for those knowledgeable in paganism, do you consider witchcraft (not wicca) to be a religion?

Question

why or why not?

primo - when did i ever say i wasn't????

primo - it won't be the last.

all of these answers are really great! it's hard to choose just one as best. thanks everyone!

Answer 1

I would say that Witchcraft is a practice, that is sometimes practiced within a religion--but Witchcraft itself is not a religion.

Answer 2

For me I guess it would depend on the person. Lets break it down a bit here.
Witchcraft is simply the manipulation of energy to effect a desired change.
By this definition alone Witchcraft is a pratice. And for some people that all it is. There are nontheistic Witches/magicians out there. There are also many people who use the art of Witchcraft as a part of their religious worship. This is seen most prevlently in Wicca. Wicca is a religion and most Wiccans (not all) use Witchcraft as part of that religon. I also know many Christains who are Witches. This still does not make the pratice of Witchcraft itself a religon.
Wikkipieda states religion: "A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience."
For some Witches, Witchcraft falls in this catigory. Their religous experience is dependent on the act of Magic. It is who they are and what they believe. This may include natural or traditional witches. Witches who call on a Diety as part of their craft not the other way around. If you are truly interested a good book on this subject is Raven Grimassi's Spirit of the Witch.
Hope this helps!

Answer 3

This becomes a highly semantic discussion, so pardon the nitpicking of the answer. ;) I use the word to denote a magical practice. Whether that practice has religious aspects is a separate issue. So the simple answer is "no, I don't consider witchcraft to be a religion."

However, there are people who call their religious practice witchcraft. I'm certainly not going to tell them "Well, your practice can't possibly be religious because you're calling it witchcraft." When I refer to the beliefs of these people, I use the term "religious witchcraft" to separate it from what I consider the more normal use of the word.

The reason for my use of the word is largely historical. Margaret Murray suggested that historical witchcraft was really a religion, and so modern people started calling their religious/magical practices witchcraft. But Murray was entirely wrong. There's no evidence that her witch-cult ever existed, and with that foundation demolished there's no reason to call any religious practice "witchcraft."

Now, I do understand that words change meaning over time (as it stands "witchcraft" has gone from meaning something evil to a more neutral practicing of magic), but continuing to call religious practices "witchcraft" also continues to promote people to believe Murray's rediculous assertions. In my experience, most (although not all) of the people that I have met who describe their religion as witchcraft also add "...which is the world's oldest religion, dating back to the Stone Age."

Answer 4

Wicca is an established neopagan religion, actually founded in the 19th or early 20th century as a revival of Old World European paganism.

Witchcraft is an umbrella term that, in part, related to certain practices related to to spellcasting. It is not a religion and may be synonymous with the terms "sorcery" or "wizardry." Historically, "witch" was more of a derogatory term either used in the mythological sense (as in people being afraid of hypothetical "witches" like children are afraid of the bogey man) or in calling the lady next door who practiced folk medicine or something or other that you thought was a wierd and was paranoid about a witch.

Answer 5

"Witchcraft" is a blanket term, as is "pagan". I suppose it's a matter of semantics, but I don't think either could be considered a religion in general terms, as there is very little codified or structured dogma associated with either term.

On the other hand, it would be reasonable to refer to one's personal religious system as "witchcraft' or "paganism", if those descriptions fit best.

Answer 6

Not really.

I practice witchcraft and thus consider myself a Pagan.

Witchcraft = practice
Pagan= religion

I know some people do consider it a religion, but I generally call them Pagans, too. Because I know you can practice witchcraft AND have religon. Or practice it and have no religious leanings. (Though that is rare.)

Answer 7

Honestly, no.

My rule of thumb is that religion is organized, in churches/synagogues/etc., with a book that rules their everyday lives.

I consider all witchcraft spirituality. Recognizing a higher power, and living a life GUIDED by a basic ideal.

Just my opinion...to each their own!

Answer 8

to me, religion is a personal link between one's self and spirituality. Thus it would depend on the intentions/interpretation of each individual practitioner of non-Wiccan witchcraft.

But as a whole, non-Wiccan witchcraft is not necessarily a religion, nor is it not necessarily not. I've seen it overlap with other named paths (even Christianity), and I've seen it used as more an herbology, closer to gardening, than to spirituality.

Answer 9

i guess it would all depend on the circumstances...for myself, the definition would have to depend on whether or not the person was in a coven or not...
for me, i am solitaire...therefore, i consider myself of the pagan religion on a spiritual path...but for those in covens, it would count as a religion. I am thinking this due to the amount of people with like minded views and practices...if that makes sense.

blessings
)o(

Answer 10

I think the term witchcraft is used to describe the practice of magic. One doesn't have to belong to any Wiccan tradition to practice magic. There may be Wiccans who don't practice magic, too. The terms aren't interchangeable.