What is the difference between witches, Wiccans, and pagans?

Question

creatrix: You said that some witches are pagans and some are not. What are the non-pagan witches?

Answer 1

the difference is really very small. pagan covers a lot of ground. it is basically any of the nature based religions.
if you're wiccan you're pagan, but you can be pagan without following wicca.

you will find that most pagans are also witches, meaning that they use "spells" or objects to focus their will to change the things around them. to me it's just manipulating the energy that is all around us.

witches, or any pagan for that matter, are nothing like what you see on t.v. or in movies. pagans are a very peaceful group who for the most part believe in helping others and taking care of the planet.
you will hear that we're an evil bunch of devil worshipers, which is really kind of funny since we don't believe in satan.
i hope that this helps.
bb

eclectic pagan

Answer 2

I have a headache!!!
I am a witch and have been for over 40 years. Much of what has been said s pretty accurate. But saying one is a witch but not pagan is very much like saying one is a Baptist but not Christian!
The only thing that bothers me more than an ignorant Christian is an ignorant witch!!!
The term pagan is an umbrella that encompasses everything that is not Abrahamic in origin. That is anything that is not one of the big 3, Christianity, Islam & Judeaism.
BB
)O(

Answer 3

Pagans are members of an enormous category of religions that are Pre-Christian or Post-Christian and Non-Abrahamic and of Europe or the European Diaspora. (A very non-specific term)

Wicca is ONE of thousands of post-Christian religions of Abrahamic descent and is a fairly specific term, but not completely specific.

The term Witch may be used for some Wiccans, but also about one hundred other types of people, real and imagined, who are not Wiccan. It is a terribly nonspecific term.

edit: And not all Wiccans are Witches. http://www.cuew.org/archives/003366.html
(On Morons, and not using the word Witch)

Answer 4

I see a witch as one who practices witchcraft. This is more the "how" of your beliefs. Personally, my beliefs follow Christianity (the what), but I will often use witchcraft (the how) to experience this Christianity. Most Christians would reject me due to my use of witchcraft, which is probably why I consider myself a Christian Heretic. Non-compliance to a given church doctrine, with a belief in Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God.

Wicca is a religion, much as Christianity is, and people often (though not always) use witchcraft in their practice of the Wiccan religion. Same thing with Paganism, except Pagan is more an umbrella term rather than a specific religion.

Answer 5

Not all wiccans are witches, not all witches are Wiccans. (edited due to post below - tanks & sorry!)

All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans.

Some Witches are Pagans, Some witches are Wiccans, but some are both and some are neither.

Edit: nice condescending answer there, L o t t a. Obviously you don't know what you're talking about.

Answer 6

witches: were around before wicca they are more into herbal healing and light magic.

wicca: more recent, established around 1950 believe that some dark magics are actually good, and some wiccan spells have had disasterous results with old buildings, i.e. cursed or haunted houses.

Paganism: umbrella term for any religion that worships nature, and is not christian, muslim or jewish.

Answer 7

Witches are "Magical" or mean old women.
Wiccan is a follower of Wicca which is a specific religion.
Pagan generally refers to a non-Christian.

Answer 8

I have found a great site that you cvan do your own research on about the subject and many more. These are true facts and have been published as so. There's tons of information on many religions.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

Form your own opinion.

Answer 9

Not much.

What is in common is rebellion.