Could somebody please explain the difference between a Wiccan and a pagan witch?
Not interested in any judgmental nonsense from other groups, you know who you are.
Not interested in any judgmental nonsense from other groups, you know who you are.
MSB
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Paganism is an umbrella term that covers many different and distinct religions-- Pagan religions do not share universal beliefs.
Witchcraft is a practice that can be combined with any (or no) religion.
Wicca is a specific modern Pagan religion-- it's based on a reconstruction/reinvention of Northern European Pagan religions and the practice of Witchcraft, influenced heavily by ceremonial magic & freemasonry.
Therefore a Pagan Witch would practice magic and follow any of the Pagan religions... but that religion doesn't necessary have to be Wiccal.
Not all believe in following the Wiccan rede, or in the ceremonial ritual structure of Wicca, or in the Wheel of the Year that is comprises the 8 Wiccan holidays, etc.
You could be all three though:
- I am a Wiccan (follow Wiccan principles, holidays, traditions, etc.)
- I am Pagan (Wiccans are all Pagan)
- I am a Witch (I practice Witchcraft)
What's confusing is that a lot of Non-Wiccans who are Witches and follow Neo-Pagan religions these days have been so heavily influenced by Wicca that their practices resemble it much more than their original ancient religion.
Anonymous
Pagan covers all belief systems that are not Christian, Jewish or Islam. It is an umbrella name. Wicca is a religion as is Witchcraft. But you do not have to be Wiccan to be a Witch. However generally speaking if you are Wiccan you are a Witch. Although some may argue that. Up until the 1980s There was no separation between being Wiccan and being a Witch. However there are other forms of Witchcraft that are not Wiccan. And other Pagan Religions that do not call themselves Witches, Such as Heathens and more.. You have to research it.... Good Luck
Chances68
You've already had some good, solid answers. I'll only add some details.
You've already seen the Wicca is a subset of the much broader term Pagan.
Wiccans are adherents to the faith of Wicca. Generally, Wicca is a duotheistic or polytheistic faith, and not all Wiccans practice witchcraft.
A Pagan Witch is one who practices witchcraft and is not Wiccan but is either an adherent to one of the many other Pagan faiths or else is a witch who may have no theistic beliefs at all other than the philosophical attachment to the idea of a connection to nature and natural cycles.
I do hope this has helped.
Anonymous
Wicca is an organized/semi-organized religion. There are specific books and rituals associated with the organized group though the followers are far from firm about agreeing with each other. Within their ranks their is still major disagreement over whether their religion is a direct descendant of original pre-Christian religions or a reconstructionist one (a modern creation based on readings).
The term has blurred some due to internal schisms among its organization and by independent practitioners that like to use the name Wicca and/or witch for their personal Pagan practices.
Though "Pagan" is a blanket term that covers a huge variety of organized, semi-organized, and independent non-Abrahamic religion practitioners, "Pagan Witch" is usually someone who uses many of the Wiccan religion techniques and books, but is trying to stay independent of the term Wicca and its history.
Aingeal
A Wiccan is someone who practises Wicca, but may or may not actually practise witchcraft. Not all Wiccans do.
A Pagan witch is someone (like me) who is believes in and adheres to a faith other than Christianity, Judaism or Islam, and practises witchcraft.
A Christian witch would be someone who is a Christian, and practices witchcraft, such as the Amish Pow-Wow Healers, and some gnostic Christian groups, and some just plain Christian people.