If you've never had a mob of bitter, lying women come after you, then you are very very lucky. I have not been so lucky, and neither have my family and friends. I don't need the Bible to know about that, unfortunately.

The witches were usually not being accused of heresy, they were being accused to making a pact with the devil. And one way the male authorities got out of having to prosecute them was claiming it was just demonic possession.