2007-10-26 10:24:28 · 5 answers · asked by kitten4u2_1999 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Paganism is the practice of any earth based religion. You can add polytheistic religions to that also. Witchcraft is the use of magic which is defined by Aleister Crowley as: "The Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will."
Some pagan religions use the Craft and some do not.
2007-10-26 10:50:35 · answer #1 · answered by gigilunadragon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Pagan" as commonly used is an umbrella term that covers pretty much any religion that isn't one of the "Big Three" (Judaism, Christianity, Islam).
"NeoPagan" covers a smaller group of related religions that tend to be nature-based and polytheistic.
"Witchcraft" is a technique in much the same way that prayer is a technique. It is used in many different religious contexts, and sometimes in an atheist context.
"Wicca" is one of the NeoPagan religions where witchcraft is often practiced.
That's my opinion. Hope it helps.
EDITED TO ADD: In response to cheir... *sigh* Wiccan witches, at least, do NOT deal with "demonic powers". We work with the Divine energy inherent in the structure of the universe. For someone who works with demons, you'd probably want a theistic Satanic witch.
2007-10-26 17:28:36 · answer #2 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the technical terminology, a Pagan is anyone who does not follow the god of the Christians...
Therefore, a Witch is a pagan only if they don't believe in that Deity, and instead worship another.
There are however, those who now call themselves Pagan, since they have chosen to worship different Gods, old or new, or simply follow a similar belief system to these paths. This is becoming a religion of Eclectic followers on it's own, a religion of disparate followers who use that term as their religious identifier... And I couldn't be happier about it. Mind you, I classify myself as a Neo-pagan for ease of use as well, since the tradition I follow is Neo-cullis, a family tradition.
2007-10-26 17:32:20 · answer #3 · answered by kitsunethefeytouched 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prairiec is quite right. In addition the essence of witchcraft is the practice of magic in an attempt to control nature &or human activity. This can only be successfully achieved by the use of demonic powers.
2007-10-26 17:33:00 · answer #4 · answered by cheir 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Have no clue. Sorry...
2007-10-26 17:27:35 · answer #5 · answered by Adriana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋