What is Anton Praetorius?
[[File:Lippstadt Mittelalter.jpg|thumb|Lippstadt]] '''Anton Praetorius''' (1560 in [[Lippstadt]] – 6 December 1613 near [[Heidelberg]]) was a [[Germany|German]] [[Calvinist]] pastor, [[Theology|theologian]] and [[writer]]. ==Life and writings == [[Image:Heidelberg Castle Wine Barrel.jpg|left|thumb|Heidelberg Castle Wine Barrel]] Anton Praetorius was the son of Matthes Schulze. He later changed his name to ''Praetorius''. Praetorius wrote a poem about the Heidelberg Wine Barrel in the Heidelberg Castle in city of [[Heidelberg]] in October 1595. In 1596 he worked as a pastor in the church in Birstein near [[Frankfurt am Main]] in [[Hesse]]. There Praetorius worked for a prince and wrote church songs and books of religion in the year 1597. ==Fight against the chase of witches== [[Image:persecution of witches.jpg|thumb|200px|Chase of Witches]] Praetorius fought against [[torture]] and against the hunting of [[witch]]es. Some women were accused of being witches. People thought that witches can do harm to others. So these women were arrested and put in prison. [[Image:Praetorius Bericht Zauberey 1602 Frontpage.jpg|thumb|right|Praetorius Bericht Zauberey 1602]] In 1597 Anton Praetorius protested against the torture of women accused of [[witchcraft]]. [[Image:Birstein Witchcraft trial 1597.jpg|thumb|left|File Birstein Witchcraft Trial 1597]] Praetorius was so shocked about the torture of the accused woman that he demanded a stop. His protest was successful. In 1598 he wrote a book to protest against torture and the prosecution of witches. The book was published again in 1602, 1613 and in 1629. Praetorius described the terrible situation of the [[prison]]ers and protested against torture. ==Theological argument against witchcraft== Praetorius was a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] minister. He believed that man can do either good or bad things. However, God chooses certain people to do certain things. Those things can be good or bad. According to Praetorius, witchcraft can only be a fall from the favour of God, an