Pelican,

I've heard its quite prevalent in some parts of Africa as well - probably happens in many other places also...superstition and suggestion seem to fit like a hand in a glove.

Getting back to Trevor-Roper...He wrote, "The elements of the craze may be non-Christian, even pre-Christian....may derive from the pagan folklore of the Germanic people. But the weaving together of these various elements into systematic demonology which could supply a social stereotype for persecution was exclusively the work, not of Christianity, but of the Catholic Church. The Greek Orthodox church offers no parallel."
Apparently the craze fluctuated in intensity during the two centuries. Trevor-Roper says that it was taken up by Lutheranism and Calvinism after the Reformation where it had another surge - and then again by the Catholic Church once more before it eventually died down. Also, many of the trials were carried out in secular courts.
Marianne Hester, writing from a feminist perspective, pointed out that: "Only certain women - usually older, lower class, poor and often single or widowed - were directly affected."
She describes it as being termed "heresy" and "...an attempt to eradicate deviance from, and opposition to, the Catholic Church."

Poirot,

Still hanging out for that other opposing view you were talking about but thanks for taking the time to provide the information you produced.

Does the context explain why Trevor-Roper attributed it exclusively to Catholicism not Christians by comparing it with Greek Orthodox in spite of the involvement of Lutherans and Calvinists? Obviously I am thinking: "But aren't the latter 2 denominations also Christians?" Does he give more explanation of that?

I know that there are people who have bios about religions and many other things, there is a vast difference between the average believers who give support help in hospitals and elsewhere and feel the hurt and suffering of the others who may be suffering from some loss or harm, and those who stand on the sideline and critize others because they are of a different faith, but do nothing to prove that they have humility and concern themselves for others who may be in need or even destitute.