particular view of what that was and how it was to be dealt with.
4: In terms of Gods Plan Christians have varied views on what that is. Is being a witch part of God's plan?
My own view is that evil is not part of God's plan and, as I've said, since man has followed in part evil paths and God's plan is to work with and around people, there are greater and lesser evil.
Was it wrong for Israel to execute witches?, was it right for the US to execute the Rosenburgs?, or for Bomber command to bomb the crap out of the Germans? What is the lesser of two evils? were the Tudors correct in executing Heretics? Was Stalin right to purge his military?
In terms of witch burning at the beginning of the modern age I'm informed that these were locally carried out....although today witch burning by the Parish Council is only the Stuff of Midsomer Murders.
