If not, then if someone is practicing Wicca does this mean he/she is a witch? What really is paganism then?
2006-12-12 15:41:53 · 25 answers · asked by aali_and_harith 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pagan is a blanket term used to describe all religions that are not Christianity/ Judaism/ Islam/or Baha'i
And all wiccans ARE witches but not all Witches are wiccans.
2006-12-12 15:53:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are many religions that fall under Paganism. There are people that just simply call themselves Pagans. Wicca falls under Paganism. So, as said already, all Wiccans are Pagans but, not all Pagans are Wiccans. Many Wiccans call themselves Wiccan, Pagan and Witch but, not all do. Some just call themselves Wiccan, and Pagan or Witch. When it comes to the term Witch things get even more confusing, even to some Wiccans. Not all people that call themselves Witches are Wiccan. Witches follow what's called the "Old Religion". Granted Wiccans will say they follow the same but, there are differences. One example is the Wiccan Rede, which is something that Wiccans follow. But again, I'm sure there are Witches out there that follow it but don't call themselves Wiccans. In the end it really comes down to personal choice. I know some Wiccans that don't like to call themselves Witches because of the negative stereotype that is attached to the word Witch. As far as what Paganism is, I think others have already pretty much covered it. If not, I've added a good link to check out. Either way, you should do some research on all three terms to find out more about them. Knowledge is the fastest way to overcome ignorance.
2006-12-13 23:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by Belisama 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Wicca is a branch of Paganism, just like Methodists are a branch of Christianity.
Not all Wiccan's practice witchcraft, either. Some simply follow the way of the Wiccan beliefs. Again, to give it a Christian analogy, not all Wiccans are witches any more than all Christians are priests.
2006-12-13 07:34:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is Wicca Pagan
2016-12-18 08:42:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, Pagans and Wiccans are different. The short answer is, they're pretty much the same. Wiccans refer to themselves as Pagans and Pagans usually practice sorcery (if it can be called that) to further confuse things.
Wicca came onto the occult scene in the 1950's, and later on some people who like the idea of calling themselves Pagan, but didn't particularly care for the "witch" label that Wiccans relish. So, they started calling themselves Pagans (or more accurately, Neopagans). They cast circles, cast spells (that don't actually work), and do many of the same things Wiccans do.
2006-12-16 07:15:55 · answer #5 · answered by The Notorious Doctor Zoom Zoom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paganism is broad sepctrum of beliefs encompasing a great many different religious systems. Wicca is one of the religions that is calssified as pagan, but there are others. There are the Hellenists that worship the Greek gods, Asatru that worship the Norse gods and many others. Wicca and witchcraft are similar and related but not necessarily the same thing. One can be a Wiccan without being a witch, and vice versa.
2006-12-12 15:57:39 · answer #6 · answered by kveldulf_gondlir 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. All Wiccans are Pagan but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Wicca is comparable to the different denominations of Christianity. Just the same, not all Witches are Wiccan but most Wiccans are Witches.
Blessed Be
2006-12-12 15:47:24 · answer #7 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No way... I have respect for paganism, but not Wicca. OK, Wicca is a pretty recent phenomenon, and IMHO: It's a cop-out. It was "formed" in the mid-1950's and is an amalgam of old European paganism, Victorian-era occultism, and influences of Hindu and Buddhism. It's a watered-down, new-age excuse for a religion. Again, this is my opinion and I'm entitled to it. The only "wiccans" I've ever met are teenage girls who want to be cool and weird and p*ss off their parents. I'm sure there are serious wiccans out there... I've never met any.
Paganism, on the other hand, is just a broad term for any religion that is NOT Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Mostly just "not Christian". I think of paganism as referring to European paganism such as Druidism, Germanic/Norse paganism, and other folk-religions of pre-Christian Europe. I think it's kind of silly to revert to these kinds of religious practices, but if your into the whole "respecting your heritage" thing then I can see how it would make sense.
To sum up (and like someone already said) All Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. And again, I think Wicca is ridiculous but have more respect for paganism as whole.
2006-12-12 15:43:49 · answer #8 · answered by Mister Jip 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pagan is a broad term-like Christian. Wiccan is specific-like Southern Baptist. Not all Wiccans are witches. Pagan is anyone who is not Christian-this includes Jews. Wiccan is someone who practices a specific religion. Witches generally practice magic, including old folk remedies. Some Wiccans are witches, some are not. You can look up individual definitions. Some people interchange Wiccan and Witch. Most do not.
Good luck.
2006-12-12 15:47:57 · answer #9 · answered by Dreaming Dragon 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wicca is a branch of Paganism. Wiccans are witches, yeah, but there are lots of types of Pagans.
2006-12-12 15:44:24 · answer #10 · answered by ....... 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋