What are the differences between Wiccans and Pagans?

Question

I don't know much about either one. I am just curious.

Answer 1

* (The word “Wicca” means “wise ones.” The word “witch” is derived from “Wicca.”) The witches worked their spells and magic as individuals or sometimes in groups of 13 known as Covens. Sometimes the witches and wizards worked as a triumvirate or power of three. The female Wiccan was known as a witch, and the male Wiccan was known as a wizard. The word “warlock” was not used by witches to identify themselves. It is actually a Scotch-Gaelic word that means “traitor.” Satanists use the word “warlock.”

The Wiccans were worshippers of the “Earth Mother”, the sun, the moon, and stars. Witches do not believe in Satan. The Wiccans or witches meet every Friday night at a gathering called an “esbat.” They draw a magic circle with a six-pointed star in it called a “hexagram”, from which we get the word “hex.” The coven of 13 stand “sky clad” or naked in the hexagram and work spells by chanting and doing rituals such as “drawing down the moon.” The full moon is sacred to witches, especially if it is on a Friday. It is considered to be even greater if the Friday is the 13th day of the month.

Eight times each year, the witches celebrated a sabat and the ritual work and spell casting was always done on the eve of the sabat. The sabats are Imbolc on February 2nd, the spring equinox on March 22nd, Beltaine on May 1st, the summer solstice on June 22nd, Lugnahsaid on July 31st, the fall equinox on September 22nd, Samhain on October 31st, and the winter solstice on December 22nd, which is also known as Yule.

** pa·gan
One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
One who has no religion.
A non-Christian.
A hedonist.
A Neo-Pagan.

So anyone who is in Wicca is a Pagan.

Answer 2

All Wiccans are Pagans but not all Pagans are Wiccans.

Paganism is the umbrella so to speak that encompasses any religion that is not part of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim group. Wicca is a branch of Paganism that combines Witchcraft with honoring the Goddess and the God (as equals) as a religion of sorts. Even within Wicca, there are several groups that have their own beliefs but they all share a common thread.

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Answer 3

Just as a means of correction - although "pagan" is an umbrella term meant to cover many forms of polytheism, it certainly isn't so broad a term as to mean "any religion that is not Christianity." Few would consider Judaism, Islam, or Zoroastrianism forms of paganism.

And some Hindus might reject the label as well, since they might consider it a western term of much more recent origin than their 4,000 year old religion.

Buddhism, although a religion, doesn't really have gods, and probably wouldn't qualify either.

Paganism usually tends to refer to forms of Earth-spirituality like Asatru, Wicca, Shamanism etc.

Thomas: Wicca is not an old religion. It is something Gerald Gardner synthesized out of a number of religious traditions he was interested in about fifty years ago. It has no real antiquity of its own to it.

Answer 4

This question was already answered less than a half hour ago.

Wiccans are Pagan but Pagans aren't neccesarily Wiccan. Pagan refers to any religion that isn't Christian.

Answer 5

break down goes like this.

wicca is an old religeon. It has its deities, its prayers, and its ceremonies much like the basics of christianity or islam.

pagans are mainly a larger group that covers both old religeons such as Norse pantheon worship and personal systems such as the guy who uses zen chants to hone his mind to be come calm like an eagle before embarking on an indian vision quest.

all wiccans are pagans but not all pagans are wiccan.

Answer 6

Pagans do believe in different forms of higher powers, but Wiccans believe in the earth and in a sort of mother spirit. Wiccans believe that they can conjure up certain powers through the earth. Pagans believe in things other than God, such as animals, or certain types of statues things like that.

Answer 7

Well it's kind of like this
Wiccans are pagans
but not all Pagans
are Wiccans
a Pagan by defintion is a person who believes in many deties or Gods.

Answer 8

wiccans are a elemental witch religion. Pagans are thought to be a general non christian sect. both are subject to ritual and sacrifice usually in blood of animals or . . .

Answer 9

Wicca is one sect of neo-paganism. There are many more different neo-pagan paths--some share a lot in common with Wicca (such as Neo-Wicca) and some share very little in common (such as Asatru).

Answer 10

paganism is any natural religion; wicca is just one division of paganism, sorta like protestants and christians.