What is the difference between paganism and wiccan?

Answer 1

Pagan is an umbrella term for a wide variety of non-Christian beliefs. Wicca is one tradition under the Pagan umbrella.

Answer 2

As has been stated already, Wicca is one type of contemporary Pagan practice. All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccan.

Wicca, however, is the most dominant type of Contemporary Western Paganism, and when people use the word "Pagan" they often mistakenely refer to beliefs and practices specific to Wicca, beliefs not all shared by the Pagan multitudes.

The word "Pagan" can also mean many things, but when used in context with Wicca, it generally refers to Contemporary Western Paganisms-practices like Wicca, Druidism, Asatru, and several dozen more. Most Buddhists would probably bristle at the idea of being on the Pagan Family Tree.

Answer 3

The difference between paganism and wiccan or wicca is like say citrus fruit and orange. Paganism is the citrus fruit which included many different types of fruit but share the same type of characteristics. Wiccan or wicca is the orange or lemon or lime. Other religons in paganism are called shamanism, dianics, druids, celtics, just to name a few.

Answer 4

The same difference between lions and cats.

All wiccans are pagan, but not all pagans are wiccan.

Wicca is a specific set of beliefs and moral codes, whereas Paganism is (technically by definition) any non-Abrahamic religion, though it generally refers to nature-oriented religions.

Asatru, for example, is a pagan religion which worships the Norse deities and tries to revive the old Norse rites, but is not Wiccan.

Answer 5

Paganism is a term for any religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Paganism encompasses many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Native American beliefs, Wicca, Witchcraft, Asatru, Druidry (Druidism), Shamanism of various sorts, Jainism, Confusionism, and a lot of other religions.

Wicca itself is a Pagan religion, but there are many different types of Wicca.

http://www.tangledmoon.org/wiccanotceltic.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/paths/wicca.htm

Answer 6

Wicca is a type of paganism, Wicca is a pagan religion. Paganism is an umbrella term that covers all the pagan religions.

Answer 7

The word "Pagan" comes from the Latin "Paganus" which potential "people who stay interior the rustic" (translation: united states of america human beings or "rednecks" who do no longer understand from now on useful). sure it became meant as a snotty term. even though it additionally potential pre-Christian, so it could propose fairly lots something different than Christianity. The word "Heathen" refers back to the human beings who lived interior the "heaths" (hills) in eire and northern England the place the heather grows. same basic which potential. every person right this moment who calls themself a Pagan ought to truly call themselves a Neo-Pagan, which potential somebody who lives in a in demand society yet who believes interior the pre-Christians approaches, despite they may well be. A "Wiccan" is somebody who follows an exceptionally particular, properly-defined (no longer eclectic) course that became the two began by making use of Gerald Gardner (often referred to as "Garderians") or a by-product. The word "Wiccan" dates back to the Nineteen Thirties whilst Gerald Gardner invented it - it does not have historic roots, no count number what every person says. I defy every person to discover it interior the OED ahead of 1950. The word "Witch" potential despite you like it to propose. It has meant many stuff to many cultures over millenia, often with a derogatory which potential. people who call themselves Witches right this moment (as unfavorable to Wiccans) can bloody properly be something. consistent with possibility they're Pagans, consistent with possibility they're Christians, consistent with possibility they're Atheists. Ain't that grand? I include the term Witch. unquestionably I call myself an Aquarian Witch. and that i'm no longer certain by making use of every person's definition. I do proportion some similarities with Wiccans, including ending a positioned up with "Blessed Be!" :)

Answer 8

You are on to something. Wicca is paganism in the modern sense.

Answer 9

Paganism is a large collection of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of non-Christian, non-Jewish, non-Islamic (Abrahamic) religions. Wicca is ONE of said religions.

Answer 10

I would have to agree with JP.there are so many different paths in paganism that it s summed up in that one word.You have all kind of traditions and paths and so forth that it is just to hard to classiffy them all.hope this helps

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