If witchraft is a real religion, then why are witches and wizards portrayed as mythical beings?

Question

And where do people get the idea that witches and wizards can fly on brooms or turn people into animals? Real Wiccans can't do those things anymore than the rest of us can.

All right..."Since" witchcraft is a real religion.

And yes, there were SOME child molestors who did in fact become Catholic priests because they figured they wouldn't be caught. But you are right, MOST Catholics and Catholic priests are good people and don't molest children. But it is a mistake to cover up the sins and crimes of the men who became priests for the wrong reasons.

Yeah, that would be cool if witches could fly on brooms! I'd become a witch if I thought I could fly on a broom.

Really? Meditation, visualization, and affirmations are witchcraft? I've done all three, and I've even done them on Christian retreats and workshops. Does that make me a witch?

Answer 1

This is going to be confusing, Witchcraft is and is not a religion. It pretty much depends on the person practicing. Some witches perform magick, that is the use of earth energy to make things happen while others invoke the Goddess(es) and God(s) to help with their magick.
Witches are often portrayed as "mythical beings" because we do things out of the norm and people do not (nor do many wish to) understand.
As far as flying on broomsticks goes one theory is that in olden days it was common practice for those who actually were witches to cast a circle while astride a broom. They would jump into the air so some people thought they could fly. Another explanation is astral projection or Out of Body Experience, but we do not use a broom for that! Maybe the idea that we could turn people into animals is because some of us actually talk with animals, real communication, not "baby talk", and we don't hide it. Shape shifting was pretty common among the Amerindians who believed that they could change into animals with the help of some pretty powerful hallucinogens (peyote), so I am sure that people in olden times were probably doing something similar.
And just because you meditate and visualize it does not make you a witch, there is a lot more to it than that!
BB
)O(

Answer 2

Wow, loaded question, but I'm going to take my time with this one, so bare with me.

First of all, being a witch isn't a religion. A witch can be apart of any religion or not have one at all.

A witch is someone who works with the natural energies within themselves and within nature (magick). It's not a bunch of Harry Potter mumbo-jumbo. As a matter of fact, I bet you've practiced witchcraft many times without realizing it - many people have. Simple forms of magick include everyday things, such as mediation, visualization, and affirmations - especially affirmations.

Secondly, men who practice witchcraft are not called "wizards" or "warlocks". They're simply called "witches", just as their female counterparts are.

Thirdly, the stereotypical witch, originally, comes from the New England puritans - who used to burn people for witchcraft. If someone was accused of having supernatural powers, such as flying on a broomstick, or turning people into animals, they obviously were witches and had a packed with the devil. It was a dangerous recipe to get rid of people one didn't like. So, basically, all their stories were a bunch of hooey and Hollywood picked up on them and made lots of money from movies.

And lastly, you are correct in saying that Wiccans (I'm assuming you meant "witches") can't do more than anyone else can. That's because anyone is capable of being a witch. It takes some studying and learning, but anyone is capable of it.

I've included a link to a book you can buy online. It's cheap and an light read. It's called "The Truth About Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham. If you want to learn what witchcraft and witches are and aren't, I suggest you give this book a try.

Answer 3

This is where the idea of witches flying came from:
http://www.geocities.com/lavenderwater37/flying_ointment.htm

Witchcraft is a pagan religion and when Christianity came along it tired to drive out the pagan religion.

On another note, if you ever read Harry Potter you know why we can not tell the Muggles that we exist.

Back to pagan religions. Real Shaman (and some Christian Saints) can travel through space and time, and also become animals. They don't turn anyone else into one, however.

Answer 4

If Catholics are good people, then why are priests portrayed as child molesters? Just because the media says something doesn't always make it true.

Flying on brooms is a metaphor for astral projection. Turning people into animals is a metaphor for shamanistic rituals - ancient indigenous practices upon which modern Witchcraft is based.

There is no "if witchcraft is a real religion." It is, period. And it predates every other religion on earth.

Answer 5

It's all negative propaganda created by those who fear Witches. People make up stories that they have seen a their neighbor fly on a broom across the moon, or he/she turned their neighbour into a frog, so that everyone would fear that person, simply for the fact that that person didn't believe in God or worshipped trees unlike the rest of the community. Therefore creating fear and myths. Some like to think that all of those "legends" are true, and it would be cool if we Witches could fly on brooms to get to where we wanted to go (would save a LOT of money on gas), but alas, we have to use cars to get to our destinations, and can only think ill thoughts about those who bother us (although some have been known to cast a spell on them too, which do get results).

As I said, its all negative propaganda

Answer 6

There are two issues, here. For most westerners, stereotypes are resorted to for imagining witches and wizards. That generally means the folklore collected by the Grims, Andersen and the like. Factor in 20th and 21st century advertizing and you have what you see.

The deeper issue is whether or not witches and the like actually exist. IMHO, they do not. This is quite different from what people *say* about them, or *say* about themselves. One can be wrong about one's self description independently of what one believes about oneself. Concomitant with that is the lack of a public language, a conceptual scheme, in which witches have a place beyond myth.

HTH

Charles

Answer 7

Witchcraft is NOT a religion, its a practice. ANYONE can be a witch, even your not-so-friendly Christian down the street.

As for where those legends came from, its when the Christians decided to demonize anyone that doesn't worship the way THEY want them to worship so they started spreading lies about them.

Answer 8

because the witches portrayed in shows and movies, etc, are mythical portrayals of witches. they are not actual portrayals of people who are wiccan.

when people make movies and tv shows, they use portrayals that make money and that are entertaining. real people doing real things are rarely entertaining.

Answer 9

All organized religion is portrayed as mythology by those with a functioning brain.

Answer 10

Er where do people get the idea that normal humans can perform miraculous deeds? Oh that would be religion wouldn't it.

Its all nonsense.