Did I miss some standard work on Wicca published recently?

Question

Some of the questions and answers using the term Wicca, which the spell-checker capitalizes, seem to suggest that there has been a recent publication which rather defines modern witchcraft or Wicca, or somehow separates Wicca from witchcraft, or something. What is this about? Do I have to go spend good money at a New Age bookstore now in order to refer to myself as Wiccan?

Nandina, thanks for the link; that answered it quite well. But we must wait four hours.

Answer 1

Wicca and witchcraft are not synonymous...

Wicca is a religion, witchcraft is a practice. One can practice witchcraft without being Wiccan, and (to a lesser extent) one can be Wiccan without practicing witchcraft.

There was a thought-provoking essay by Mike Nichols on this subject, and even though I disagree with his conclusions, it is worth reading:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/7280/wvsw.html

Answer 2

Wicca is a Neopagan religion that can be found in many English-speaking countries. Originally founded by the British civil servant Gerald Gardner, probably in the 1940s, although it was first openly revealed in 1954. Since its founding, various related Wiccan traditions have evolved, the original being Gardnerian Wicca, which is the name of the tradition that follows the specific beliefs and practices established by Gerald Gardner.

Wicca refers to the religion. This can be a reference to both the initiatory tradition, where initiates are assigned a degree and generally work in covens, and to Solitary Wicca, where practitioners self-dedicate themselves to the tradition and generally practice on their own. Both Initiates and Solitary Wiccans worship the Goddess, with most also choosing to worship the God, and both celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats.

Witchcraft, or as it is sometimes called "The Craft", on the other hand, requires no belief in specific gods or goddesses and is not a specific spiritual path. It is considered to be a learned skill, referring to the casting of spells and the practice of magic. Some feel that they are 'hereditary' witches in which the call of magic is felt through the genetic line.

If you care to refer to yourself as a "Wiccan", none of us are going to stop you.
Some of us don't practice wicca but we do consider ourselves witches. The two can be interchangeable, but they do not have to be.
I hope this helps to explain it.

Answer 3

When used to refer to a follower of a religion or an adjective regarding that religion, Wiccan has been capitalized since at least 1964.

Wica has been capitalized since the 1950s.
Wicca has been capitalized since the 1960s.

Just because you're out of the loop it doesn't mean everyone else is wrong.

It was British Traditional Witches, in the 1970s, who defined themselves as Witches and everyone else as Wiccan. It seems now that people don't want to be BTW, they regret the use of the term.

Poor things.

Answer 4

A standard text? No.

But 'Wicca' and 'witchcraft' aren't exactly the same thing, anymore than 'catholic' and 'christian' are exactly the same.

Wicca is a 'denomination', if you like, within witchcraft; Wiccans are witches (allegedly ;)) but not all witches are Wiccan.

Answer 5

I practice witchcraft, but I am not Wiccan. Wicca is generally (?) politheistic and I am a monotheist.

Answer 6

Wicca and Witchcraft have never been the same thing. You know you don't have to do witchcraft to be Wiccan. Though you can do witchcraft and be Wiccan. :-)

If you want to call yourself Wiccan, go for it. :-)

Answer 7

no