I've heard many different people explain them in many different ways. I'm interested in your belief in what exactly a Wiccan, Witch and Pagan are. It seems that this termonology is often confused to the point where they are used as interchangeable words.
Also, what are the differences between Witch, Magician, Sorceror, etc?
2007-07-20 06:15:22 · 12 answers · asked by Heathen Mage 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pagan - anyone of any religion or belief set that's not part of the big three world religions.
Wiccan - follwer of a specific religion that hold with dual gods (or more) and is attributed to having been created by Gerald Gardner. Some wiccans are witches, not all witches are wiccan.
Witch - practitioner of a learned craft having to do with magic. Witches can be of any religion, or none at all.
Magician and sorcerer - older terms for the same things.
2007-07-20 06:20:23 · answer #1 · answered by Cheese Fairy - Mummified 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Pagan covers all belief systems that are not Christian, Jewish or Islam. It is an umbrella name. Wicca is a religion as is Witchcraft. But you do not have to be Wiccan to be a Witch. However generally speaking if you are Wiccan you are a Witch. Although some may argue that. Up until the 1980s There was no separation between being Wiccan and being a Witch. However there are other forms of Witchcraft that are not Wiccan. And other Pagan Religions that do not call themselves Witches, Such as Heathens and more.. You have to research it.... Good Luck
2016-04-01 03:49:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm really curious about the differences between Pagan, Wiccan, and Witch as well.
Although I don't think Magicians and Sorcerors have anything whatsoever to do with Pagan religions.
2007-07-20 06:18:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most ppl will tell you the terms magician, sorceror and wizard are insulting.
Wicca falls under Paganism, an umbrella term. It is one of the traditions. There are a LOT of them. Celitic, Hethen, Egyptian (Me!), Wiccan, Sumerian, Hellenistic...it goes on and on.
I can't tell you much about about Wicca as I have only studied it lightly, but it is very earth based. They have the God and the Goddess.
I honor Isis, Osiris, Thoth and Ma'at. These are the Gods I feel connected to. You will probably get a different answer from most pagans. It's a really flexible faith, which is what I love about it.
Not all of us practice magic. It's a choice. Paganism is a religion, a way of life. It's not waving a magic wand around and turning ppl into frogs.
Blessed Be
And yeah...the chicks are hot. I'm waiting for Deke to convert any day now.
2007-07-20 06:22:18 · answer #4 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Pagan is a general grouping of a large number of primarily Polytheistic Religions.
Wiccan: A religion that had its name coined in America, by a male (I forgotten the name of) that had been accepted into a Witches Coven in England. It is a specific faith within Paganism, not all Witches are Wiccans, and not all Wiccans are witches.- Excuse my limited knowledge, I have never met a "Wiccan" in England.
Witch: female practicionors of magic or manipulation of the spiritual.
Warlocks: Male equivelant of Witch, but not used often because in old English, it means "Oath Breaker".
Sorcerer/ess: A studying practitioner of magic.
Wizard: An Archaic male that has knowledge or wisdom in a specific feild. Also the term Wizard can be applied to someone with knowledge in magic.
2007-07-20 06:53:10 · answer #5 · answered by Link , Padawan of Yoda 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wiccan: A follower of Wicca, a religion founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s as a recconstruction of pre-Christian Celtic beleifs.
Witch: Someone who practices witchcraft.
Pagan: A member of one of any number of non-Abrahamic faiths. Particularly Asatru, Wicca, Faerie or Dragon Trads, Shamanism, Voodoo, etc. When capitalized in use, an eclectic follower of earth-centric religious practices.
2007-07-20 06:28:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Pagan" is like "Christian" - it's an umbrella term that encompasses many religions that share some core beliefs (polytheistic, nature-oriented, etc.).
All Wiccans are Pagans. Not all Pagans are Wiccan.
Similarly, all Lutherans are Christian. Not all Christians are Lutheran.
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Wicca is a religion, Witchcraft is a tool (using magic).
Most - but not all - Wiccans use magic, so would be considered Witches.
But not all people who use magic follow the Wiccan religion.
Therefore, while most Wiccans are also Witches, not all Witches are Wiccan.
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Both male and female Wiccans generally refer to themselves as Witches. "Witch" in the broader scope tends to mean someone who works with nature-based magic. "Witch" also tends to imply a belief in the Divine (theistic).
Magician usually means someone who practices High Magic or Ceremonial Magic. From my understanding, High Magicians and Ceremonial Magicians are less likely to be theistic.
2007-07-20 06:23:53 · answer #7 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Wiccan- Someone who follows wicca. Also called a neo-pagan. Wicca is a branch of paganism.
Witch- Is usally self proclaimed title. Can be anywhere from a Christa in to a pagan or your own religion.
Pagan- Not Islam Christianity or Judaism. Usually the off religions.
Diff rent word for the same general thing.
Someone who works with magic.
2007-07-20 06:23:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
pagan is an umbrella term for polytheistic religions. witchcraft has been around forever, but wicca is only about 60 yrs old. not all wiccans practice magick, but witches do.
a magician and sorceror/wizard are not the same as a witch
darkangelus is right, we're dam hot!
2007-07-20 06:23:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Pagan is any religion that is not of Abrahamic beliefs. Witch generally refers to anyone who practices spells and believes in duality in Deity. Wiccans have a moral code called the Wiccan Rede, etc.
2007-07-20 06:20:56 · answer #10 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋