What is the difference, in beliefs and practices, between Witches and Wiccans?

Question

I'm just curious. Also, can any practitioners reccomend a website or resource that may provide more in depth information?

Also, any brimstoners who started salivating when you saw the headline, please click past without proselytizing (look it up), as I already know what you think.

Answer 1

Witchcraft is a technique in much the same way that prayer is a technique. It can be practiced in any religion or in an atheist context. It is not, in itself, a religion, at least in my opinion (although some people who practice a religion involving witchcraft might have no term for themselves except Witches).

Wicca is one of the religions where witchcraft is practiced by most members.

A relatively objective (non-Wiccan) set of articles on what Wiccans do and believe:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

Another useful article:

http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/paths/wicca.htm

A good site by Wiccans:

http://wicca.timerift.net

An explanation of the religion by a Wiccan:

http://www.uri.org/Wicca_Portrait.html

And the US Army Chaplains Handbook excerpt on Wicca:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm

If you're looking to do some reading, I'd recommend "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, and "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton. I advise you to stay away from anything by Silver Ravenwolf, for reasons outlined in the following essay:

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Wicca is a branch of Witchcraft. Many Traditional (non-wiccan) witches do not consider them to be true witches. But they are, they are just different.

Witchcraft has been around since Paleolithic times. Wicca, only about 60 years.

Although Wicca is a branch/tradition of Witchcraft, not all Witches are Wiccan, and some Wiccans do not call themselves witches.

Trad Witches do not always believe in a god/goddess. Wiccans always do. Trad Witches do not cast a circle, they have different correspondences (herbal and otherwise), and Trad witches are not afraid of dark/chaos magic and will curse or hex if necessary as a form of self-defense. Wiccans will NOT come near dark magic, as they believe it is all bad. Trad Witches do not believe in good/bad, but some Wiccans do. Trad Witches believe in intent and balance. Wiccans also believe in balance. But there's not really that much that Wiccans and Trad Witches have in common.

These are just a few differences.
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Answer 3

You can be a Wiccan and not a witch and a witch but not a wiccan. You don't have to be both. Wicca is more about the worship of the duel divine (God and Goddess) and witches can be of almost any religion. Although to be a christian one would be hard I think. Wiccans do not automatically practice witch craft or magick. I am sure there are others here who are more learned in this area and could give you better answers. I will star you for my contacts to see. Some of them are elders of the craft.

Answer 4

I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard that witchcraft is not a theogoly but a craft. Wicca is a theogoly. So you can be a Wiccan without the craft if thats true.

Answer 5

Not all Wiccans consider themselves witches, nor are all witches Wiccan.

Answer 6

I asked about being wiccan, here's the site: http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
Hope it helps!

Answer 7

Witches try to eat small children. Witches ride on brooms. Witches wear dumb pointy hats. Witches have warts on their noses. Witches have giant black cauldrons.

Wiccans, according to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, are often teenaged lesbians. Or bisexuals who only like men who are werewolves. Wiccans can turn Vampire Slayers into mice. Wiccans can flay the skin off of nerds. Wiccans attract stray bullets right after their name gets in the credits.

Answer 8

well Wiccans are witches who set on Wiccan chairs !!!!!!LOL