Re: Wicca Vs. Witchcraft By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 10 Jul 08, 2012
"Oh okay, I've been wondering this for awhile. What about paganism or whatever, what's the difference with that? "
Paganism is an umbrella term that refers to a number of different religions including Asatru, Druids, Wiccans, some Witches, Heathens, Celtic Reconstuctionists, Hellenics, and Kemetics for example.
Re: Wicca Vs. Witchcraft By: WhiteRav3n / Knowledgeable
Post # 11 Jul 08, 2012
Actually, witchcraft in the traditional sense does in fact have belief/faith involved. But of course, witchcraft can be used by someone of any faith, in which case it is not tradition. Traditionalists despise being called Wiccans because there are many differences between the two. For instance the athame is Wiccan, especially its wooden form. In traditional witchcraft it is ritual knife, a real knife that is useful in doing whatever cutting is necessary both physically and spiritually. This is the Witchcraft I studied. There are many forms of traditional witchcraft based off of location. For instance there is Traditional Irish Witchcraft, Traditional British Witchcraft, and Traditional Cornish Witchcraft. Witchcraft in itself is just the craft, but traditional witchcraft has a fullness to it that should be considered a religion.
Here is a link on Traditional British Witchcraft.
http://www.blue-moon-manor.com/traditional-witchcraft.html
To my understanding witchcraft can be described as simply using magic of various, non-religious fields as Rav3n explained, or a life-style in which one incorporates unconventional methods of every day living thus associating with witches.
Wicca to my understanding is as said to be a very specific neo-pagan concept, but I've always considered it both a religion and a life style as it can be just regular witchcraft simply including many of the eclectic ideals of Wicca. For instance you don't have to be religious to follow the Rede.
Robin Artisson explains points out the differences between Wicca and Traditional Craft is this article on his website http://www.robinartisson.com/scarespite/differences.htm
If you want to discuss any aspects of Traditional Craft feel free to get in touch.
wicca is the religion behind the Craft while witchcraft is the use of the universal elements that appear in everything in the natural universe. that is the difference.
also Gerald Gardener is the father of the Modern Witchcraft belief system. Wicca WAS NOT STARTED by gerald gardner he just came up with the label not the beliefs
Re: Wicca Vs. Witchcraft By: WhiteRav3n / Knowledgeable
Post # 16 Jul 10, 2012
Garnder used sources that have been very contraversial. It doesn't make Wicca any less of a religion but it is not THE religion of witches or the original. Wicca is a "new" religion, not the "old religion" as many claim. Traditional witchcraft does not believe in the rede, nor "harm none". Many old witches (and by old I mean literally elderly) have absolutely no problem throwing a curse when they feel it is warranted.
the way i see it... Wicca is a religion where you worship the Gods and Goddess' and Witchcraft is a practice, like sewing or cooking i suppose.
Blessed Be!
Witchcraft itself can be practiced by anyone. As of right now, I'm an Atheist "witch". I don't believe in Gods, and feel our energies inside of us are what make spells work. I guess every feels witchcraft works differently, based on beliefs. Wicca is a religion. Wicca is a religion.