Why do some wiccans prefer to be called "witches" when that term originally was a derogatory term.?

Question

Edit:
Salem wasn't the only event in history.

Nightwing:
Thanks for info, thumbs up.

Lycanuss:
That is my point of my other question. Witches had nothing to do with it in South Africa, it is more a racism thing.

During the inquisition, at first people honestly accused people of being a witch. Then people realized that they can get over on someone by accusing them of being a witch.

Answer 1

Bad concept of history. When Wicca first emerged, its followers believed it to be a continuation of an older "witch-cult" and that followers of this religion (i.e. witches) were executed for being non-Christians. A lot of people in previous decades also claimed that "witch" originally meant "wise woman" (it didn't). Most Wiccans today know that Wicca and witchcraft are not the same thing, although some (generally traditionalists) consider Wicca to be a subset of witchcraft.

Many Wiccans also happen to be "witches" in the modern sense i.e. magical practitioners and identify themselves as such. In that case they are referring to their magical practice, not their religion. (A Wiccan witch is someone who practices the religion of Wicca and the magical practice of Witchcraft).

Yes, the term used to be derogatory. however, over the last few decades the community has redefined the word into something more neutral. I wish we would would adopt a less contentous and historically problematic word, but I don't always get what I want.

Answer 2

All Witches are Pagans, But not all Pagans are Witches, the Pagan umbrella is very big and includes many religions such as Witches, Druids, Wiccans Etc... and some call them selfs Witches because they are in fact Witches, and whom ever made this respectful term derogatory, is the one you should ask questions to, like Who? Why? When? did I say WHY? :)

EDIT: Yes you right Salem was not the only event in history here in South Africa, people get killed almost on a daily basis, after being accused of being Witches or doing Witchcraft but this happen not with white skinned witches just the black skinned ones :( *sad

EDIT2: And you know sadly just like Salem none of the actual accused are Witches.

EDIT3: racism?? No! its their own black skinned people doing the accusing so no racism there bud.

EDIT4: Actually most real Witches that where ever killed was people(Witches) that helped others and the helped people they went and spoke *also sad, but yes you right bud people saw the gap and took it too :(

Answer 3

A Wiccan pratitioner and a witch are 2 different things although a Wiccan might practice witchcraft. Wicca is a neopagan religion; witchcraft is related to spellcraft and folk magick and is not related to paganism or the any religion necessarily. Are there Christian witches? Sure-- everyone's great grandmother from some backwoods locale in Italy, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Latin America, and elsewhere. I'm not sure whether "witch" or whatever the word was originally derived from was a derogatory term. In Europe there was a distinction between people who practiced folk magic and spellcasting and the mythic witch, the latter of which was more of a bugaboo--a supernatural entity to be feared but who one could also be accused of being (if you had a neighbor or even husband who didn't like you, for instance).

Despite the popularity of a Italian neopagan movement called "stregaria" (literally, "witchcraft"), which supposedly has roots in antiquity, the term "strega" in Italian more often denoted the malevolent, mythical witch, whereas terms such as maga (sorceress, mage), and fattuchiero ("fixer") denoted persons involved in folk magic and spell casting. Nevertheless, when my grandfather noticed that I read cards and palms, he proudly announced that I was just like his own mother, who he referred to as a "strega."

Answer 4

I'd bet I say this at least 5 times a week. NOT ALL WITCHES ARE WICCAN! Including me! I am Pecti-Witan, a solitary witch. It is only a derogatory term if someone believes it is, I don't. But can see how some people would be. I am not that sensitive about being called what I am!
BB
)O(

Answer 5

The term of "Witch" was not a derogatory term until the time of King James (King James Bible), who changed the verse "Thou shall not suffer a POISONER to live" to "Thou shall not suffer a WITCH to live". He did that because he thought that a local witch has put a curse on him and wanted him dead.

Since about that time, The Christian church hunted all of those who were Pagan, and particularly, the witches (Pagan Priests and preistesses).
Some of this was due to the church having built up a power base over the people, but some of it is also from that one little verse being changed in that one version of the Bible.

Since then the name of witch has inspired fear from mmost Christians and fear of being called witch for the likelyhood of losing all of one's property to the accuser or the church, then losing one's life after being tortured to give up the names of the others in their villages.

Most of this has been proven to be just a money making scheme for "witch hunters" and the majority of accusations in fact were false and sometimes driven by desire to obtain a particular piece of property or business.

Answer 6

Because some of them ARE witches. Its only a derogatory term to Christians.

Answer 7

"Wicca" actually just means male witch in old English. Isaac Bonewits wrote a good book on the entymology of the word. I forget what the book was called though. It's all about taking back negative words... Look how lesbians take back bad names, and so do African American rappers.

Answer 8

One can be a witch and not be a wiccan.....

As for the label itself, i would think it would vary from person to person...
I think with the reinvention and acceptance of the wiccan faith, as well as the validation of the us govt., people are getting to be a wee bit more open-minded....

Perhaps with understanding, the definition of the word changes...

just my humble pagan thoughts...

blessings
)o( trinity

Answer 9

Same reason many blacks like to call each other the "n" word.

It takes power away from the insult when you use an insult on yourself. In effect, you end up pwning the people who originally used the word on you in the derogatory manner in the first place

Answer 10

I think wiccans do that precisely to remove the negative aspects of the word "witch". Similar to the N word, many african americans use it to defuse and spite the negative connotations associated with it.