Well, Witchcraft itself is not necessarily a religion. Witchcraft is a spiritual system which is of the free thought and will of the individual, and it encourages the learning and an understanding of the earth and nature. Wicca, however, can be considered a religion. Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions. Go to this site for a little more clarity on this subject:
http://wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm
Witchcraft is a practice or a lifestyle while religions that have a lot of witchcraft in them are magickal religions. Some people use the term Wicthcraft interchangeable with Wicca as they do with the Craft. The Craft is more of a collection of mostly pagan magick systems as is witchcraft.
There are religions that use a lot of ritual magick but they themselves are not witchcraft.
I would argue witchcraft is the study of, and application, of the laws of nature. Religions teach these things in different ways depending on the tradition.
Re: Witchcraft a religion By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 9 Oct 12, 2014
As usual, Hadit has it! Witchcraft is the study and application of the magic in nature.It is a search for knowledge. How the Earth works.How the Universe works. How Life,itself, works. It is certainly not a religion! Many people,from many religions,practise witchcraft.
If you are a witch who also believes in a Deity, then you are following a religion. I have been a witch for many years. Yet I do not believe in anything supernatural.
That is one definition, yes. The definition of witchcraft and magick are not the same per se.
Magick can be used as an explanation for nature, and is believed to be able to apply the laws of nature and bring about change, via methods such as energy manipulation.
Personally I like Crowley's "Magick is the science and art of causing change in conformity with ones will." That could be interpreted as internal, external change, or both.
He defined every intentional act as a magickal one, writing a book, reading poetry, opening the front door in the morning- it all creates change in your personal universe.
Re: Witchcraft a religion By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 12 Oct 13, 2014
Yes,indeed. Magic is the changing of one or more things into something else. My witch teacher talked of Natural magic, and Applied Magic. She would give an example of Natural Magic as the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly; and Applied Magic as such as making a potion for healing from two or more Herbs.
She taught me that "Magic is the knowledge of the few, for the benefit of the many."
To her, radio and television are magic.
